Hassanatu Dumbuya is a 28-year old nursing student at the Ernest Bai Koroma University in Makeni (a city about 1,5 hours by car from Yele). Hassanatu was on her way home from Makeni Regional Hospital in late August when she got involved in a motorbike accident. She sustained a serious open femoral fracture (a badly broken bone) in her left leg.
While in severe pain, Hassanatu was taken back to the Makeni Regional Hospital. There, she received emergency treatment and the following day she was referred to LHMC for further management of the fracture. At LHMC, our team received her and checked her vital signs immediately. Laboratory investigations were carried out, and an X-ray was done to understand the extent of her injury.
Following careful assessment, our surgical team prepared her for surgery. At the Operating Theatre (OT), the fracture was reduced and stabilized, and an external fixator (ex-fix) was applied to keep the bones in place so they can heal and grow. The ex-fix can usually be removed after 6 weeks, when the bones have healed.
Today, seeing Hassanatu walking around the hospital with her ex-fix and a beautiful smile is a powerful reminder that an injury may slow you down, but it doesn’t have to stop your courage, patience, and positive spirit. Hassanatu extended her gratitude to our doctors, nurses, theater staff, laboratory team, and everyone involved in the quality care she received. As a hospital, we celebrate every milestone in her recovery and wish her continued healing, strength and a successful return to her studies.