Julius is a three-month old baby boy from Kenya, the fifth born child in his family. Soon after his birth, medical staff referred Julius and his parents to a larger hospital, as he was born with a congenital condition affecting his back. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and spina bifida, congenital conditions affecting the nervous system. Spina bifida is caused by incomplete spinal development, while hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Julius and his parents were further referred to our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH) for further assessment.
All the while, Julius’ parents were full of worry and fear for their son’s well-being. Having never come across these conditions before, and thinking that their son would need help for most his life got them worried. Barely a week after his birth, Julius underwent his first surgery, where the spina bifida was closed. Fragile, yet so full of life, Julius was admitted into the ICU for close monitoring and observation. One week later, the doctors realized that his back was not healing as it should. He was taken back into surgery and at the same time, a shunt was inserted to help drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid. He was then kept under observation for three weeks, where he showed steady improvement and was eventually discharged.
A check up at two weeks showed that he was recovering well, and his parents were scheduled for routine monthly clinics. At the first monthly clinic, assessments showed that fluid had accumulated once again, and Julius needed an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) procedure to allow trapped cerebrospinal fluid to escape into its normal pathway. This was heartbreaking for the parents, as they realize Julius needs the surgery, but they cannot afford it. Without treatment, Julius will experience severe physical and developmental delays.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $719 to cover the cost of surgery for Julius that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 2nd and will drain the excess fluid, reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Julius will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy.
Julius’s mother shares, “My son is in pain, so young and already going through surgeries, it’s torture for me as a mother. I am, however, hopeful that all this will eventually come to an end, and one day, we’ll look back and appreciate how far we’ve come.”