John is a 34-year-old mechanic and father to a sweet five-year-old. He is training and working as a mechanic in a local workshop. As a trainee mechanic, he does not have a salary and depends on daily allowances from the employer. Unfortunately, the amount he earns is negligible to pay for the surgery he needs. John is the sole breadwinner of the family and they do not have active medical coverage.
John first experienced a sharp pain in the lower stomach area on the right side, in early May 2021 while working. The pains were on and off so he did not feel the urgency to visit the hospital. A few days later the pain recurred despite managing them with across-the-counter medication. He visited several facilities in his hometown but there were no changes experienced. Two weeks ago, he started experiencing abdominal pain, poor feeding habits, and vomiting after meals; symptoms also associated with hernia. John has an inguinal hernia–a condition that occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. Fortunately, on July 7th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $446 to fund John’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently.
John says, “I used to be strong and active. I could even run a marathon but these stomach pains have grounded me completely. I need this surgery to be able to get rid of the stomach discomfort and avoid death.”
