The all-women team that Glamour Magazine focused on, not only changed the lives of fistula women, but also succeeded in changing the cultural attitude of a male dominated hospital staff!

Adding to the constant eye of the cameras focusing on them, the doctors had a surprise visit from the First Lady of Niger, Madam Laraba Tandja!  Madam Tandja, who is a fervent supporter of our fistula program, brought the First Lady of the neighboring country of Burkina Faso, Madam Compaore, to visit our doctors working at the National Hospital.

From left to right: Dr. Cynthia Hall, Madam Karim Fatouma Zara of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Amadou Seibou; Madam Tandja, Madam Compaore, Dr. Karolynn Echols, Dr. Carol Glowacki, and Dr. Ambereen Sleemi.

Thank you for introducing me to an experience that is changing my life--it is an on-going transformation. It allowed me to spend time working with and learning from 5 truly amazing women- you, carol, karolyn, cynthia and rachel. each of them enriched my life in a way that i could not have foreseen.  It introduced me to the people of niger - the patients, the doctors and nurses, the ex-pats and the wonderful population. I feel that my commitment to fistula work will go a step further. Carol always teased me about being a closet-urogynecologist, well, it is time for me to come out of the closet- niger has outted me!

- Dr. Ambereen Sleemi

I truly view the world in a much different manner because of the time spent in Niger with you all. I wanted to thank each of you for my unique and life changing experience. Although I have repaired fistulas before, Niger is by far the most needy. You all are wonderful people (women power!!!) and I am so glad to have gotten to know and work with each of you especially during some of the obstacles we had to face in Niger. I will never forget this experience and not only do I hope to be able to do this again but I hope our friendship will grow and cultivate over a lifetime. Barbara, you have truly started something really great.

- Dr. Karolynn Echols

To Carol, Ambereen, Cynthia, Rachel, and of course the ones who started this wonderful project: Barbara and Ira, I would like to leave you all with two inspiring quotes:

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you're doing the impossible ." - St Francis of Assisi

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare Pavese

Here's to our future impossible moments...

- Dr. Karolynn Echols

Click to read: • April 2007 Mission. • February 2007 Mission. • December 2006 Mission. • September 2006 Mission. • April 2006 Mission. • January 2006 Mission. • September 2005 Mission. • April 2005 Mission. • February 2005 Mission. • December 2004 Mission. • September 2004 Mission. • June 2004 Mission. • April 2004 Mission. • January 2004 Mission. • December 2003 Mission.