From ICU to happy home: Walukale's story of hope

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After undergoing successful heart surgery at just nine months old, Jeremiah Walukale is now experiencing healthy growth as he approaches his third birthday.

According to his mother, Shanita Kibodyo, her son, who was born on July 16, 2023, at Budaka Health Centre IV in Budaka district, developed a heart condition immediately after birth.

Giacomo carrying Jeremiah Walukale before return to Uganda with his mother after surgery in Italy

With support from former Uganda’s Honorary Consul to Italy, Albrieux Giacomo, who worked with Caritas Diocesana in Italy to raise $31,000 (sh117.4m), Walukale underwent a successful operation on May 24, 2024, and remained in the intensive care unit for 30 days at Gaslini Paediatric Hospital in Genoa. Walukale and his mother later returned to Uganda on July 17, 2024.

“Since we returned to Uganda, Jeremiah has never had any problem and is growing very well. He is very healthy. Even after six months, we went to Mulago in Kampala for checkup and medics have never discovered anything. We are grateful to Giacomo because he has continued to support us, including facilitating our visits to Mulago every six months,” Kibondyo said.

Kibondyo added, “As part of the efforts by Giacomo to ensure that we are able to support Jeremiah, he bought me a tailoring machine and provided me with capital to buy raw materials to make ‘bitengi’ dresses, and I am currently working.”

“Jeremiah will soon start school, and I know our Italian friends will not cease their support for us. It makes me happy as a mother that God gave my second-born a chance to live,” Kabondyo added.

The Italian Embassy in Kampala played a significant role in facilitating the visa process for the family on humanitarian grounds.

Paul Tasyoma, an uncle to Walukale, said that since the child returned from Italy, his growth has been normal.

“There is no sign of sickness relating to his heart and so on. We always make regular reports and take him for screening every six months and the medical reports are always normal. We are hoping that he will soon join the baby class,” Tasyoma said.

He added, “The support from the Italians has been continuous, and we greatly appreciate it. In terms of health, they are the ones always facilitating the visits. Even when Jeremiah fails to be sick from other illnesses, such as Malaria, they come in and give a hand.”

Giacomo celebrated Walukale’s recovery and pledged to extend similar support to other children and individuals with heart complications.

“I urge the Italian Embassy in Uganda, Gaslini Hospital, Pediatric Mulago Hospital, among others to continue supporting efforts to save lives when it comes to heart complications which cannot be handled in Uganda,” Giacomo said.