Babi is a cute toddler from Ethiopia. He is an only child and loves to play with toy cars; he pushes the toy making the sound ‘uuuuuvvvv’, saying it’s a car. His father, who has a 5th-grade education, used to work in the horticulture industry as a laborer, but he lost his wife a year back to tuberculosis and has been trying to balance everything on his own.
After his mom’s death, Babi had no one to take care of him besides his dad, so his dad decided to leave his job to take care of his child and try to get him the necessary treatment.
Babi experienced a bowel obstruction, and he got three surgeries at Negele Arsi General Hospital, but he still had complications with his bowel. There is a small window for corrective surgery, but colostomy closure is preferred since the opening is too small. Babi’s father has suffered with the whole process and feels he is highly affected psychologically as Babi cannot make a stool in a normal way.
Earlier, Babi underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Babi’s case, his colostomy requires closure to restore bowel function and prevent future complications.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,009 to cover Babi’s colostomy closure cost. Once completed, he can grow up more comfortably and confidently.
Babi’s dad said, “After he gets the treatment and heals, I hope he will go to school and lead a good life in the future.”
