“I love my twins and I pray that Eliashibu will get well and continue with normal growth,” says the mother of Eliashibu, who, along with his twin sister, was born in Tanzania less than two months ago.
Eliashibu has a congenital disorder known as hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. “Eliashibu’s head circumference has started to increase due to increased intracranial pressure,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Eliashibu is experiencing some seizures which can affect the brain. If not treated, Eliashibu may lose his vision and become dependent.”
Eliashibu and his twin sister have two older siblings. His mother, a homemaker, and his father, a small-scale farmer, have already spent a lot of money on hospital care for Eliashibu and his mother. As a result, they have no funds for the required operation, which involves the placement of cerebral shunts to drain the excess CSF from Eliashibu’s brain to other body cavities where it can be resorbed.
For $690, Eliashibu can receive surgery, a five-day hospital stay, and two weeks of post-operative care. AMHF expects that Eliashibu’s head circumference will no longer increase abnormally. “He will not lose his vision and he will not become dependent.” Let's help make it happen!