A Mother’s Journey from Pain to Hope: Angel’s Birth Story Testimony from Uganda
New mother Nakidde Angel sits outside her home in Namutamba holding her newborn.
Becoming a mother for the first time should be a moment filled with joy. For Nakidde Angel, aged 20, the birth of her baby boy brought both that joy and a frightening experience she never expected. But when she needed care and reassurance most, Namutamba Health Center III in Uganda became a place where she and her newborn felt safe, welcomed, and loved.
A Frightening First Birth
When Angel began experiencing contractions, she went with her mother to Namutamba Health Center. The staff welcomed her, examined her, and determined that she would need to be referred to a nearby state-run general hospital in Mityana because a normal delivery was unlikely.
Angel was frightened. It was her first baby, and she had heard troubling stories about the hospital. Unfortunately, her experience there proved difficult.
As her pain intensified, Angel said she repeatedly asked the medical staff for help, but her concerns were not being addressed. Eventually, she underwent surgery and delivered a baby boy at around 6 a.m.
Although she was grateful for her son, Angel described that the care she received after the operation was inadequate, particularly when it came to managing her pain.
“I look at myself and I saw myself at a death point,” she recalled of the frightening experience.
Finding Comfort at Namutamba
After returning home, Angel's newborn developed flu-like symptoms and a cough. The two returned to Namutamba Health Center, where Angel experienced a very different quality of care.
The staff welcomed her warmly, asking how she was doing and what had happened at the hospital. They also provided medication for her baby, who received treatment over three days.
For Angel, the difference went beyond medical care. She felt that the staff genuinely cared about her and her child.
“They are so happy to receive us,” she remembered. “And they're like, ‘Oh sister, welcome back. How was it? How was the situation there?’”
That welcome meant a great deal after the fear and uncertainty she had experienced during childbirth.
“You also feel loved,” Angel explained.
During those three days, she and her baby felt comfortable and cared for. In her words, they were “feeling at home.”
By the end of their stay, her baby was doing well, and Angel was deeply grateful for the support they had received.
Nurse Abraham and Facility Admin Julius conduct a wellness check-in with Angel.
This is Angel’s story — a story of resilience, hope, and the power of compassionate healthcare.
For Angel, Namutamba Health Center became more than a place to receive medication. It was a place where she felt welcomed as a new mother and where her baby received the attention he needed.
Her experience is a powerful reminder that quality healthcare treats more than an illness. It cares for a person’s quality of life.
Your donation supports Namutamba Health Center so more mothers like Angel can receive the care they deserve. Donate today at www.healingglobal.org/give.
