Jose is a baby from Guatemala. He lives with his parents and grandparents in Guatemala’s rural coastland. When Jose was just a month old, he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia.
Jose needs hernia surgery. Hernias occur when part of the intestines bulges through a weak area in the muscles of the stomach wall. Small hernias are often asymptomatic, though they tend to become larger over time, and then create bulges, discomfort, burning, and weakness. Due to his young age, Jose’s hernia does not affect him much. However, without treatment, his hernia will likely grow, the likelihood that he may develop complications will increase, and his pain will increasingly limit his daily activities.
Fortunately, surgery for hernias is very effective and often accomplished without even an overnight stay in the hospital. With $773 in funding, Jose will receive the case management, medication, surgery, and labs he needs to get his hernia repaired. Surgery is scheduled for January 29. Undergoing this surgery now will help to prevent Jose from suffering from hernia-related side effects later in life.
Jose’s mother says, “It makes me sad to see my baby boy like this. He is the light of my eyes, he is my reason for existing, and I want nothing more than to see him grow healthily.”