CRIS 30th Anniversary Story | Cynthia

Cynthia was just 11 years old when her mother, Deborah, survived a brutal acid attack in their home country of Uganda. Hospitalized for nine months, Deborah clung to life while Cynthia stayed by her side. Even at that young age, Cynthia noticed how deeply unequal the healthcare system was—how much treatment depended on money. She also learned that despite the high number of acid attacks in Uganda, there was only one plastic surgeon at the largest public hospital in Kampala. And he split his time between Uganda and Kenya.

One day while with her mother in the hospital, Cynthia asked that surgeon and asked, “Why are there so many people who need help and not enough doctors? What does it take to become one?” That moment planted a seed. But hope was hard to hold onto.

Cynthia’s father had a hand in the attack on her mother. Once Deborah was medically stable, she fled to Kenya for safety and continued medical care. In 2016, she was resettled in Columbus through CRIS, but her children had to stay behind with their extended relatives. Cynthia feared for her mother’s life and lived with the constant sense, “My family is not safe.” School became her escape—one of the few places she felt in control.

In Columbus, Deborah continued her medical care and poured her energy into reuniting with her children. That process was long and grueling, delayed by red tape, shifting policies, and travel bans. In 2019, she returned to Africa to advocate for her children in person. It was the first time Cynthia had seen her mother in three years. She was stunned by her mom’s recovery—thanks to care in the U.S., Deborah had regained arm and neck mobility that once seemed lost.

“She looked like a whole different person,” Cynthia remembers. “It made me wonder: how many people never get that chance to heal? That’s when I knew—I really want to become a doctor.”

Shortly after that visit, Cynthia and her siblings were finally able to join their mother in Columbus. For the first time in years, Cynthia felt hope return. She was determined to succeed, but the road ahead was tough. Despite completing three years of high school in Uganda, she was placed as a sophomore at a high school here in Columbus. She didn’t let it stop her. Determined to graduate on time, she doubled up on coursework—attending classes during the day and tackling online courses at night. She completed two years of high school in one.

Her senior year, Cynthia earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Dayton, where she majored in biochemistry. While there, she shadowed doctors, including a surgeon who runs a surgical clinic in Honduras. Cynthia joined him on multiple trips, providing care to people with little or no access to medical treatment. Her passion deepened.

In May 2025, Cynthia graduated from the University of Dayton. This fall, she’ll start medical school at the University of Toledo, with dreams of becoming a surgeon. One day, she hopes to join Doctors Without Borders and bring life-changing care to others—just as her mother has received.