During her recent trip to Liberia, Dignity Advocate Jenneh Clark met with Korto Kollie, who works as a nurse aide at Hope House, and asked her to share a bit about herself so our readers could get to know her.
 
Korto Kollie is a registered nurse who speaks both English and Kpelle. She likes taking care of mothers and babies and said, “that is what Hope House is all about.”  Korto’s goal is to continue working at Dignity:Liberia’s Hope House, as the job allows her to support herself and her family.
 
Korto lives on her own in Todee in Goyah Town. She has five brothers and two sisters. She also has a daughter and a granddaughter.
 
She said she loves taking care of patients and their surroundings. This is evident to those who see her at work, and we are glad she is part of the team at the Todee compound!

A few years ago, I had a number of doctor visits, lab tests, and even surgery in the course of a few months. I joked that I was supporting the local medical community. I’m not joking when I say that we could use your support for our medical team.
 
We recently introduced you to our nurse midwives and plan to interview nurse aide Korto Kollie for a future blog. In addition to being onsite at Hope House 24/7, our nurse midwives travel to nearby villages, where they become familiar faces in the communities while building relationships with the Traditional Tribal Midwives (TTMs). As we shared in last month’s blog, they educate the communities on the importance of prenatal care and advise pregnant teenagers and women, who live a distance from a health facility, to seek treatment at Hope House.
 
Last month, a 17-year-old girl went to Hope House for care. The medical team assessed her condition and realized that she would be unable to deliver naturally. They took prompt action, arranging for the girl to be transported to C.H. Rennie Hospital where she was safely delivered of a baby boy. Had the teenager not been at our maternity home, she likely would have been in labor for days, under the care of a TTM, which could possibly have resulted in a stillborn baby and an obstetric fistula for the girl.
 
Your support over the years resulted in a functioning modern maternity waiting home providing life-saving care. Your continued donations are helping with the construction of a dedicated fistula clinic, where doctors will be able to perform C-Sections as well. Can you dig a little deeper and sponsor our medical staff?
 
A donation of $50 a month will help Dignity:Liberia to cover the expenses of a Nurse Midwife or Nurse Assistant to be onsite at Hope House. It is quite easy to set up a recurring gift by debit, credit, or your Pay Pal account by clicking on the Pay Pal link on our Donate page. Want to make a larger gift of stock? That can be done through Donate Stock button also found on the Donate page. You can mail a check to Dignity:Liberia / 2210 Randy Ct / Granbury, TX 76049. Whether or not you can sponsor our medical team, please continue praying for the work we are doing, and for the precious babies who have already been born at Hope House. Thank you.

17-year-old with newborn, delivered by Cesarean

Hope House was built in order to combat the problem of obstetric fistula in Liberia. Preventive measures involve both prenatal checkups and education. Since January, Dignity:Liberia’s nurse midwives, Patricia Kollie Kpalo and John Flomo, have traveled to 23 villages. At each stop they first meet with influential people, such as the town chief and elders, to inform them of Dignity:Liberia’s mission. They explain that the purpose of Hope House is to care for pregnant women at high risk in hard-to-reach communities, mainly to prevent fistula, and also to observe women for signs of complications. Following this introduction, they meet with members of the community. In all of the towns they have visited, the town chief, the elders, the traditional tribal midwife (TTM), and community health assistant (CHA) have played a vital role in their outreach to expectant mothers, encouraging them to be treated by our medical staff. They are helping us achieve our goal of preventing fistula in Liberia.
 
The meetings are more than just a plug for the home. They educate the TTMs on high-risk pregnancy, and how to identify potential complications in pregnancy. Dignity:Liberia’s nurse midwives encourage them to make a prompt referral to a health clinic should they see any cause for concern. TTMs are encouraged to take pregnant women to a nearby health facility for prenatal visits and safe delivery. Patricia and John discourage them from performing home deliveries, as this is often a cause of fistula in Liberia. They stress that any women with a history of fistula, postpartum hemorrhage, high blood pressure, or who have had a C-section, should have outpatient checkups at Hope House, and be treated as inpatients shortly before their due date. Additionally, they advise pregnant teenagers and pregnant women who live a distance from a health facility, to seek treatment at Hope House.
 
The community outreach is building relationships between Dignity:Liberia and the villages. Patricia and John are working with the traditional tribal midwives as partners. The format of the meetings varies from village to village. At a recent meeting, following opening songs and prayers led by two TTMs, there was a moment of silence in memory of Goyah Town's TTM, who passed away in June. In other meetings the class was interactive, with most of the tribal birth attendants sharing their experiences and giving examples of various danger signs seen in pregnancy.
 
