Mercy in action: Sharifan’s story

Dr Judith Goh is a urogynaecologist on a mission. For more than 14 years she has travelled the world helping women with pelvic dysfunction in developing countries. Sharifan is one of these women. This is her story.

Sharifan Nishi is a 41 year-old Indian woman who works in a small rural community health project in Masoorie, Northern India. She assists and teaches community health workers and accompanies patients from rural communities to the hospitals. Sharifan is committed to the care of women in her local community.

Sharifan has three children. The youngest is a one year-old child who was adopted by Sharifan and her husband after his mother died in childbirth. The baby was abandoned, perceived as a curse on his mother.

In 2007, Sharifan had a total abdominal hysterectomy for menstrual dysfunction and a large fibroid uterus. Unfortunately, this was complicated by a vesico-vaginal fistula—an abnormal communication between the bladder and vagina. This meant that Sharifan was totally incontinent and leaked urine constantly.

At the end of 2007, Sharifan underwent a laparotomy and fistula repair. The repair was unsuccessful and she was re-operated at the end of 2007, again unsuccessfully. With the fistula and continuous urine leakage, Sharifan was unable to leave her home to work.

I was asked to assist by Dr Flora Gastrell, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from New Zealand and Dr Nathan Grills, a GP from Melbourne who had worked with Sharifan in India.

On 25 June 2009, Sharifan was brought to Australia to undergo a vaginal repair of her fistula at Mater Private Hospital Redland. This was done without any cost to Sharifan.

Mater’s Director of Clinical Services, Cheryl Clayton and the Mater Foundation kindly agreed to raise funds and assist with hospital costs, while assistant surgeon Dr Hannah Krause, anaesthetist Dr Victor Avramov and pelvic floor physiotherapist Michelle Kenway each donated their time and skills. During her two and a half week recovery, Sharifan stayed with Sr Marcia Maranta who kept her busy each day with sight seeing, shopping and visiting, along with her many visits to the hospital.

Sharifan is now back in India with her family and recovering well. The fistula has healed.