“It is a hard thing to see our son set apart from other young boys, and to know that he will have massive difficulties socially as well as physically,” shares Kanyiki’s mother. “We only want help in order to give Kanyiki a chance to enjoy his future as he should.”
Kanyiki, a baby from Kenya, has a rare congenital defect known as encephalocele. This means that parts of his brain are protruding through openings in his cranium, manifesting as a large lump in his forehead.
When Kanyiki was born, the swelling between his eyes was barely noticeable, but “the swell began to grow quickly,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Now at three months old, Kanyiki’s protrusion is sizable, and “the lump is painful. Washing his face is challenging.”
Further down the line, the Kanyiki’s encephalocele could cause him even larger troubles. “If not treated, Kanyiki may have mental and growth retardation,” explains AMHF.
To avoid these life-long health effects, Kanyiki needs to undergo an extensive operation of approximately five hours. However, his parents, who are farmers, are struggling to make ends meet and they cannot afford to pay for their son’s crucial surgery.
Fortunately, we can help this family give their baby a second chance. $780 will cover the cost of Kanyiki’s surgery, wherein doctors will remove any brain tissue that is protruding from his skull, and close up the opening in his cranium. Watsi’s funding also includes a ten-day hospital stay for Kanyiki to recover from his procedure.
After this treatment, AMHF tells us, Kanyiki’s risk of serious psychological and physical retardation will be substantially reduced. Let’s make sure Kanyiki gets a shot at a normal physical, mental, and social life.
