Meet Donex, a baby boy from Malawi. Donex was born with hydrocephalus—a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. In an infant, too much CSF can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head and developmental delays.
Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM), tells us, “Donex has a very big head, poor sight, and cries all day.”
Doctors recommend surgical placement of a shunt in Donex’s brain to drain the excess CSF. The shunt is connected to a tube that runs under the skin and empties into the peritoneal cavity (in the abdomen), where the excess CSF can be resorbed by the body.
Donex’s family earns money from a small business but cannot afford to pay for the surgery that he needs.
$992 covers the cost of shunt placement as well as food, travel, and lodging for Donex and his mother pre- and post-surgery. WAM explains that, after surgery, Donex, “can regain sight and start talking.”
“I have high hopes that my child will get better after the surgery,” shares Donex’s mother.