One question that comes up in the meetings is why women have to leave Dignity:Liberia’s compound and be transferred to a different facility to give birth. The answer is, Hope House is not a clinic. We have delivered 5 babies at the waiting home and transferred two other expectant mothers to a hospital where they delivered by cesarean. However, we have begun work on Dignity Clinic! With your continued help, a transfer won’t be necessary; we will be able to take the women to our clinic to give birth!  Your support also helps us in our community outreach where we are building relationships. Thank you.

As we shared with you last month, Dignity:Liberia has two nurses experienced in midwifery. Both are dedicated to the healthcare profession. This month we want to introduce you to nurse midwife Patricia Kollie.
 
Patricia’s faith and compassion, combined with a love of science and an interest in women’s issues, resulted in her becoming a nurse and midwife. Born in Bong Mines, Bong County, Liberia, Patricia is one of 8 children; she has 5 brothers and 2 sisters. As a child, she enjoyed playing kickball, which she continues to play as an adult.
 
While in high school, Patricia loved science. It was during the 9th grade that her interest was piqued in violence against women. When her English teacher asked the students to select a topic to present to the class, Patricia chose this as her topic. After she graduated from high school, she noticed that the demand for midwives in her community and county could not be met. This prompted her to pursue a career in healthcare, specializing in midwifery, hoping to make an impact in the health sector.
 
Patricia always had a dream to become a midwife. She prayed for success in school in order to pursue her dream. The most meaningful experience for her as a midwife is to render services to pregnant women and have a good outcome. She particularly likes aiding them during the difficulties of pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Dignity:Liberia has two nurses experienced in midwifery in its employ. In addition to seeing patients at Hope House (previously called House of Hope and Dignity), they perform community outreach by visiting nearby villages; they introduce themselves to the traditional tribal midwives (TTMs), make them aware of our services, and stress the importance of prenatal care. Now we want to introduce our nurses to you. This month’s blog features nurse midwife John L. Flomo.
 
Born in Monrovia, John has four brothers and a sister. After completing the second grade, he moved to Zorzor district in Lofa County, but returned to Monrovia in the 7th grade. John ultimately graduated from William V.S. Tubman High School. His childhood games included football (soccer), which he continues to enjoy playing. He also helped with the family business by selling at market. His favorite subjects in school were math and science.
 
His love of science coupled with compassion for others, led him to enroll in Esther Bacon School of Nursing where he studied midwifery and obtained a practical license in nursing. He later received a certificate in primary health care from Mother Patern School of Health Sciences. He subsequently earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Cuttington University.

It was in nursing school that he first became aware of obstetric fistula. He would like to attend medical school and become a gynecologist specializing in fistula repair surgery, but he is unable to find financial support to pursue this goal.
 
John’s experience includes working as an aid instructor in a refugee camp in Guinea, and as an Officer in Charge (OIC) in numerous clinics including Gobah Town Clinic in Todee, where he served as an OIC and midwife. He worked as a Public Health Officer for Equip Liberia and trained general health volunteers (now called community health assistants). He educated community health workers and TTMs about malaria and HIV, and also taught them how to administer vaccinations. He has expertise in community monitoring, mobilization and awareness. His vast experience has led to his success in the outreach he does on behalf of Dignity:Liberia; expectant mothers are coming to Hope House and getting prenatal care and birthing assistance.

On Easter Sunday, we had our first delivery! The baby’s mother checked into Hope House (previously called House of Hope and Dignity) the very weekend that she went into labor. The plan had been to take her to a nearby hospital for delivery, but as so often happens, the baby had other plans, and there was no time to transport her. Midwife Patricia Kollie, R.N., attended the birth with assistance from nurse-aide, Korto Kollie.
 
“Dignity:Liberia is a ministry dedicated to bringing restoration and hope to women with fistula and their communities through healing, education, and prevention.” Although we have never wavered from our goal, it may have seemed forgotten, while we while focused time and energy on funding requests and building updates. This birth brought our purpose back into focus. This is what it’s all about!
 
Said Dignity:Liberia’s founder and president, Kathi Gutierrez: “I had tears in my eyes. I look at the picture of the mother on a bed in a dress someone lovingly made, with blankets made for her child, pillowcases and sheets made and given, and a healthy baby. So wonderful!” Look closely at the pictures, which the mother gave us permission to share. You may see one of your contributions!
 
