Robert is a 16-year-old teenager who is a sociable and talkative boy with five siblings. Robert enjoys helping his parents with their work. Their family lives a nomadic life, herding his father’s cattle. During the dry season, Robert can spend two to three months away from home, walking long distances with his cattle, in search of pastureland and water.
However, walking has gotten more difficult for Robert now. He was diagnosed with left genu valgus and right genu varus. His left leg bends inward at the knee, while the right leg bends outward at the knee. This condition is typically caused by excessive fluoride in contaminated drinking water. As a result of his condition, walking is exhausting and painful, and he has stopped taking his father’s cattle out to graze. While he is scheduled for surgery to help correct his legs, his parents cannot afford the treatment cost, and are asking for help.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is raising $880 to fund Robert’s corrective surgery. It is hoped that this procedure, which is scheduled for May 13th, will restore Robert’s mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications.
Robert says: “Staying at home all day without participating in daily life is very boring and it makes me feel bad, because I cannot work and help.”