Tanzanian gospel singer Rose Muhando has revealed deeply personal details about the blood condition that almost ended her life at the age of nine. Her story, shared during an interview with Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna on Sunday, November 23, 2025, traces a childhood shaped by illness, constant medical care, and a turning point that transformed her health and faith.
Growing up, Rose faced severe health challenges that began at birth and affected every part of her early life. She described herself as a sickly child who struggled with dangerously low blood levels. Her parents were forced into a routine of constant hospital visits as doctors tried to manage her recurring complications. Alongside regular medical attention, her condition demanded frequent blood transfusions and special foods to help boost her blood count.
She recalled how her illness disrupted her schooling and slowed her physical development, yet she continued to excel in activities that brought her joy. “When I was in primary school, I was still small, but I was given leadership roles, including in the school choir and singing competitions, and we used to win a lot. But when I was nine years old, I became very sick. I was born with a condition that caused me to lose blood every month, and each time it happened I had to be given blood transfusions or foods that would help increase my blood. My parents struggled a lot to care for me, so even growing up was very difficult,” Rose shared.
What Challenges Did Her Condition Create in Childhood?
Rose explained that her delayed physical growth was a major worry for her parents, who carried the burden of her illness with immense difficulty. Despite her physical weakness, she said she always had a strong spiritual connection. She described dreams that felt significant even as a child. “Even though I was so young, I loved God deeply. Before my illness, I had dreams at night that I had never told anyone about. When I was in Class Three, I dreamed that children dressed in white surrounded me in a large field and sang a song. When I woke up, I remembered the song, and I would go to my father to tell him about it, because he would listen. I was obedient. These dreams came often,” she said.
When she turned nine, her condition escalated into a health crisis. She became critically ill, missed an entire year of school, and her body grew severely frail. Her parents tried everything they could, from medical professionals to traditional healers, but nothing changed. “When I turned nine, my illness worsened, and it became very serious. I missed school for a whole year, and I became extremely weak. My body was so frail that even my clothes could not cover me properly. My parents tried every way to help me recover, including taking me to doctors and traditional healers, but nothing worked,” Rose said.
What Marked the Turning Point in Rose Muhando’s Recovery?
Rose shared that her father worked on large farms in their area, which is how he met a Christian woman who lived on land near their home. “My father worked on large farms, and through his work, he met a woman who had embraced Christianity. She gave the woman a piece of land near our home, and the woman lived there,” Rose shared.
Although her family was Muslim, Rose said the woman prayed for her one day, an act that was not permitted in their household. According to Rose, that moment sparked a dramatic shift in her health. “Although we were Muslims, she prayed for me one day, and that is when things began to change. That prayer helped me recover, but it caused tension because it was not allowed in our family for her to pray for me. That moment was a turning point in my life,” she revealed.
By Risper Akinyi