Meet Neseriani, a one-month-old baby from Tanzania. Neseriani was born with an open lesion on her lower back, which was leaking cerebral spinal fluid. The journey to the hospital started that very night, and early in the morning, Neseriani and her mother reached the hospital where they were received very well. Unfortunately, the doctor who is able to deal with cases such as Neseriani’s was not available.
Neseriani has been diagnosed with myelomeningocele, a serious form of spina bifida where the spinal cord does not develop or close properly. She also has hydrocephalus, a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates on the brain.
Neseriani’s parents are small scale farmers. They rely on growing and selling maize and beans. Every Friday, Neseriani’s father goes to the market to try and sell other peoples’ goats and by doing that he earns some money. They own a small, round, mud house and are doing their best to care for their two children.
To avoid serious complications from her conditions, Neseriani needs a $1,200 operation. This will close the open lesion on her back and install a shunt to drain the excess fluid from her brain.
The operation will prevent Neseriani from easily contracting infection through the open lesion and also the increased intracranial pressure will be managed to prevent Neseriani from losing her eyesight.
Neseriani’s parents love their little baby, and are praying for her to get well and grow up like other children.
