10-month-old Maurine is the only child of a single parent, and together they live in Tanzania. They rely on Maurine’s grandmother to care for them.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares, “Maurine is an active baby. She eats well and she is able to sit. She likes to play with soft toys.”
Maurine was born without complications at birth; however, “her mother noticed some changes when Maurine turned three months,” explains AMHF. Maurine has hydrocephalus, or an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. “Maurine’s head has been slowly increasing since March this year,” AMHF continues. “Her mother is worried that the size of her daughter’s head may continue to grow to the point where she won’t be able to sit anymore.”
$775 will cover Maurine’s treatment that includes surgery, hospital stay and post-surgery accommodations. After surgery, “Maurine’s head will not continue to increase in size and Maurine will be out of the risk of losing her vision and balance.”
“I just need my baby to get well so that we can go back home,” Maurine’s mother shares. “I will look for a job so that I can help my mother, and better care for my daughter. I want my daughter to go to school and live a better life when she grows up.”
