Zaituni’s story is tough. When she was 4 years old, the house where she lived with her brother and her parents burned down. After saving Zaituni and her brother, her father died in the fire. Not long after, her mother died as well, due to injuries from the fire. Zaituni and her brother were therefore raised by their father’s sister, Haruna.
In 2009, Zaituni and Haruna came to Nkoaranga Hospital, where Zaituni was examined by plastic surgeon Einar Eriksen. At that time, Zaituni was 10 years old and more than 6 years had passed since the family’s tragedy. Zaituni’s injuries and complications from the accident were extensive. Because of her untreated burn injury, she had scar tissue that stretched in a long line from the right side of her lower chest, across her right shoulder, down the entire arm and out to her right hand.
As Zaituni became older and her body grew, the large and long scar tissue prevented her right hand from developing normally, resulting in a severe contraction leaving the right hand unusable. In addition, the contraction caused her great pain in the right hand.
Zaituni’s contraction is an important example of why it is important to get the necessary surgical help as soon as possible after an accident. Had Zaituni immediately received a skin transplantation after the accident, the amount of scar tissue would have been reduced and her contraction would have been smaller.
Unfortunately, Zaituni was not operated in 2009. A reconstruction of this size would need several surgeries. In addition, the operation would require regular post-physiotherapy and follow-up over a long period, which was neither possible at Nkoaranga Hospital or in the village Kikwe, outside Arusha, where Zaituni lived with her brother and aunt.
Thus, Zaituni and Haruna had to return to Kikwe empty handed.
Many years went by before Care4Burn got in touch with Zaituni and her aunt Haruna again. Not until 2014 did Care4Burn succeed in locating Zaituni and inviting her and her aunt to Moshi and to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), where Dr. Eriksen would address the first of two surgeries over the next few years. At KCMC, Zaituni was able to get the necessary post-physiotherapy and follow-up after the surgery.
Since 2009 Zaituni’s scar tissue had brought her even greater disabilities and pain. Now she was unable to stretch the right arm 180 degrees and she was not able to lift the right arm more than 25-30 degrees from her body. Furthermore, contracting scar tissue around the armpit and on her chest meant that her breasts were not symmetrical. In addition, because the scar tissue stretched along her entire arm, from shoulder to fist, Zaituni’s arm had been prevented from developing fully. As a result, her right arm was significantly shorter than her left arm.
In March 2014, Dr. Eriksen released the contraction around the right elbow and wrist and in August 2017 he loosened the contraction on the chest and in the right armpit. ‘New’, thick skin, harvested from the thigh and buttocks was subsequently transplanted after both surgeries. After the second surgery in 2017, Zaituni was able to stretch her right arm 180 degrees and lift it over her head. In addition, her second surgery also brought symmetry back to her chest and breast area.
In November 2017, Zaituni completed high school and now she dreams of continuing with her education.
One surgery costs approximately 100 EURO. Zaituni has undergone two surgeries, both performed by plastic surgeon Einar Eriksen and sponsored by Care4Burn. For approximately 200 EURO, Zaituni’s quality of life has been immensely improved. Now she can stretch and lift her right arm over her head and her breasts are symmetrical.
Zaituni still needs reconstruction of her right hand.
Together we can make a difference!
If you have questions or want to hear more about our work and how you can contribute, please feel free to contact us at info@care4burn.org.
