Demi’s Story: Quick Action and Collaboration Yields Results for Peter’s Heart Student with a Medical Emergency

Demi (name changed for privacy) is an 8-year-old boy who has been in the Peter’s Heart program for almost a year. He lives with his mother in the Sembule slum and attends one of our partner schools, Mutesa II Memorial School, as a day student. His dream is to become an optician. Last term, Medi fell seriously ill just two weeks into the school session.

When Peter’s Heart staff in Uganda discovered that Demi had an emergency medical situation, they sprang into action. Because of headaches, left-sided weakness, and nausea, he was taken to a local community hospital to receive medical care, where they discovered he had a large brain mass. Increased brain pressure made the situation critical.  

On September 20, 2025, Peter’s Heart CEO Amos Munuji contacted the Peter’s Heart team in the US to ask if the organization could provide the funds needed for this surgery. Quick decisions needed to be made, and we reached out to our network of contacts in Uganda to see what could be done.  

Beth Balake, a Ugandan on the Peter’s Heart Board of Trustees, contacted her cousin at Mulago Hospital, which is a National Referral Hospital in Kampala. They recommended immediate surgery to remove the tumor, but they had too many critical cases in the queue to prioritize his case.

One of Peter’s Heart’s faithful mentors in M’bale, Joyce Kidulu, contacted her cousin, a neurosurgeon on staff at CURE Uganda Hospital in M’bale. CURE International is a global nonprofit network of children’s hospitals providing surgical care in a compassionate, high-quality environment. CURE in M’Bale performed the surgery on September 25. Peter’s Heart also enrolled his sister in boarding school so their mom could focus on Demi’s care.

Demi is now functioning normally, is speaking fluently, and no longer has headaches or seizures. He has been referred back to Mulago hospital for continued treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, and the team is hopeful for his future.

Demi and his mother are experiencing God at work through his people in Peter’s Heart Uganda, and they are so grateful.

UPDATE as of May 25, 2026:

Demi received great news that there is no regrowth in his tumor. He will continue his medication at the Uganda Cancer Institute as recommended by the oncologist, and he is well enough to return to school! Check out the latest photos on the first day of school this term.