Kervensley from Haiti raised $957 to fund neurosurgery to help him grow up healthy.

100%

$957 raised, $0 to go

$957

raised

to go

Kervensley's story
Kervensley's update

March 7, 2022

Kervensley is a 6-month-old baby boy from Haiti. Kervensley is the firstborn child in his family and he brings his parents a great deal of joy. Kervensley has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Without treatment, Kervensley will experience severe physical and developmental delays.

Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is assisting Kervensley’s parents in raising $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Kervensley at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on March 7th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Kervensley’s brain to reduce intracranial pressure. With proper treatment, Kervensley will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy.

Kervensley’s parents are hopeful to see their son be able to walk, talk, and play with other children as he grows older.

Kervensley is a 6-month-old baby boy from Haiti. Kervensley is the firstborn child in his family and he brings his parents a great deal of j...

April 15, 2022

Kervensley underwent neurosurgery but later had complications.

We just received an update from our medical partner that we wanted to share with you. Kervensley’s surgery went well and the doctors were able to place a shunt to help drain excess fluid from his brain. After recovering he was in the pediatric unit at the hospital and the medical team had to treat him for an emergency cardiac arrest. He recovered and was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit, but sadly he had another cardiac event and passed away. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult moment. They are grateful for all the support to try to help their son.

We just received an update from our medical partner that we wanted to share with you. Kervensley's surgery went well and the doctors were ab...

March 7, 2022
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Kervensley was submitted by Jennifer Rogers, Chief Nursing Officer at Project Medishare.
March 10, 2022
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Kervensley received treatment at Hospital Bernard Mevs in Haiti. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
March 11, 2022
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Kervensley's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 21, 2022
FULLY FUNDED
Kervensley's treatment was fully funded.
April 15, 2022
TREATMENT UPDATE
We received an update on Kervensley. Read the update.

Funded by 7 donors

Treatment

Hydrocephalus VPS

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $957 for Kervensley's treatment

Hospital Fees

$357

Medical Staff

$100

Medication

$80

Supplies

$60

Labs

$10

Radiology

$350

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Families usually notice this condition with their child as their head grows large. These children do not reach normal developmental milestones and become unable to hold their head up, sit on their own, or talk. Some children become very irritable and become unable to suck and swallow so getting enough nutrition becomes difficult.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Children living with hydrocephaly are living with some form of brain damage that progresses as they get older. This damage will prevent them from developing on a normal trajectory. They have trouble eating, being able to sit, stand and communicate. Often they develop seizures and often experience pain and irritability. If it remains untreated, this condition will lead to death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

There is a lot of fear and stigma toward these patients as their heads grow large. Families with children who have hydrocephalus have trouble finding caregivers and support because of this fear. Also it is a financial burden to care for these children because of medication for seizures and the extra care they require as they grow older.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The treatment process involves a surgery to stop the extra fluid in the brain from accumulating and putting pressure on the brain. This is done by putting a small tube in the brain that drains the fluid into the abdomen (VP shunt). The patient usually spends one or two nights in the hospital and then goes home with a tiny incision in their head and abdomen.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This treatment is the only thing that will save the patient’s life. This treatment will prevent further brain damage. If it is caught early it allows the child to grow and develop fully. If it is caught late, the patient can receive therapy to assist them to overcome the developmental difficulties caused by the damage already done to their brain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

In some children the shunt that drains the fluid into the abdomen can become blocked or infected. In these cases the shunt is removed, the infection is treated, and the shunt is replaced.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There is only one hospital in the country that performs surgeries for children with hydrocephaly. This hospital is in Port au Prince, Haiti. Children that live in the North or South of the country have to travel very far for clinic visits and surgery. This requires spending all day or several days on public transport to reach the hospital.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no current alternatives this treatment. If the brain damage is too far advanced then palliative care to treat the child’s pain and support the family is the only other option.

Meet another patient you can support

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Ruth is farmer from Uganda. She's 36 years old and a mother of four living children one boys and three girls. Her children are doing well and two of them are in school. She is the fourth born in a family of six, all her siblings are grown-ups and have families. She and her husband do small scale farming so as to sustain their family. Ruth has a history of miscarriage and high risk deliveries so her doctors recommend a C-section. This way, the team can best ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ruth undergo a caesarian section surgery on February 29th. This procedure will cost $234, and Ruth's family needs your support. Ruth says, "I hope to get back to my fields after delivery."

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Ly is a one-year-old girl from Cambodia. Ly's father is a farmer and her mother stays home to care for Ly and her two older siblings. Ly enjoys eating noodle soup, and likes to play with toys. Ly was born with polydactyly of both feet. This means that she has an extra toe on each foot. If the extra toes are not removed, it will become difficult for her to use her feet as she grows older and she could feel uncomfortable around others. Fortunately, on April 22nd, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra toe. Ly's family is able to contribute $100 but our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, needs an additional $199 to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will be able to walk easier and her parents will not worry about other children making fun of her feet. Ly’s mother shared, "I hope she will be able to have normal feet just like other kids when she grows up."

Kervensley's Timeline

Funded by 7 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.