Gezu is a 20-year-old man from Ethiopia and a determined ninth-grade student. He works hard to balance his education with the work needed to support his family, including his four brothers and three sisters.
Six months ago, he suffered a severe electrical burn to his left palm while trying to fix an electrical issue. Although he received immediate care at a nearby clinic, the treatment was not sufficient to ensure a full recovery. Due to severe scarring, his palm is locked into a claw-like shape, making it impossible to hold the tools needed for farming. This injury has left him frustrated and physically weak compared to his siblings. Between the demands of work and the trauma of the accident, he has fallen behind in his studies and lost his self-esteem.
When Gezu learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On February 18th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery, this will allow him to use his hand for planting and return to his education. He is determined to succeed in his classes and work alongside the other staff members in the fields once again. Now, he needs help to fund this $500 procedure.
Gezu said, “I believe this surgery will give me back the life I was building. More than anything, I want to work the land alongside my family again. I don’t want to just watch anymore—I want to use my own hands to do the work that used to come so naturally to me.”
