As most of you know, I spent most of 2024 living in rural Cameroon as part of my doctoral research. For a lot of that time, I've been staying with C. and his family. They welcomed me in to their home and, for a time, shared their lives with me. We have spent hours upon hours together discussing his life, his hopes, his fears.
Just before I arrived, C. caught a blow to his head which left him with a bloodshot eye and one hell of a headache. Over the course of the year, C. has treated his eye with various remedies that sometimes provide temporary relief. But the headaches have steadily become more severe and more constant, he's suffering from regular bouts of vertigo and loss of balance, and the strength has gone from his muscles. This is a big deal - right now it's the season for clearing land to prepare for planting. It is hard, physical work and with C. out of action, the whole family is behind on preparations to make sure they have enough to eat in the coming months.
Just before I left Cameroon, I paid for C. to get the scans recommended by the local doctor. He had to travel to Yaounde, Cameroon's capital city, for that. The results are in, and the doctors are recommending an eye surgery called a 'core vitrectomy', plus some ancillary work, which is all connected to dealing with a detached retina, apparently.
The hospital issued a proforma for the costs of the surgery - it's just shy of 1 million CFA, which is about £1,300 or EUR 1,500. Considering all the extra costs (travel to hospital, food and bed care while recovering, I reckon C. needs about £1,500 to get this treatment.
In the scheme of things, it's really not that much. But it's well beyond C's means. As I'm nearly three years into an (unfunded) phd, I'm also not in a great position to cover it all right now. So, this is why I'm coming to you to ask for a little help. It's the first time I've made this kind of appeal and I don't have any plans to repeat it. If you're able to offer £10 to help out a friend who has done so much to help me in the last year, I'll be eternally grateful. I'll leave this appeal open for 10 days and then, whatever shortfall remains, I'll make up myself.
There's not much I can offer in return for your generosity, except a thousand thanks and a promise to visit you in 2025 with a bottle of wine or your tipple of choice, and some riveting conversation. Although for those of you outside Europe it might be a little later than that. And for those of you I haven't been in touch with for an age - I'm sorry. Don't worry at all if you're not able to help out. Regardless, here's hoping this is a catalyst for us to reconnect!
With thanks and love,
Lindsay