We are so blessed for the baby’s safe birth. Both the mother and infant are healthy. Said Becky Mueller, CNM: “Our impact on maternal health in Liberia has begun, one woman and child at a time.” Every time a woman gives birth by a delivery that does not cause obstetric fistula, we have made an impact. While we celebrate this birth at Hope House, we have just started construction of Dignity Clinic, whose main purpose will be to repair fistula. Additionally, C-Sections will also be performed at the clinic.
 
We need your continued support. We need you to share this marvelous story. We need you to reach out to those you know who might be able to partner with us or open doors to a foundation with introductions. If you can make another monetary donation, even $5, we would be grateful. Your support is making a difference.
On Easter Sunday, we had our first delivery! The baby’s mother checked into Hope House (previously called House of Hope and Dignity) the very weekend that she went into labor. The plan had been to take her to a nearby hospital for delivery, but as so often happens, the baby had other plans, and there was no time to transport her. Midwife Patricia Kollie, R.N., attended the birth with assistance from nurse-aide, Korto Kollie.
 
“Dignity:Liberia is a ministry dedicated to bringing restoration and hope to women with fistula and their communities through healing, education, and prevention.” Although we have never wavered from our goal, it may have seemed forgotten, while we while focused time and energy on funding requests and building updates. This birth brought our purpose back into focus. This is what it’s all about!
 
Said Dignity:Liberia’s founder and president, Kathi Gutierrez: “I had tears in my eyes. I look at the picture of the mother on a bed in a dress someone lovingly made, with blankets made for her child, pillowcases and sheets made and given, and a healthy baby. So wonderful!” Look closely at the pictures, which the mother gave us permission to share. You may see one of your contributions!
 
We are so blessed for the baby’s safe birth. Both the mother and infant are healthy. Said Becky Mueller, CNM: “Our impact on maternal health in Liberia has begun, one woman and child at a time.” Every time a woman gives birth by a delivery that does not cause obstetric fistula, we have made an impact. While we celebrate this birth at Hope House, we have just started construction of Dignity Clinic, whose main purpose will be to repair fistula. Additionally, C-Sections will also be performed at the clinic.
 
We need your continued support. We need you to share this marvelous story. We need you to reach out to those you know who might be able to partner with us or open doors to a foundation with introductions. If you can make another monetary donation, even $5, we would be grateful. Your support is making a difference.

You may wonder how the various board members became affiliated with Dignity:Liberia. The connection to Liberia goes back a long way. On a recent trip we dedicated a memorial wall and held a small memorial service for several people who have inspired our volunteer work in Liberia. The location is on the Ricks Institute campus where all had served. I will write chronologically.

The Rev. Emil William “Bill” Mueller and Agnes Ann Southern Mueller, RN arrived in Liberia in 1961 as some of the first Southern Baptist missionaries to the country. They each had felt “called” to mission work since they were children. Meeting in college they found a common goal. They felt that their work was a partnership with the people and with God. Agnes felt her job that was committed to helping others was also a ministry. Bill ministered and spent many years as an administrator at Ricks. They served at Ricks and in Yekepa, departing Liberia in 1973.

Bill, Agnes, Charlie and Becky as Home (U.S.) Missionaries in Kentucky 1961 prior to going to Liberia as Foreign Missionaries.

In 2012, I returned to Liberia for the first time in 34 years. It was an emotional trip for me. Much had changed. The country was recovering from two brutal civil wars: its infrastructure was in shambles, Monrovia’s population had exploded, and the streets I had once walked as a teenager no longer looked familiar.
 
I was traveling with the newly formed nonprofit, Dignity:Liberia, to offer what support I could to women and girls with obstetric fistula, a preventable birthing injury that results in urine and/or stool incontinence. We got to know fistula survivors and those awaiting fistula repair surgery and tried to lessen their sense of shame, but our long-term goal is to end fistula in Liberia. Thirteen years later, I am amazed at what has been accomplished! We’ve touted those accomplishments as they happened, but I recently compiled a list and was astounded to see that we have…
 

• Held immunization clinics and distributed reading glasses in Charles Luke Town and provided them with funds during the Ebola crisis
• Donated medical supplies to numerous hospitals
• Started a scholarship, provided supplies and other support to the Phebe School of Nursing
• Donated educational supplies, dresses, sandals and other necessities to fistula survivors at the Phebe Rehabilitation Center
• Constructed a Palava Hut at the Phebe Rehab Center
• Dug a well in Cooper’s Town
• Participated in “End Fistula” campaigns sponsored by the UNFPA
• Distributed menstrual cups in collaboration with the Peace Corps
• Held workshops on sewing reusable menstrual pads in partnership with the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Monrovia, which resulted in some participants taking their newly learned skills into their own communities and the Liberian prison system
• Built a modern maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, that opened for business in January 2025
• Installed/built a generator house, a kitchen, a Palava hut, a borehole well, a public water station, and a septic system on our 6-acre compound
  
• Employed two nurse-midwives who are traveling to nearby communities and cultivating relationships with the villages’ Traditional Tribal Midwives and residents.

