Meet Stephen, a dedicated and compassionate young doctor whose remarkable journey from a teenage caregiver to a medical professional is a true testament to the power of perseverance, kindness, and determination.
As the main caregiver, he had to create time to take his mother to the hospital, refill her medicine whenever necessary, and make sure she was cleaned. He engaged in many labor-intensive jobs including digging in people’s gardens and laying bricks, just to earn enough to afford basic necessities. However, his struggles did not end there. Stephen’s struggles also included a lack of money for basic needs such as food, fees, and over 22 kilometers that constituted his daily commute to and from school. Yet, despite these overwhelming challenges, which on their own can hinder school completion for the average person, Stephen was determined to make it in the medical field, so that he could serve patients like health workers in Bombo Military Hospital and Mulago Hospital who treated his mother for over eight years.
In 2004 Stephen discovered that his mother was suffering from a life-limiting illness. Though she tried to stay strong for her son, her condition eventually worsened, and she had to be hospitalized for proper medical management while he was still in secondary school. However, both Stephen and his mother decided it cost too much both in time and money to stay in the hospital leading them to make the difficult decision to manage her care at home instead.
“I had seen health workers injecting my mother with medicine and I thought to myself that it looked like something I could do,” he says.
Stephen says once they went back home, he didn’t immediately try to inject his mother with the medicine, as he would go out and do odd jobs to earn enough money to pay a nurse. He, however, explains that he didn’t always have the money to pay a nurse since he had to combine working and caring for his mother who needed help to do even the most basic things like bathing or using the toilet. As his mother grew increasingly frail, she became even more dependent on her son since it had always been the two of them for most of Stephen’s life.
This is because his father and only brother had died within two years of each other in 1996 and 1998 respectively, so it was up to Stephen to take his mother to the hospital, get her treated, and become her main caregiver, while at the same time remaining in school.
PCAU first encountered Stephen when he was juggling school, and caring for his mother suffering from a life-limiting illness, while at the same time working to earn a living for them both. In 2010 we started delivering medicine to his mother whenever needed. The delivery of medicine and neighbors chirping in to do chores like laundry reduced some of Stephen’s burden, allowing him to complete his secondary school education. With secondary education done, Stephen was not sure what to do next, as he had not raised the points to make it for government sponsorship at the tertiary institution level.
Seeing his determination and the challenges he faced, we stepped in to support him by covering his school fees, allowing him to focus on his education. This assistance came at the right time, as he had reached a tertiary education level that required significant financial resources far beyond what he could afford, given that his limited earnings were spent on his mother’s medical care and basic household needs. Through our support, Stephen was able to pursue a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery, fulfilling his dream of becoming a doctor.
Stephen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery from King Ceasar University on March 23, 2023. During his graduation party, he voiced his dream that one day he would become an oncologist surgeon so that he can contribute to reducing the high mortality rate of cancer patients in Uganda. Oncology is important for Stephen, who has spent over a decade either living or working with cancer patients. Currently, he has completed his one-year medical internship at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital and now seeks to start his career as a medical doctor.
Stephen is a strong advocate for palliative care and is committed to guiding and ensuring that his fellow RTH beneficiaries receive the support they need to achieve their dreams by following in his footsteps. He has become a pillar of strength and a role model for the RTH children, who continually look up to him for guidance and inspiration. His journey has motivated others to pursue careers in healthcare, proving that perseverance and determination can lead to success. Stephen is a living testament to the power of love, kindness, and support in transforming lives.
Stephen’s teenage years spent nursing his terminally ill mother inspired him to become an empathetic doctor. Now, he has beaten the odds of hardship he encountered as a child to become someone that members of his community value. His dedication and compassion have earned him appreciation and suggestions that he should be elected to represent his constituency in Parliament.
If you believe in second chances, join us in empowering children like Dr. Stephen by clicking the image below to donate.
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