Here is the story of a woman who made the Fistula journey — in her own words.

I came to live with my cousin in Oromia when my parents died a long time ago. I was living with my cousin in a refugee camp when he chose a husband for me. I was married one year ago and I got pregnant right away.

During the labor, my cousin and my husband and some neighbor women were with me. I was in labor for four days and on the fourth day, the baby came, but it was dead. When the baby died, my husband left me. I think the baby died because I had a sickness when I was pregnant. I caught this sickness from the wind.

People said that my body was wounded. My cousin heard that there was a place in Addis Ababa that could help me and so he brought me here. I came here on Monday and the people he told me I will be cured.

I haven't had my operation yet. I don't know what I will feel. They say I will have the operation next week and that my operation will be a simple one.

When I am cured, if my cousin will let me, I want to stay here in Addis Ababa and work in someone's house. Otherwise, if I go back home to Oromia to my cousin, I'll go to school. I'd like to go to school.

To read previous stories from the One Woman's Story series, visit the Profile Archives page.