In a small community in Tanzania, a young mother named Nibizi clings to hope as she faces the daily challenges of raising her two sons alone. Her journey to this point has been filled with heartbreak and uncertainty, but also with courage and resilience. For Nibizi and her youngest son, Niyukuri, survival has been a battle — one that was nearly lost to malaria.

Fleeing Burundi: A Mother’s Journey to Safety

Nibizi’s story begins with an unimaginable reality — being forced to flee her home country of Burundi in 2015. As war tore through her community, she was left with no choice but to escape.

“I remember that day vividly,” she shares. “People were scattered, the surroundings were chaotic, with rebels everywhere. I had to flee to Tanzania to save myself from death.”

Leaving behind everything familiar, Nibizi crossed the border with nothing but her will to survive. Tanzania offered her a temporary refuge, but the struggles continued. She found herself alone, without a support system, abandoned by the father of her children and even rejected by her own mother.

“I had nowhere to turn. It was a moment of despair when I was left to care for my children on my own.”

But even in the harshness of displacement, Nibizi’s focus remained on her two young boys, Ibuntu and Niyukuri. She knew she had to keep fighting for their future, no matter the cost. 

The Fight Against Malaria and Sickle Cell Anemia

Just as Nibizi began to settle into life as a refugee, she faced a devastating blow. Six months after Niyukuri was born, he was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. This inherited blood disorder meant that Niyukuri would be prone to severe pain, frequent illness, and compromised immunity.

“It was heartbreaking to find out that my child had sickle cell disease,” Nibizi explains. “I knew it would make his life much harder.”

Sickle cell anemia alone was enough to worry any mother. But the rainy season in East Africa added yet another danger: malaria. The combination of these two illnesses left Niyukuri’s already fragile body vulnerable. “He would cry out in pain, and I felt powerless,” says Nibizi.

One terrifying afternoon, Nbizi’s worst fear came true.

“He suddenly collapsed,” Nibizi recalls. “He was screaming, rolling on the ground, calling out to me. When I touched him, his body was burning hot. I panicked because I feared I might lose my child.”

A Life-Saving Visit to the Medical Teams Clinic

In desperation, Nibizi rushed Niyukuri to the nearest Medical Teams International clinic. The health care workers there quickly sprang into action. A rapid malaria test confirmed that he had a severe case of malaria, one that could have been fatal without immediate treatment. Worse still, his sickle cell anemia meant that his body wasn’t producing enough red blood cells, further complicating his condition.

“He was so weak that his oxygen levels dropped dangerously low,” a health care worker at the clinic recalls. “We immediately administered oxygen, took blood tests, and began treatment for malaria. His blood hemoglobin levels were critically low, so we had to give him a blood transfusion.”

The clinic became a second home for Niyukuri and his mother over the next few days. His condition was touch-and-go as the medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize him.

“I cried silently in my heart, praying for a miracle,” Nibizi says. “If the clinic had not been there, I don’t know what would have happened to my son.”

For three long days, Niyukuri was monitored closely. With the help of medication, fluids, and multiple transfusions, his tiny body began to fight back. Slowly but surely, the malaria started to retreat, and Niyukuri showed signs of improvement.

“I felt such a huge surge of relief when he opened his eyes again and was able to eat,” Nibizi says, smiling softly. “I know that without Medical Teams, my son wouldn’t be here today.”

A Mother’s Gratitude and Hope for the Future

Today, Niyukuri is back at home with his family, his playful spirit restored. His love for soccer, running after his older brother, and exploring his surroundings have returned. But behind his laughter is a deeper truth — Niyukuri’s survival is fragile, and his mother’s heart carries the weight of that reality every day.

“I watch him play, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Nibizi says. “But I know that his health is still delicate. We will always have to fight against sickle cell anemia. And every rainy season, we face the threat of malaria again.”

For families like Nibizi’s, access to free health care is more than a service — it’s a lifeline. “Medical Teams is a source of hope for me,” she says. “It’s a place I can turn to when I’m scared, when I don’t know what else to do. Without them, my child would not have survived.”

Nibizi’s dedication to her sons, her resilience in the face of unimaginable odds, and her determination to create a better life for them, all stand as a testament to the strength of a mother’s love.

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Join Us in Bringing Life-Saving Care to Children Like Niyukuri

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Together, we can prevent mothers like Nibizi from experiencing the heartbreak of losing a child. Give now to be part of this story of hope and help heal a child like Niyukuri.