“I feel lost right now, I can only look up to God. I pray that my son gets treated,” expresses Thomas’ mother. A two-month-old baby boy from Kenya, Thomas lives with his parents and older sibling and suffers from spina bifida—a birth defect where the spinal cord doesn’t develop properly.
Thomas was born with a sac-like protrusion on his lower back. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “If his condition goes untreated, Thomas is at risk of infection from his exposed nerves and tissue, and may develop tethered cord syndrome which can lead to scoliosis and/or kyphosis.”
Thomas’ mother is unemployed and his father works as a casual worker doing manual labor. AMHF adds, “His parents own a small piece of land where they practice farming to supplement their meager income,” but they have been unable to raise the funds for Thomas’ surgical treatment.
For $805, AMHF will be able to provide Thomas with spina bifida closure surgery. This treatment is expected to reduce the risk of infection and prevent development of tethered cord syndrome. Let’s help this adorable baby receive the care he needs to live a normal, healthy childhood!