Gidion is a two-year-old boy living in Tanzania with his parents and four siblings. “He used to be very active; he enjoyed playing with wooden cars, mud and running around with other children,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
“Gidion was born without any problems. He was growing well – able to crawl, sit, stand and walk. When he turned twenty months, he got sick. He was severely vomiting and lost his appetite,” shares AMHF. “He was taken to different hospitals and was treated only to get some relieve and then back to being sick again. Slowly Gidion lost his ability to walk and, “The last two months his mother noticed the circumference of his son’s head was increasing. He now has trouble supporting his head. If not treated, Gidion’s health will continue to deteriorate; he will lose his eyesight and completely become dependent,” adds AMHF. He developed hydrocephalus, a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.
Treatment will cost a total of $775, and consists of draining the CSF buildup. Gidion will be able to get surgery, recover in the hospital for five days, and stay at a rehabilitation center for two weeks. Gidion’s parents are small scale farmers and cannot afford the cost of this surgery.
AMHF expects that after surgery, “Gidion’s head circumference will not continue to increase, he will retain his vision and he may be able to walk again.”
“I pray that my son will get well, be active again, and continue to grow up normally like his siblings,” says Gidion’s mother.
