Abay’s story

Abay (not his real name) is a 76 year old man with advanced liver cancer and kidney failure. There is no surgery available in Ethiopia for this condition so the only option for him is to receive management of his symptoms so that he will die peacefully. He has suffered from recurrent ascites (fluid collecting in his abdominal cavity), which has been drained several times in hospital. He was prescribed medicines to try and stop the fluid recurring but these had to be stopped due his poor kidney function. His pain killer (Tramadol) has also had to be reduced as he was becoming sleepy which was probably due to the kidneys not excreting the drug properly, so it was accumulating in the body. However, his abdominal pain has returned. He had been prescribed dexamethasone for his poor appetite but as there was no improvement it was also discontinued.  Hospice Ethiopia will continue to manage Abay’s complex symptoms and support his attentive wife and daughter. 

Hospice Ethiopia UK’s fundraising events in 2023 will raise money so that more people like Abay can be cared for at home in Ethiopia.