It’s 1:00 am in Kigoma Nyarugusu Refugee Camp and the small house where the Nitunga family lives is dark and quiet. Cicadas trill softly, and a light breeze tousles a nearby patch of elephant grass. It’s peaceful. Until a mother’s shrill cry splits the night air.  

After waking his mother Oleria to help him use the bathroom, 4-year-old Reuben suddenly collapsed. He had been sick with what seemed like a cold for a few days, but this was different. Quickly, Oleria woke Reuben’s father Richard and they carried the little boy, whose body was locked in a seizure, to the nearest Medical Teams clinic. 

Leaving Life in Burundi Behind 

Reuben and his family fled to Tanzania in 2015 when the war in Burundi threatened their safety. Before the war broke out, the Nitunga family (which includes 9-year-old Zidane, 7-year-old Robert, 4-year-old Reuben, 2-year-old Liyes, and the family dog) enjoyed a stable life with close connections to family nearby. When it became clear that Burundi was no longer safe for them, they made the heart wrenching decision to uproot their 4 children, leave their home, and pray for safety on the other end of a long journey to Tanzania.

A Common Cold? Or Something More Sinister… 

After settling in the refugee camp, Oleria became familiar with Medical Teams through visits from community health volunteers in their neighborhood. Little did Oleria and Richard know that the volunteer’s advice—to visit the local clinic whenever they or their children felt unwell—would play a key role in saving their son’s life.  

One day, Reuben began complaining of symptoms that seemed like a common cold. Oleria had some medicine at home that she thought would help with his symptoms, and he did seem to improve a bit after taking the medicine.  

Ever the doting mother, Oleria stayed close to Reuben during those few days to make sure he was getting better. She could not have imagined just how much worse it would get.  

Malaria Strikes 

The day she brought him to the clinic, Reuben woke up in the middle of the night and asked his mother to take him to the bathroom. After using the toilet, he suddenly felt cold, lost his strength, and collapsed. His eyes rolled back, and saliva foamed from his mouth. He started shaking and crying out loudly before losing consciousness. 

Horrified, Oleria and Richard remembered the conversations with the community health workers and knew that they could likely find help at the nearby clinic. They rushed there as quickly as possible.  

Reuben’s father, Richard, described the helplessness he felt watching his young son deteriorate before his eyes.  

“I felt like the whole world had abandoned me. As a father, it was heartbreaking. For the first time in my life, I was afraid. If he had been sleeping in his room, he might not have made it.”

When they arrived at the clinic, the staff immediately started to run tests, including a Rapid Malaria Test, to determine what Reuben was suffering from. Although testing and treatment for malaria only cost .85 per child, these supplies are often hard to keep in stock on clinic shelves. 

When the test came back, the diagnosis was made. Severe malaria.

Expert Care, Desperate Prayers 

Medical Teams admitted Reuben to the ward and started treatment. Richard and Oleria sat at his bedside, anxiously watching the medical staff treat their son—his condition was fragile. His heart raced uncontrollably. He was struggling to breathe, because his oxygen level was critically low at just 31%. 

Everyone in the room clung to his faint, shallow breaths.  

Seeing the doctors fight for his survival made his parents realize just how complicated Reuben’s condition was and what a high level of care he was receiving. The healthcare workers never stopped striving to save him. 

“I, myself, lost all hope,” Richard admits. “I felt terrible. Honestly, I am so grateful to the healthcare workers, and God bless them. I feel thankful for this clinic because I know that if it weren’t there, my son might have died a long time ago.” 

Reuben would remain in the clinic for 7 days as he fought his way back to life. 

The Triumph of Healing 

After the loving, skillful care Reuben received at the clinic, he made a full recovery and was able to return home to his family. As he healed, and his lively spirit filled the home once again, the family finally felt whole. 

“I will always thank God. I truly believe his recovery was a miracle. I am grateful to Medical Teams for saving my son’s life,” Richard told us with a broad smile.  

His joy at Reuben’s recovery is profound, like a soldier returning victorious from battle. 

After experiencing the trauma of war, violence, displacement, and now the life-threatening illness of their child, the Nitungas can enjoy the safety and peace comes with having access to high quality healthcare. They know that anytime they need help, Medical Teams is close by, ready to support them. 

Now, Richard looks to the future. He hopes to one day return to Burundi and find a job that supports his family, while being close to friends and loved ones. Oleria too has big dreams for little Reuben. 

“We believe we can realize our dreams as long as we have access to healthcare. With good health, we can pursue our goals. Now that Reuben is fine, I will do everything possible to ensure his bright future. My dream is one day he becomes a doctor and helps others, just as Medical Teams helped him,” she shares.  

With his health restored, Reuben can now dream freely. His resilience and fighting spirit, along with the love and support of his parents, make for a bright and exciting future ahead.