Eunice's Story
A Life Changed by One Simple Diagnosis
Eunice was just 15 years old when her life was suddenly put on hold. It started as a small swelling on her arm—nothing alarming at first. But as the weeks passed, the swelling grew into a painful, open ulcer that refused to heal.
Her father, a traditional healer, tried everything he knew—herbal remedies, home treatments—but nothing worked. Desperate, Eunice’s family walked miles to the local health center, hoping for answers. Instead, they were turned away.
“The nurse told me they didn’t have any drugs,” her mother Pauline recalls. “And the wound just got worse.”
Eunice was forced to leave school. She could no longer help around the house, leaving her pregnant mother without the extra hands she so desperately needed. Every day, Eunice watched life move forward without her, trapped by a disease no one could diagnose—until a local pastor stepped in.
An Unlikely Source of Hope
Pastor Vakoko had no medical degree. But thanks to Hope Rises International’s Church Partnership Initiative, he had been trained to recognize neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—devastating illnesses like Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and yaws that often go undiagnosed in rural communities.
When he saw Eunice’s wound, he knew what it was.
Instead of sending her family on another long, uncertain journey, he simply took a photo of her ulcer and sent it to IME Kimpese, a Christian hospital trained to treat NTDs. Soon, a medical team arrived—with a Biomeme diagnostic tool in hand.
Unlike traditional lab testing, which can take weeks or even months, the Biomeme machine can diagnose diseases like Buruli ulcer in under an hour—right in the village.
And for Eunice, that speed changed everything.
A Diagnosis That Saved Her Future
Within minutes, Eunice had an answer: she had Buruli ulcer, a flesh-eating disease that, without early intervention, could have cost her an arm—or even her life.
She was immediately started on antibiotics, stopping the disease in its tracks. She didn’t need to suffer for years. She didn’t need to be trapped in pain and isolation.
But there was still another challenge: treatment required monthly bandages and medicine—something Eunice’s family couldn’t afford, and a hospital trip was nearly two hours away.
Once again, Pastor Vakoko stepped in.
“I said, I will do my best for you to get the dressing material here,” he says.
He personally traveled to the hospital, secured medical supplies, and brought them back to the village—ensuring that Eunice could continue healing right at home.
Now, her wounds are healing, her pain is fading, and hope has returned.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Eunice has a dream—to become a tailor. But she needs two good hands to sew. With continued care and an upcoming skin graft surgery, she will regain mobility and strength in her arm.
And for the first time in months, she is looking toward the future.
“I have hope to get well. God will heal me.”
“I have hope to get well,” Eunice says. “God will heal me.”
Her mother echoes that faith: “The devil is on this earth, but God helps us when we are sick. We have to keep our hope in God.”
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Eunice’s story is a powerful example of how one simple diagnosis can change a life. Without early detection, her condition could have cost her everything. But because of the Church Partnership Initiative, a trained pastor saw her, a Biomeme machine diagnosed her, and a team of believers ensured her care.
But thousands of children are still waiting for that same chance.
Hope Starts With Healing
Right now, men, women, and children are suffering—isolated by disease, alone in their pain, and without hope. But together, we can change that.
From delivering critical medicines and supplies to equipping pastors with training and resources to care for their communities, we are reaching even the most marginalized people with the healing and hope they most desperately need. With your support today, Hope Rises!
