Taken Too Soon.
It was in April of 2013 when the doctors told Maria she had cancer. Maria had just turned 44 in February, and she could not get over the fact that she felt so young for this news. The doctor told her it was cervical cancer, and she was in the final stages. Unfortunately, Maria had not been to a hospital in six years. She always had an excuse as to why she could not go: the distance, the wait, the time, the priorities. Now, as the doctor was explaining to Maria the reality of the next six months, she realized how things could have been different. Now it was too late.
Maria passed away in December 2013, eight months after the diagnosis.
Maria's story is all too familiar in Nicaragua. In a country with just over six million people, or about half the size of Los Angeles, CA, one woman a day dies from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most painful cancers as it has some of the most devastating symptoms physically and psychologically. However, the greatest tragedy is the fact that it is one of the most preventable cancers. A simple check-up each year could greatly change the epidemic in the small country of Nicaragua, but women cannot do it alone. More education and resources are needed to curb the incidents. The Lily Project is committed to making a difference by deploying the resources needed. Support the project today by clicking here.
To read more about cervical cancer in Nicaragua click on the following links:
Cervical Cancer Statistics
Cervical Cancer Definition (U.S.)
Why PAPs Matter
The VIA Method for Prevention
It was in April of 2013 when the doctors told Maria she had cancer. Maria had just turned 44 in February, and she could not get over the fact that she felt so young for this news. The doctor told her it was cervical cancer, and she was in the final stages. Unfortunately, Maria had not been to a hospital in six years. She always had an excuse as to why she could not go: the distance, the wait, the time, the priorities. Now, as the doctor was explaining to Maria the reality of the next six months, she realized how things could have been different. Now it was too late.
Maria passed away in December 2013, eight months after the diagnosis.
Maria's story is all too familiar in Nicaragua. In a country with just over six million people, or about half the size of Los Angeles, CA, one woman a day dies from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most painful cancers as it has some of the most devastating symptoms physically and psychologically. However, the greatest tragedy is the fact that it is one of the most preventable cancers. A simple check-up each year could greatly change the epidemic in the small country of Nicaragua, but women cannot do it alone. More education and resources are needed to curb the incidents. The Lily Project is committed to making a difference by deploying the resources needed. Support the project today by clicking here.
To read more about cervical cancer in Nicaragua click on the following links:
Cervical Cancer Statistics
Cervical Cancer Definition (U.S.)
Why PAPs Matter
The VIA Method for Prevention
Why Education Matters.
When women realize cervical cancer is highly preventable, attitudes change. Before modern research regarding cervical cancer, women felt helpless and defeated, but now women have a cause, a purpose, a plan. However, the difference between a defeated woman and women with a plan is education.
Even in developed countries like the U.S. education regarding cervical cancer is lacking. For decades women believed it was primarily genetic. While genetics certainly play a role, so many other factors are involved as well. For women living in developing countries, the top factors are sexual health and reliance on birth control. While many factors are cultural, one thing has been proven, an annual PAP can greatly reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer.
The Lily Project was started to ensure women have access to a proactive plan for their health in an effort to reduce cervical cancer by 30% in Nicaragua. To support our efforts, please click here.
When women realize cervical cancer is highly preventable, attitudes change. Before modern research regarding cervical cancer, women felt helpless and defeated, but now women have a cause, a purpose, a plan. However, the difference between a defeated woman and women with a plan is education.
Even in developed countries like the U.S. education regarding cervical cancer is lacking. For decades women believed it was primarily genetic. While genetics certainly play a role, so many other factors are involved as well. For women living in developing countries, the top factors are sexual health and reliance on birth control. While many factors are cultural, one thing has been proven, an annual PAP can greatly reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer.
The Lily Project was started to ensure women have access to a proactive plan for their health in an effort to reduce cervical cancer by 30% in Nicaragua. To support our efforts, please click here.
Going the Distance.
Understanding the plight of women and children living in underdeveloped communities around the world is not an easy task. Its easy to talk about the challenges, but until one literally walks in the shoes of the mothers that struggle every day for food and shelter, words fall flat.
