Gift is less than a year old. She was born to loving parents with a serious birth defect called nasal encephalocele. Nasal Encephalocele occurs when the neural tube (the embryo’s precursor to the central nervous system) fails to close completely during fetal development, resulting in a swollen area on the head or neck.
In Gift’s case, her nasal encephalocele presents in the area between her forehead and nose. Gift’s condition is visibly affecting her life. It obstructs most of her face and her eyesight, and most critically, it’s starting to interfere with her breathing. If left untreated, it will continue to grow, causing more serious symptoms and threatening Gift’s life.
Gift’s mother brought her to CURE’s hospital in Zambia in hopes they might be able to help. Gift’s condition is serious, but they believe that with surgery, they can remove the abnormal tissue and relieve Gift’s symptoms. In the email submitting her profile, Gift’s doctors tell us, “Her parents didn’t hesitate to take her to a hospital. We hope to help her the best we can.” The one thing her parents do need help with is funding. In Zambia, most people live on less than $2 a day. A surgery like the one Gift needs is financially unimaginable for her family. We need to raise the $1000 they need to get their daughter healthy and give her hope for a normal life.