Shamsi is a beautiful, friendly and cheerful 3-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the youngest in their family of five children. Shamsi’s father is self-employed and sells home materials like nets, pillows, and bedsheets. Her mother is a homemaker and stays at home to care for their children.
Shamsi was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, or bow-leggedness. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Her legs bow outward when she walks, so she is not able to walk comfortably for long periods of time.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Shamsi. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 9th. Treatment will hopefully restore Shamsi’s mobility, allow her to play normally with her siblings, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications.
Shamsi’s father shared, “We have tried medications and different food containing high calcium, but her legs are not getting any better. The only way to correct her legs is through surgery, but the cost of treatment is something we cannot afford.”