Ester Ashery is 70 years old. Her life changed during her sixth pregnancy, when prolonged labor in a remote village led to complications, the loss of her baby and the development of obstetric fistula. Just days after leaving the hospital, Ester began leaking urine; a condition she lived with for 40 years.
Living with fistula brought pain, shame and rejection. After her husband passed away, Ester was abandoned by relatives and forced to move from place to place in search of help. Despite the isolation, her neighbors continued to support her, offering compassion when she needed it most. Ester once sought treatment but continued leaking and hope slowly faded.
Hope returned through community outreach. A local pastor connected Ester with the outreach team, who visited her at home and supported her with transport to access care. Through this intervention, Ester finally received the treatment she needed.
Today, Ester is healed and living without leakage. Her story is a powerful reminder that timely healthcare and compassion can restore health, dignity and hope even after decades of suffering.