Zeze is a 7-year-old boy from Mpanda district who comes from a large family, as his father is a polygamist with three wives - as is common in their community - and a total of 21 children. Among his mother’s children, Zeze is the twelfth and last born. His father works as a farmer, relying on crop cultivation to provide food for the family. His wives and older children also seek additional employment on neighboring farms to supplement their income through daily labor in cultivation and harvesting.
Zeze began displaying signs of bowed legs shortly after he started walking. Due to their financial situation, Zeze’s parents never attempted to take him to the hospital, fearing the expenses associated with treatment. However, in July 2022, they attended a clinic in their village and became highly motivated to seek treatment for Zeze.
Zeze was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, meaning that his legs bow outwards. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he is unable to engage in playtime with his peers, participating in the games he loves so much, as it causes him pain to do so.
Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Zeze scheduled on June 30th. Treatment will hopefully restore Zeze’s mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications.
Zeze’s father says, “I wish for him to be fine and his legs to be normal like his brother because most of the time he wishes to escort us to the farms, but it is hard for him.”
