Elias is a five-month-old boy from Tanzania. He is the first and only child to his parents, who love him dearly. His mother is a tailor, and his father is a construction worker.
Three months ago, Elias’s mother began noticing that his head was swelling and that he was becoming irritable and sick. She took Elias to a local hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with acquired hydrocephalus, a condition that occurs when a tumor, injury, or disease blocks the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can cause severe physical and cognitive defects and become life-threatening.
On July 12, Elias will receive a endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) insertion, which will create an opening to allow cerebrospinal fluid to flow in and around the brain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to fund the treatment.
“I am grateful for the help,” said Elias’s mother. “I cannot wait for my child to get better.”