Meet Gabriel, an adorable baby boy who lives with his mother in Kenya.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Gabriel is living with hypospadias. AMHF explains, “his urethral orifice is abnormally placed on the side of his penis. As a result, he has an irregular urine stream.” Due to this condition, “Gabriel is likely to experience urinary tract infections. He might also suffer impotence. When he gets older, Gabriel will not be able to pass urine in a standing position,” AMHF reports.
With proper treatment, hypospadias is curable. However, Gabriel’s mother is not in a position to afford the necessary surgery. AMHF shares, “Gabriel and his mother live at his widowed grandmother’s home. His mother had been living in Malaysia with her husband who turned abusive when she became pregnant. She escaped back to Kenya, [but] left all her possessions including her documents, and therefore securing a job has been a challenge.”
Despite the hardship, Gabriel’s mother has not lost hope for helping her son receive medical care. With $655, Gabriel will be able to get the treatment he needs. The money will pay for surgery to reconstruct the urinary channel into the proper position, thus correcting the hypospadias. AMHF adds, “if treated, Gabriel will be less likely to suffer urinary tract infections and impotence. He will be able to pass urine normally.”
Looking forward to that day, Gabriel’s mother says, “It will be my delight to see my beloved son well. I hope to one day secure a job and be able to provide for him.”
