Source: Joy Prime TV
For many people, a hospital visit is an uncomfortable experience. For Yaa Bitha, hospitals have been part of her life since childhood.
Appearing on Joy Prime TV, Yaa Bitha opened up about living with a rare medical condition, the eight surgeries she has undergone, the emotional and physical pain she has experienced, and the strength that has helped her keep moving forward.
Her decision to tell her story publicly was not an easy one.
For years, she struggled with whether she should speak openly about her condition, particularly because of the stigma and misconceptions surrounding women’s reproductive health. But after finding herself at the 37 Military Hospital in May, sitting among women waiting to see a gynaecologist, she decided that the time had come to tell her story.
A condition discovered after years of uncertainty
Yaa Bitha was born with a rare reproductive condition that went undiagnosed for years. She explained that she was also born with six fingers and had to undergo surgery to correct that condition as well.
At the age of 12, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain. Her body was undergoing menstruation, but because of the nature of her condition, there was no normal passage for the menstrual blood to leave her body.
The situation resulted in blood accumulating internally.
What followed was a long and painful journey through hospitals, tests and surgeries. At one point, she said, doctors initially struggled to determine what was wrong. She underwent procedures to remove the accumulated blood, only for the pain to return.
Her family eventually sought specialist help, leading to further investigations and the eventual diagnosis of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare congenital condition affecting the development of the female reproductive system.
Eight surgeries and unimaginable pain
Yaa Bitha has undergone eight surgeries as doctors worked to address the complications associated with her condition.
Some of her experiences were particularly traumatic.
She recalled one incident after returning to school following surgery when her stitches were removed despite her warning that she had been instructed not to have them touched. Her wound subsequently opened, leaving her bleeding and requiring her to return to the hospital.
She described the experience as one of the most traumatising moments of her life.
Another surgery left her unable to urinate for an entire week. Eventually, doctors discovered the problem and had to intervene again.
For Yaa Bitha, these experiences changed her understanding of pain.
“Those two experiences really changed my perspective on pain,” she said during the interview.
The scars are physical but also emotional
Beyond the surgeries themselves, Yaa Bitha spoke candidly about the emotional burden of living with a condition that many people know little about.
The scars left by multiple surgeries have affected how she sees herself, and she admitted that there are times when she still struggles mentally with what she has gone through.
She has also had to confront difficult questions about relationships, marriage and motherhood.
Would someone accept her? Would a future partner understand her condition? Would she be able to have children?
These are questions she has had to carry alongside her physical challenges.
She recalled that one of the first men she became involved with told her that he did not believe she could have children and chose to stay away. Today, however, she says she is more confident that the person she eventually ends up with will understand and accept her.
Her family has been a major source of strength
Through the difficult years, Yaa Bitha says her family has remained a major source of support.
She particularly spoke about her father, who constantly reminds her that she is “bold, beautiful and brainy.” He has also described her as his “best trophy” because of everything she has survived.
Her brother Gabriel has also played an important role in her journey. She recalled how, during the early years of her condition, he would hold her for hours and pray with her.
Today, he is studying medicine and has told her that he wants to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology because of her experience.
For Yaa Bitha, that means a great deal.
Turning pain into purpose
Despite everything she has endured, Yaa Bitha continues to create content and maintain a public presence.
She says her motivation comes largely from her passion for journalism and storytelling.
Whether she is behind the camera, editing videos or recording voice-overs, she says doing something she loves gives her joy and keeps her going.
That resilience was evident in the messages she received during the Joy Prime programme. Viewers praised her courage and said that her willingness to share the reality behind her public image was inspiring, particularly for young women who may be facing struggles of their own.
“I believe you’ve kept me here for a reason”
Yaa Bitha does not pretend that she has all the answers.
She admitted that, like anyone else, she sometimes wonders why these things happened to her. She has also questioned whether she will find love and have children.
But her faith remains an important part of how she copes.
After surviving multiple surgeries, including one that lasted about 14 hours, she says she believes she is still alive for a reason.
Her message to other people living with similar conditions is simple: seek help, learn about your condition and do not suffer in silence. She encourages people to seek proper medical attention and to educate themselves about their health.
Yaa Bitha’s story is ultimately about much more than a rare medical condition.
It is a story about survival, family, faith, vulnerability and the courage to speak about experiences that many people would rather keep hidden.
By choosing to tell her story publicly, she is not only reclaiming her own narrative but also giving other women the courage to realise that their conditions do not make them less worthy of love, dignity or a fulfilling life.
