She recently underwent an operation removing her uterus and cervix. Radio personality and author Criselda Kanada opened up to ZiMoja about health issues and the major operation that prevents her from having any more children.

GETTING RID OF THE PAIN

She recently shared on social media that she is healing. "Goodbye to organs that gave me three beautiful angels disguised as daughters. It was a major surgery that helps me rid myself of recurring fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, chronic pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding for months on end," she wrote.

THE OPERATION 

Speaking to ZiMoja, Criselda says the operation was hectic and she needed counselling after. "I did a total abdominal hysterectomy. All reproductive organs were removed after three beautiful daughters and many unfortunate health complications," she says. A total abdominal hysterectomy means having one’s uterus and cervix removed. The surgeon may at times remove the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. It is performed through a cut in the lower belly. Criselda’s operation took place on 27 March 2023 and she has fully healed. "I am completely healed. Though it was a hectic operation, healing happened much quicker than I thought," she says, adding that, "I was experiencing symptoms of menopause, with a family history of cancer and there was really no longer a need for me to keep dysfunctional organs even though I felt sad post-operation. It felt like I was robbed of my womanhood." 

She admits that she needed mental and spiritual healing. "I needed to be counselled out of feeling sorry for myself and focus on healing. I’m now healed and back at work doing what I love, creating many forms of pathways of healing," she says.

WORK AND PLAY

She is currently a corporate affairs executive at 3Sixty Global Solutions and continues MCing, training, facilitating and positive talks, promoting her book You Are Never Alone through her company Positive Talk Services. "I serve on worthy course boards for South African Women in Dialogue founded by Mrs. Zanele Mbeki and am a council member for Africa Reach chaired by Namibian First Lady HE Monica Geingos. I am also serving on the National Strategic Plan for the country’s response towards Gender Based Violence and Femicide." But she also longs to go back to radio. "People are longing for wholesome and healing content. We are living in very difficult times where the content around us is predominantly entertainment and we need healing." She is also in the process of writing her second book. "I’m definitely writing about my womb journey and its highs and lows."