Saving Baby Grace: A Mother’s Fight for Answers

When Brenda, a young mom from Uganda, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she named Grace, she never dreamed her daughter would become a statistic or that the early months of motherhood would be laden with guilt. 

“I kept blaming myself, thinking my baby’s sickness was a consequence of family planning,” shared Brenda.

Grace was born with hydrocephalus—a life-threatening condition caused by an excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, affecting 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 infants worldwide. Without treatment, it can cause an enlarged head, developmental delays, brain damage, and possibly death.

Haunted By Guilt, Saved By Hope

At birth, Grace’s head was larger than normal, which caused people to hurl cruel remarks, only worsening Brenda’s guilt. Some in their community even told her Grace was “not a child worth living.” 

But Brenda’s love was stronger than their heartless voices.

She refused to abandon her daughter and instead became determined to find help, visiting one health facility after another in search of answers. Finally, when Grace was just over a year old, she was referred to CURE Uganda—where she found hope for the first time.

Since opening in 2001, CURE Uganda has emerged as one of the world’s leading pediatric hospitals providing more than 2,000 procedures per year for children with life-threating conditions like hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and brain tumors. With just one neurosurgeon for every 6 million people in sub-Saharan Africa (compared to 66 for every 6 million in the US), CURE Uganda is meeting the increasing need for neurosurgical care in the country and across the continent.

At CURE, Brenda learned more about Grace’s condition. The compassionate spiritual ministry staff offered counseling, and she came to understand that she was not to blame—much to her relief. She also learned that Grace’s treatment would be provided at no cost to her, thanks to the generous support of CURE’s donors. This news was another reason for Brenda to breathe easier.

In the care of the hospital’s highly skilled surgeons, Grace underwent delicate neurosurgery where a shunt was placed to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure on her brain. After a short stay under the diligent care of the ICU staff, Brenda brought Grace home to continue her recovery. 

However, the fluid in her skull continued to accumulate. Through a series of follow-up appointments, the surgical team successfully addressed the issue. Brenda again brought Grace home, thankful for the love and exceptional care she experienced during their stay at CURE. “We have a testimony to share,” she said.

Tackling Toddlerhood

After physical therapy to improve her motor skills and help with recovery, Grace began progressing developmentally and reaching important milestones, including learning to sit and crawl.

At Grace’s most recent follow-up visit, Brenda was happy to report how much her daughter was growing as she nears her second birthday.  She loves to eat, can speak a few words, and even claps her hands whenever she hears a song! 

Brenda expressed her amazement at Grace’s progress, saying, “She can say, ‘I am hungry, I want food’ in our local language. I can’t believe we have come this far—indeed, God is faithful.”

Want to explore more ways to support CURE’s life-transforming medical and ministry care for patients with neurological conditions like Grace? Check these out:

Learn more about the types of life-changing surgeries CURE Uganda provides.

Become a CURE prayer partner—it’s one of the most powerful ways you can support the children and families we serve.

Make a gift that sponsors transformational surgeries for more children like Grace.