09/02/2026
Children in Uganda are prone to bone infections, also known as osteomyelitis. They can start from a minor injury that festers over time, and if left untreated can lead to swelling, pus discharge, foul smell, bone erosion, and potential amputation. A child with a weakened immune system and poor diet is the perfect breeding ground for such infections, as was the case for Lukaiya.
We've been working with Lukaiya since 2021, when she arrived at our center with a severely infected and exposed right tibia bone. She has endured bone debridement, sequestrectomy surgery, corrective osteotomy surgery, ex-fixator placement, along with hundreds of wound dressings, many antibiotics, and physiotherapy. Her infection has been very difficult to eradicate, and though her leg is still not 100%, it is much better.
Lukaiya's home life is challenging, and between living 3 hours away, having no one to bring her to appointments at times, and just the overall lack of supplies for maintaining a clean wound, it is not hard to understand why the infection persists.
At the moment we are managing her condition with wound dressings and antibiotics, and she now has a strong enough tibia bone to be on full weight bearing, which is great progress. She has come a long way, and we are here to ensure she achieves her full health potential, no matter how long it takes. To be continued...