“My wish is to be a driver when I am older,” shares Michael, who lives in Kenya.
At 13, Michael is an eloquent young man. He and his three other siblings live with neighbors in their village. Although his foster family can take care of his basic needs, they do not have the extra money to help treat an ongoing injury Michael has experienced.
In 2009, Michael and his sister were preparing food when he was accidentally burned by cooking oil on his hand and neck. After several hospital visits, he received a skin graft in 2011. Michael mostly healed, but contractures—abnormally tight, tough sections of tissue—formed on his neck where the burn had been.
As Michael continued to grow, the contractures stretched his neck into an abnormal position. Unless he is treated, this twisting will only continue to worsen.
Fortunately, though, we can help Michael. For $1,176, we can sponsor the surgical procedure that will release his contractures, allowing his neck to return to its normal position. This sum will also cover the lab tests, medications, and nine-day hospital stay that will accompany his operation on January 17, 2018.
Michael has already faced many challenges in his short life. Let’s help make sure chronic medical disability doesn’t become another one.