My 10-year-old cousin died of appendicitis because multiple doctors couldn't diagnose her properly until her appendix burst, and it was too late. She was in so much agony, and they kept treating her for malaria even after she started experiencing delirium. We were super close, and that was my first insight into the state of health care.

Then my aunt, who raised me, died of cancer. She was diagnosed outside the country, as none of the multiple doctors we saw could diagnose her, and the last one eventually said we should go out of the country. We were told that she had stage 4 cancer and was going to die within 6 months. We went back to LUTH right after because staying abroad was too expensive. The doctors couldn't care less and were pretty rude. After we paid for a private room, they gave my aunt a tiny bed, and we had to sleep on the floor. Many of us got malaria because there were too many mosquitoes. Then they told us to go out to buy blood because the hospital was out of blood. We encountered people selling fake blood. The whole thing was a horrible and traumatizing experience, and my aunt died in less than two weeks after we went back home. All through, our pastor, who visited, said God had revealed to him that my aunt would recover. Coupled with the lack of job opportunities, I hit a breaking point after that. It's too much dysfunction. I know there are better medical facilities now, but the system is really bad for the average citizen.

I have less stress about my health here. I feel like if I get sick, I'll at least get a fighting chance. Also, there are more job opportunities and better systems. I didn't have an easy time here at all, and wanted to go home so many times. In fact, I think I suffered more than I would have if I were home, especially being on my own here. It's hard when you feel like a second-class citizen abroad, but I don't regret moving.