The community where the idea for the Lily Project came to light was Tamborcito. A community of about 300 people and 30 homes, Tamborcito has no public transportation and has a river that runs through it. Half of the community is split by the small river that swells to a rush during the rainy season. The small, one-room homes reinforced with plastic tarps often house families of six or seven people. The moment we arrived to the impasse of the river which splits the community, we knew a plan was needed to reach the ladies living on the other side. As we started talking to the women, it became certain that medical care was an arduous journey.
In order to reach sufficient medical services from the town of Tamborcito, one must walk two hours to catch the bus that runs to the main highway. The walk often includes the crossing of the river which can be dangerous depending on the time of year. A centro de salud (health clinic) exists in El Transito which is about 12 miles away, but it is only open half day, four days a week. The bus only goes the direction of the main highway during the hours of the clinic which is located in the opposite direction.
Once someone makes it to the main highway, they will wait up to an hour to catch a bus to Managua or Leon. The bus ride is very different than anything one has experienced in the developed world. Drivers never deny a passenger a ride which means people are crammed onto the bus until they literally are hanging out of the doors. Temperatures are always in the mid - upper 90's with full humidity. Adding to the misery are the roads. Sometimes non-existent, the roads thrust the bus in every direction constantly shifting passengers from one side to the next.
After the two hour ride on the bus, one must register at the government run hospital. One of the most under-resourced systems in Latin America, a Nicaraguan patient is guaranteed to wait several hours before seeing a doctor. In the informal and often public doctor's offices, the doctor conducts the necessary exams. Despite advances in disposable equipment, the doctor will use a metal speculum that only has been sanitized. In what seems to be an effort to make the experience worse, the doctor rarely speaks to the patient and barely looks the patient in the eye. The only thing the patient will walk away with is the knowledge that there will be results in three months.
The patient will leave and make her way back to the bus stop to make the long journey once again. A journey that started at 5 o'clock in the morning will end around 8 in the evening when she finally arrives back at home on foot.
The Lily Project was started to take away this painful journey and provide women with an option that is accessible and personal. We believe the change will encourage more women to take action with their health and ultimately reduce cervical cancer in Nicaragua.
Understanding the plight of women and children living in underdeveloped communities around the world is not an easy task. Its easy to talk about the challenges, but until one literally walks in the shoes of the mothers that struggle every day for food and shelter, words fall flat.
The community where the idea for the Lily Project came to light was Tamborcito. A community of about 300 people and 30 homes, Tamborcito has no public transportation and has a river that runs through it. Half of the community is split by the small river that swells to a rush during the rainy season. The small, one-room homes reinforced with plastic tarps often house families of six or seven people. The moment we arrived to the impasse of the river which splits the community, we knew a plan was needed to reach the ladies living on the other side. As we started talking to the women, it became certain that medical care was an arduous journey.
In order to reach sufficient medical services from the town of Tamborcito, one must walk two hours to catch the bus that runs to the main highway. The walk often includes the crossing of the river which can be dangerous depending on the time of year. A centro de salud (health clinic) exists in El Transito which is about 12 miles away, but it is only open half day, four days a week. The bus only goes the direction of the main highway during the hours of the clinic which is located in the opposite direction.
Once someone makes it to the main highway, they will wait up to an hour to catch a bus to Managua or Leon. The bus ride is very different than anything one has experienced in the developed world. Drivers never deny a passenger a ride which means people are crammed onto the bus until they literally are hanging out of the doors. Temperatures are always in the mid - upper 90's with full humidity. Adding to the misery are the roads. Sometimes non-existent, the roads thrust the bus in every direction constantly shifting passengers from one side to the next.
After the two hour ride on the bus, one must register at the government run hospital. One of the most under-resourced systems in Latin America, a Nicaraguan patient is guaranteed to wait several hours before seeing a doctor. In the informal and often public doctor's offices, the doctor conducts the necessary exams. Despite advances in disposable equipment, the doctor will use a metal speculum that only has been sanitized. In what seems to be an effort to make the experience worse, the doctor rarely speaks to the patient and barely looks the patient in the eye. The only thing the patient will walk away with is the knowledge that there will be results in three months.
The patient will leave and make her way back to the bus stop to make the long journey once again. A journey that started at 5 o'clock in the morning will end around 8 in the evening when she finally arrives back at home on foot.
The Lily Project was started to take away this painful journey and provide women with an option that is accessible and personal. We believe the change will encourage more women to take action with their health and ultimately reduce cervical cancer in Nicaragua.
