Sharline N., 16

Sharline is a 15-year-old girl from a poor and vulnerable background. Her father tragically lost his life in a road accident, leaving the family in severe financial hardship. She comes from a family of seven children and is the sixth-born. Following her father’s death, the family now lives with their mother in a small one-bedroom house. With no access to clean water, they depend on water from a nearby river for their daily needs. Sharline was rushed to the nearest hospital - this facility - a few hours after a spontaneous vertex delivery, due to profuse vaginal bleeding. The severity of the bleeding terrified her family, and their immediate concern was to save her life. They sought urgent medical care without considering the cost, hoping that she would at least survive. On arrival, Sharline appeared pale, weak, and critically ill. She was tachycardic and hypotensive, with a boggy, poorly contracted uterus, findings consistent with uterine atony. Vaginal bleeding was heavy, with the passage of blood clots. Laboratory investigations revealed a low hemoglobin level, confirming anemia secondary to acute blood loss. She required immediate intervention to control the bleeding and prevent progression to hypovolemic shock and death. A diagnosis of severe postpartum haemorrhage due to uterine atony was made. After the bleeding was controlled and her condition stabilised, the family expressed their inability to afford the cost of treatment. They had not previously heard about Helpster Charity. At this point, the hospital social worker conducted a thorough socio-economic assessment to verify the family’s situation and confirm that they were indeed vulnerable and unable to meet the medical expenses. Following this assessment, Sharline was enrolled for support under Helpster Charity to enable her to continue receiving the necessary medical care.

Sharline was brought in the facility with complains of profuse vaginal bleeding following home delivery due to lack of transport to facility. On examination and laboratory findings The vaginal bleeding was heavy, with passage of clots. Her hemoglobin level was low, confirming anemia secondary to acute blood loss. She put under proper treatment and management and responded well to medication and discharged when stable.

Sharline’s prognosis was good. Following prompt control of the uterine atony with uterotonic medications, uterine massage, and timely blood transfusion, the bleeding was controlled and her hemodynamic status stabilized. She responded well to treatment and was expected to make a full recovery without long-term complications.