Patient Story: Favour Bangura, 14 Years Old | Sierra Leone
At just 14 years old, Favour Bangura from Sierra Leone began experiencing a frightening and unexplained problem — she was struggling to breathe. What started as occasional discomfort slowly progressed into persistent breathing difficulty, making everyday activities difficult for the young girl. Her family sought help from several doctors in Sierra Leone. Many tests were performed, and multiple consultations were taken. Yet despite all efforts, no doctor could determine the real cause of her condition. For months, Favour and her family lived with uncertainty and fear.

A Mother’s Hope
Favour’s mother, Adama Bangura, had faced a similar situation before. The previous year, she had traveled to India with her son for medical treatment through MedAccess India. Because of that experience, she knew that Med Access specialized in helping patients find the right diagnosis and connect with expert doctors. With growing concern for her daughter’s health, she once again reached out to Med Access India for guidance.

The Med Access Approach
Understanding that the cause of Favour’s condition was still unknown, the Med Access medical coordination team began a comprehensive case review. The case was carefully evaluated through consultations with multiple specialists, including:

• Pediatric Cardiologist
• Pulmonologist
• Hepatologist

This multidisciplinary approach was essential because breathing problems in children can sometimes originate from organs other than the lungs or heart.

The Search for the Cause

Favour first met a Pediatric Cardiologist. After detailed heart scans and diagnostic tests, doctors delivered surprising news — her heart was completely normal. While this was reassuring, it also meant the real cause of her breathing difficulty was still unknown. The next step was evaluation by a Pulmonologist, a specialist in lung diseases.

Advanced lung tests revealed something unusual: Favour had Pulmonary Hypertension, a serious condition involving high pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. However, doctors discovered something even more puzzling. Her pulmonary hypertension was not caused by heart disease or lung disease, which are the
most common causes. This unexpected finding prompted further investigation.

A Rare Diagnosis

Favour was then referred to a Hepatologist, a specialist in liver diseases. After conducting specialized imaging and detailed investigations, doctors discovered the true cause of her illness. Favour was diagnosed with Abernethy Syndrome — an extremely rare congenital vascular disorder of the liver.

In this condition, abnormal blood vessels bypass the liver instead of allowing blood to pass through it normally. This prevents the liver from filtering toxins from the blood. Over time, this abnormal circulation can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary hypertension, which explained Favour’s breathing difficulty. For Favour’s family, this was the first clear answer they had received after months of uncertainty.

A Life-Saving Treatment Plan
After confirming the diagnosis, doctors explained that the most effective long-term treatment for her condition would be a Liver Transplant. Because liver transplantation is a highly specialized and complex procedure, Med Access
provided the family with detailed information about:

• Leading liver transplant specialists
• Advanced transplant centers
• Treatment options across multiple hospitals
• Estimated treatment plans and costs

Helping the Family Understand the Journey

Receiving news about a rare disease and major surgery can be overwhelming, especially for parents. Med Access provided the family with extensive counseling and educational support, including:

• Medical information about Abernethy Syndrome
• Educational videos explaining liver transplantation
• Trusted medical resources and reading materials
• Guidance on the treatment journey and recovery process

This support helped Favour’s mother understand the condition and confidently plan the next steps for her daughter’s care.

A Mother’s Gratitude

For Adama Bangura, the most important moment was finally discovering the true cause of her daughter’s illness.
After months of uncertainty, the family finally had a clear diagnosis and a treatment path forward. She expressed deep gratitude to Med Access India for helping them identify a rare disease that

had previously gone undiagnosed.

The Role of Med Access India

Through its Surgery Decision Support and Medical Case Management services, Med Access India helped the family:

• Establish the correct diagnosis
• Connect with leading medical specialists
• Explore advanced treatment options
• Understand complex medical information
• Prepare for the next stage of treatment

Giving Patients Answers When Others Cannot

Favour Bangura’s case demonstrates the importance of expert evaluation, multidisciplinary medical care, and global access to advanced healthcare. For patients with rare or complex medical conditions, the right diagnosis can change everything. And sometimes, it begins with simply finding the right experts to ask the right questions.