Jackson is a 2-month-old baby boy and the youngest in his family of four. He was born in December to the joy of his grandmother and parents.
During his initial examination after birth, Jackson was found to have a swelling in a private area. The nurse advised Jackson’s mother that the condition did not require any urgent attention. While at home, his mother noticed that whenever she was bathing him and touched the area, Jackson experienced a lot of pain and would cry a lot. A few days later, Jackson’s mother took him to the nearest hospital to their home. During the examination, the doctor diagnosed Jackson with a bilateral inguinal hernia. Jackson was prescribed some pain medication and scheduled for follow-up visits at the clinic, but his condition did not improve.
A friend of his mother heard about Jackson’s condition and referred them to Watsi’s Medical Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital. There, the doctor recommended hernia repair surgery to relieve Jackson of his pain and reduce the chances of him having any future complications. However, Jackson’s parents cannot afford the cost of his care. His mother is a small-scale farmer, while his father does casual jobs at a construction site. They make a humble living and sometimes rely on Jackson’s grandparents for food. The family does not have National Health Insurance Fund coverage, and appeals for financial support for Jackson’s surgery.
Fortunately, on February 22nd, Jackson will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $554 to fund Jackson’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and grow up to be a happy, healthy boy.
Jackson’s grandmother shared, “It feels very sad for a parent when their newly born baby is experiencing some pain. It is more painful to the parents if they cannot raise the required amount to cater for the baby’s treatment. My prayer is for Jackson to receive treatment.”
