The Courage of Little Seha

A journey of courage, resilience, and hope.

At just three years old, Seha continues her treatment journey with remarkable courage and hope.

“With access to care, even the smallest patients can show extraordinary courage.”

At just three years old, Seha has already shown extraordinary courage. She is a beautiful young girl from the Rukwa Region in western Tanzania, approximately 1,159 km from Dar es Salaam.

Seha is the fourth of five children. Her parents are peasant farmers, and when their daughter became seriously ill, they began a long and difficult search for answers.

After months of illness, Seha was eventually diagnosed with cancer of the left kidney.

Seha first became unwell with abdominal swelling and persistent fever. For two months, her family travelled from one health facility to another seeking help. She was treated for malaria and a urinary tract infection, but her condition did not improve.

Her family also sought help from traditional healers, hoping to find relief for their daughter. Sadly, this brought no improvement. Eventually, Seha was taken to a zonal hospital, where doctors suspected a kidney tumour and referred her to Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

By the time Seha arrived at MNH, she was severely malnourished and very unwell. Her abdomen was extremely swollen and tense, and she was struggling to breathe, requiring oxygen support. Following further investigations, she was diagnosed with cancer of the left kidney.

Treatment began immediately. Seha started chemotherapy to shrink the tumour before surgery, alongside nutritional support and antibiotics to help strengthen her body. After completing her pre-operative chemotherapy, she underwent surgery to remove the affected kidney.

Her treatment journey continued after surgery. Seha received weekly chemotherapy and radiotherapy to her abdomen as doctors worked to give her the best possible chance of recovery.

Today, Seha has completed her radiotherapy and continues with chemotherapy. Despite everything she has been through, she is now a much happier child, with a smile that reflects her incredible strength.

Her journey is not over yet, but Seha can now look towards the future with hope. At just three years old, she has already shown us what courage looks like.

With continued treatment, care, and support, Seha is being given the chance to grow, dream, and build the future she deserves.