May 29, 2016
Joshua lives in the Philippines with his family. The family lives in a crowded area wherein they have many neighbors. But despite their living condition, they have harmonious relationship with each other and the people in their community.
Joshua currently lives with an anorectal malformation. He experiences discrimination among his friends, classmates, and peers because of his condition. His teacher often sends him home whenever he does not bring an extra plastic bag for his colostomy. Whenever he eats fruits like pineapple, he suffers from stomach pain. When he exerts effort like playing vigorously or lifting heavy objects, his colostomy site becomes tender and bleeds. He thus has problems concentrating in school, and his studies and social interactions are very much affected.
Joshua’s family is also very concerned with Joshua’s problem. Joshua sometimes roams around the market with his bike and collects bottles and scrap iron to be sold in junk shops to help his parents in their finances. His father is working at a fruit company and is the only provider of the family.
For $965, Joshua can receive the colostomy closure he needs to recover from his condition.
“I just want to see my child live normally just like other children,” his mother said. “We as a family desires so much that Joshua will be treated but we really can’t afford his treatment. As the matter of fact, we are struggling to provide our daily needs. We are hoping and praying that somebody would help us to provide for his surgery.”
Joshua lives in the Philippines with his family. The family lives in a crowded area wherein they have many neighbors. But despite their livi...
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August 22, 2016
Joshua received successful anorectal surgery.
Joshua’s surgery was successful – it was the second surgery among three surgeries he will undergo in order to be fully healed from his condition. In the first surgery, a colostomy bag was attached to his stomach to serve as his opening for feces disposal. This second operation gave him an opening in the anus and the doctor advised to gradually dilate it to become his permanent anal opening until the colostomy closure operation comes. He was quite nervous before the surgery but he really tried to overcome it with the encouraging words of his mother and health staff, and he really made it.
After the surgery, Joshua was again the happy and playful kid he was before. Though the colostomy bag is still there, he was happy and excited that soon he will not have the bag. He and his family were very grateful that they have given this help from kind people across the world. They are looking forward to the day that Joshua will be completely healed from this condition, and that he will no longer be bullied. He now continues to recover and he diligently follow all the instructions from his physician in order to be ready for the final surgery. Joshua had a long battle to get healthy enough to be cleared for this surgery. We will continue to support his follow up care. He will be checked regularly until he is he cleared for colostomy closure surgery.
“I am happy that there are people who had helped me in my operation,” Joshua shared. “I was nervous each time I go to the hospital but I kept reminding myself of my dream that someday I will not be what I am today. I am happy that you helped me. I’m hoping that you will continue to help children like me.”
Joshua's surgery was successful -- it was the second surgery among three surgeries he will undergo in order to be fully healed from his cond...
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