Watsi

Success! Gift from Kenya raised $1,097 to fund spinal surgery.

100%

$1,097 raised, $0 to go

$1,097

raised

to go

Fully funded

Gift's treatment was fully funded on December 24, 2018.

Gift's story

November 19, 2018

Gift is a baby from Kenya. She is this the youngest of four.

Gift was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Gift is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Gift’s spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 21. This procedure will hopefully spare Gift from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory.

Gift is a baby from Kenya. She is this the youngest of four. Gift was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the ...

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Gift's case was submitted by Joan Kadagaya at African Mission Healthcare Foundation in Kenya.

Gift's Timeline

November 19, 2018
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Gift was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, Curative Medical Support Program-Partner Representative at African Mission Healthcare Foundation, our medical partner in Kenya.
November 19, 2018
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Gift's profile was published to start raising funds.
November 21, 2018
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Gift was scheduled to receive treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). 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.
December 24, 2018
FULLY FUNDED
Gift's treatment was fully funded.
TODAY
AWAITING UPDATE
Awaiting Gift's treatment update from African Mission Healthcare Foundation.

Share Gift's story

Funded by 21 donors

Treatment

Spina Bifida Closure

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,097 for Gift's treatment

Hospital Fees

$889

Medical Staff

Medication

$82

Supplies

Labs

$126

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

The patient has a mass or lesion on the back that leaks cerebral spinal fluid, which puts him or her at risk of infection.

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

Spina bifida can cause incontinence, bladder and kidney damage, and paralysis and numbness in the lower limbs, bladder, and sphincter. It can also lead to hydrocephalus as a result of disturbance to the fluid in the brain. Hydrocephalus can lead to cognitive dysfunction, blindness, and death.

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

Spina bifida is more common in developing countries due to improper and inadequate nutrition. Foods containing folic acid are scarce, and food is not fortified. In Kenya, however, the Ministry of Health has recently started a program to give expectant mothers folic acid for free at government facilities.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

After surgery, the patient's hospital stay ranges from two days to three weeks. The length of stay depends on the healing rate of the wound and will be extended if the patient also undergoes a shunt insertion to treat hydrocephalus. However, shunt insertions are usually performed about one month after this surgery. The patient is continually monitored. If the wound heals and the patient is in a neurologically stable condition, the surgery is considered successful.

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

Surgery performed within the first days of a child’s life prevents infection and saves the spine and brain from further damage. Early surgery also minimizes the risk of paralysis. Later treatment may save the child's life and prevent further damage.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This surgery is moderately risky, and complications depend on the severity of the case.

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

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition. With about one neurosurgeon per 10,000,000 people in East Africa, initial treatment for spina bifida is often unavailable.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Surgery is the primary option for most types of spina bifida.

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