Victim of brutal attack gets help in CT

North Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - A Uganda woman's life was changed in a brutal attack and now she is getting help in Connecticut.

Jonas Tumuhebwe lost both her husband and her two hands in the attack. She is being fitted for prosthetic arms before returning home.

"This is such a great support I cannot explain," said Polly Kabigumira the sister of Tumuhebwe. Tumuhebwe does not speak English and her sister-in-law helps to tell her story. Tumuhebwe is the mother of six children who lost her husband and both hands in a random attack by thugs on the way home from work three years ago. "They meant to kill her," explained Kabigumira. "They cut her here, here and even at the back and then they chopped off her hands after killing her husband and throwing him into a ditch."

Since then, she has been unable to take of herself and her children. However, all of that is about to change. "She can feed herself, she can wash the dishes, she can cook and she can take care of her children," said Kabigumira. "It is such an amazing thing happening in her life."

The humanitarian group, Call to Care Uganda , was so moved by the mother's story that the organization brought her to the United States for treatment. "She had so much sadness, it was almost you could feel it," said Martha Hoffman from Call to Care Uganda. "When we found six children who she was trying to take care of without any hands, really at the time we didn't know we could help her."

Several doctor visits later, Tumuhebwe now has two prosthetic Arms thanks to the generosity of of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics in North Haven. Practitioner David Knapp is donating his time to help Tumuhebwe regain her independence. "It's so gratifying to make such an impact on someone's life," said David Knapp of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics. "It is very touching because we never thought it was going to work out like this."

In what little English she knows, Tumuhebwe expressed her gratitude for what her family calls a miracle. "Thank you very much!"