Esther is the youngest in a family of five children. She and her family live in a two room house in Western Kenya. Esther’s mother sells groceries to sustain the needs of her family as Esther’s father passed away two months ago.
Esther was born with an abnormally large head that kept growing as time passed. She has congenital hydrocephalus and a shunt insertion is required to eliminate the risk of brain stem compression and to stop Esther’s head from growing larger.
Congenital hydrocephalus results as a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. It can increase pressure on the brain, causing the head to swell. If gone untreated, Esther could face brain damage, mental, and physical problems.
Esther’s mother was asked to get a shunt but the cost is beyond the family’s resources. A friend advised her to come to Bethany Kids, a partner hospital of one of Watsi’s medical partners, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
Her family hears Esther cry very often, and watches how restless she is. They want her to grow up normally and peacefully as any child would. However, Esther’s mother is not able to raise the funds required for her daughter’s surgical care.
$615 covers the cost of surgery to place a shunt in Esther’s brain. The shunt will drain the CSF from the head down to the abdomen, where it can be more easily absorbed.
“Anything that anyone could do would mean the world to us, especially during this sad moment,” Esther’s mother shares.