She suffered from severe stomach pains after every meal, which led to a poor appetite and many restless, uncomfortable nights.
The pain eventually became so intense that even sitting or walking was a struggle. Shalom was forced to rely on a wheelchair for mobility, losing the independence that every teenager deserves. For her mother, watching her daughter’s health decline brought constant emotional strain and a life filled with worry.
Shalom underwent surgery in a Kids Operating Room space based at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone. This dedicated space provided the surgical expertise needed to repair her hernia and offer her a future free from pain.
Today, the wheelchair is no longer needed. Shalom walks independently, carries out household chores with confidence, and enjoys long strolls around her neighbourhood with her mother. Known as a joyful and sociable girl who loves to laugh with her brother, she has fully returned to the activities she loves most. Whether she is dancing, crocheting, or practicing beauty therapy and nail care, Shalom is finally present in her own life again.
Her recovery has inspired a new sense of purpose. Now that she can eat, sleep, and move without fear, she dreams of becoming a surgeon. Having experienced the life-changing impact of surgery firsthand, she wants to spend her life helping other children overcome illness and distress.
As Shalom’s mother watches her daughter cook for herself and live with such energy, the years of stress have been replaced by happiness. For her, the outcome is simple: she has the reassurance of knowing her child has regained her independence. That is what safe surgery makes possible.
This new operating room provides hope. It signals that children here matter just as much as children anywhere else in the world.
A future where anything is possible
They’ll make it happen. Surgery made it possible.
