Prince is a one-year-old boy from Kenya. Due to his ongoing medical issues, his mother is currently unable to work. Prince and his mother rely on the financial support of family and friends, particularly Prince’s grandmother.
Prince was born prematurely and was admitted to the hospital for one month. Unfortunately, after returning home, Prince experienced steady weight loss, causing his mother to return to the hospital. When the hospital was unable to make a diagnosis, Prince’s mother decided to travel to a larger specialty hospital in search of help.
Doctors at the specialty hospital diagnosed Prince with Down syndrome, which they believed explained his poor growth. After a few days of treatment, he was discharged with medication and dietary recommendations. Reassured by the doctors’ advice and hopeful that her son would improve, his mother returned home determined to give him the best care possible.
However, when Prince reached four months of age, new and more alarming symptoms appeared. His abdomen became noticeably swollen, his appetite dropped sharply, and he was unable to pass stool. His mother once again made the difficult journey back to the specialty hospital. This time, Prince was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a condition in which nerve cells are missing from parts of the intestine, causing severe bowel dysfunction. Doctors advised that Prince undergo surgery as soon as possible.
While his mother struggled to raise the funds needed for the operation, Prince’s health continued to deteriorate due to several serious infections. Having already lost a child in the past, she was overwhelmed by fear that she might lose Prince as well.
Thankfully, the family learned of our partner’s medical care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). Prince was evaluated at BKKH, where doctors advised that his nutritional status should be improved before surgery. For the last nine months, Prince’s mother has attended regular clinics and therapy sessions where she learned how to manage his condition. Her dedication has played a critical role in improving Prince’s health so that he can experience life-changing surgery.
Now, Prince has finally been cleared for surgery, which will occur on September 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,081 to fund Prince’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life.
Prince’s mother shared, “My son has not had a moment of peace since his birth. It has always been from one hospital bed to another as we try to seek medical assistance. Seeing him in pain has been the most difficult part of motherhood. However, I believe that after this surgery, my son will one day get to enjoy life like every other child.”
