Meet Esther, a 15-year-old student from Kenya with dreams of becoming a banker. She is the second born child in a family of three children raised by a single mother. Esther comes from a poor family, but luckily her education is sponsored by a local bank in the country. Esther’s mother works as a waitress to support her family’s needs, but the burden of providing for the family is heavy because Esther’s father does not offer child support.
Esther started developing blisters on her leg in December of 2012 and was taken to different hospitals for medical treatment. Due to the infection on her left leg, Esther is not only in pain, but her leg is also swollen and she has difficulty walking. As a result of her physical impairment, she now attends a special school as well.
She has previously received skin grafting and debridement (removal of damaged tissue) surgeries, but these cost her mother over $3,125. However, treatment is vital for Esther. If not treated, she may end up developing severe infection, which may result in amputation.
Thus, Esther was referred to our facility for further treatment. For $940, Esther will undergo another debridement, but if this seems as though it would affect her heel bone, which surgeons find unlikely, they would instead employ a VAC, or vacuum-assisted closure, which drains blood or other fluids from a wound. About a week following this, they would then do a skin graft. Once she is healed, Esther will be able move about more easily and return to a more normal lifestyle.
“I would like to be well and attend a normal school to realize my dream of becoming a banker,” shares Esther.