 
Look over the list. Do you see one of your contributions? Did you sew dresses? Have you served as a Dignity Advocate?  Did you tell someone about us? Do you pray for us? Have you donated money? Are you an in-kind donor? Did you raise money through a birthday fundraiser? Maybe you convinced a business to give provisions. Perhaps you gave medical supplies. Did you help fold business cards or pack a container? We have accomplished so much with your help.     
 
This month we begin Phase II of our 3-phase building project: the construction of a fistula clinic with 2 operating rooms that will be used for fistula repair surgery. Women who suffer from fistula in this rural community (or who travel from elsewhere), will have their injuries repaired, restoring their sense of dignity. When necessary, delivery by C-section will also be done in the clinic. In April, we will build a public restroom on the compound for visitors to use. 
 
Thank you for blessing us with your continued support as we build our clinic in this rural area of Montserrado County. 

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
--Proverbs 17:22
 
Many Liberian women, who suffer from fistula, have had their spirits crushed. Ostracized by family, rejected by friends, unable to work, leaking body wastes, and giving off an offensive odor, they feel extreme hopelessness or depression and have “dried bones.”  A number of them have considered or even attempted suicide.

Those who spent time at the Phebe Rehabilitation Center learned they were not alone. More importantly, they were surrounded by trainers with cheerful hearts. Even the women who were still leaking and hadn’t healed physically, responded to the cheerful hearts and experienced emotional healing.

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” 
--Maya Angelou
 
Dignity:Liberia’s goal is to eliminate obstetric fistula in Liberia. At House of Hope and Dignity, expectant mothers will be provided with hands-on medical care from nurse-midwives.  These medical professionals are not the only ones who have found it in their hearts to care for somebody else. You too have found it in your hearts to care for others in numerous ways. The home was mostly built by professional construction workers, but volunteers donated time and labor as well. It was furnished using funds from your donations. It was decorated with curtains that were lovingly sewn for the home. The expectant mothers will lie on bedsheets donated by you. Prenatal care and safe delivery will go a long way to helping us succeed in reaching our goal.

“A beautiful heart, like the rays of the sun, touches many"
--Chinese Proverb
 
We are now concentrating our efforts on building a clinic with two operating rooms.  The ORs will allow for safe delivery of complicated births, but will also be used to provide fistula repair surgery. Your beautiful hearts are touching many!

If you are able, and if your heart feels moved, please continue to support us as we work to build our clinic. Thank you for helping Liberian women with your cheerful, beautiful, caring hearts. 

In October 2021, I interviewed fistula survivor Mercy Benson who spoke candidly about the physical and emotional pain of an obstetric fistula. I can hear her downcast voice as she said:
 
               “We are in a rural area. Before the ambulance could leave from Monrovia and reach to
               our place and put me down to Monrovia, the time was already late.” 
 
Since then, my husband and I moved to Brenham, Texas from Austin. Brenham is considerably smaller than Austin and while it doesn’t have all the problems of a big city, it doesn’t have all the amenities either. I have Graves’ Disease, more commonly referred to as hyperthyroidism. It is typically managed by an endocrinologist. Brenham does not have an endocrinologist. The closest one is a 50-minute drive from where I live. Since my illness is well managed, the lack of a specialist in Brenham is not an issue. However, my eyes are now open to Mercy’s predicament: she lives in a rural area. By the time she could get to a specialist, it was too late for a safe delivery. 
 
Last year Dignity:Liberia completed House of Hope and Dignity, a maternity waiting home located in rural Liberia. Two licensed midwives work at the home, where the women who visit will receive expert care.
 
We are now focused on building a dedicated fistula clinic on our 6-acre compound. Once it opens, women suffering from obstetric fistula can come to us to have their injury repaired in one of two operating rooms. Additionally, women staying at our maternity waiting home will be able to have C-sections should it be necessary. Until then, women needing a Cesarian will be taken to a nearby hospital.   
 
Please continue to support our endeavors. Tell your friends, churches, co-workers, and others about this injury and what we are doing in Liberia. Financial support is always appreciated as well. You can donate by check, credit card, Pay Pal, or make a gift of stock. All the details can be found on our giving page.
 
Exciting things are happening in Liberia – and you are a part of it! Thank you!