Gideon lives with his aunt at his grandmother’s place. He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Gideon has been wheelchair-bound.
When he was two years old, his mother left after realizing that Gideon would live with the condition for the rest of his life. In 2020, his father passed away due to heart issues and that is when his aunt and grandmother decided to have him live with them. His grandmother and aunt are casual laborers, getting work whenever they can.
To help treat his condition, a shunt was put in place in 2011 at BethanyKids Hospital. Since then, Gideon has been doing great until early this year when he started to not feel well. His guardians noticed that he would vomit any food he ate and that the shunt area was swollen. It was hard to know where he was feeling pain, since Gideon doesn’t speak. A nearby hospital examined him and referred him back to BethanyKids Hospital. The medical team there has recommended Gideon have a new shunt inserted to help treat his condition and continue to drain the fluids in his brain.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Gideon that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 5th. This surgery will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Gideon will hopefully continue to develop into a strong young boy.
Gideon’s grandmother shared, “I love my grandson so much and I am not well when he is unwell. I hope he recovers soon.”