Fistula Survivor’s Name: Rebecca Garyozon
Interview Date: February 25, 2020
Interview Location: Phebe Rehabilitation Center, Bong County
Interviewer: Kathy Beth Stavinoha
Assisted by: Emma K. Katakpah
Rebecca Garyozon was born in Grand Bassa County. Now 23, she recalls playing football (soccer) and kickball as a child. She has one brother and six sisters. They help their mom around the house. Rebecca helps with cooking and cleaning.
She speaks only English – no dialect. She’s been through the 8th grade and would like to go back to school. Her favorite topic was Social Studies.
Rebecca got her fistula through childbirth. She was in pain (labor) for one week. Her mother took her to a country midwife (no medical training). They “try, try,” but "the baby never came outside" (the baby was stuck). Then she took her to JFK [Hospital], where they performed a C-Section (“did the operation”). When she went home, she started experiencing the pee pee coming down on her.
Having a fistula made her feel bad. It made her to not go around her friends and made her stay in her house. Her mom supported her, helping her stay clean. Her friends didn’t stay with her. They avoided her. Rebecca told me, “she go far away from me.” She’s had one fistula repair surgery and is dry.
She learned baking and soap making at the Phebe Rehab Center. She prefers making soap, which she plans to sell. She will go back to Red Light and sell things in the market.
She would advise someone in labor to go to straight to the hospital. If she had a friend with fistula, she would support her. The friends at Rehab are good friends.
Rebecca is a fistula survivor. Hear her story in her own voice:
Interview Date: February 25, 2020
Interview Location: Phebe Rehabilitation Center, Bong County
Interviewer: Kathy Beth Stavinoha
Assisted by: Emma K. Katakpah
Rebecca Garyozon was born in Grand Bassa County. Now 23, she recalls playing football (soccer) and kickball as a child. She has one brother and six sisters. They help their mom around the house. Rebecca helps with cooking and cleaning.
She speaks only English – no dialect. She’s been through the 8th grade and would like to go back to school. Her favorite topic was Social Studies.
Rebecca got her fistula through childbirth. She was in pain (labor) for one week. Her mother took her to a country midwife (no medical training). They “try, try,” but "the baby never came outside" (the baby was stuck). Then she took her to JFK [Hospital], where they performed a C-Section (“did the operation”). When she went home, she started experiencing the pee pee coming down on her.
Having a fistula made her feel bad. It made her to not go around her friends and made her stay in her house. Her mom supported her, helping her stay clean. Her friends didn’t stay with her. They avoided her. Rebecca told me, “she go far away from me.” She’s had one fistula repair surgery and is dry.
She learned baking and soap making at the Phebe Rehab Center. She prefers making soap, which she plans to sell. She will go back to Red Light and sell things in the market.
She would advise someone in labor to go to straight to the hospital. If she had a friend with fistula, she would support her. The friends at Rehab are good friends.
Rebecca is a fistula survivor. Hear her story in her own voice:
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