Five-year-old Turyasingura is a nursery school student in Uganda who loves drawing various animals and shapes.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “Turyasingura presented with a right scrotal swelling that has been increasing in size over the past 2 years.”
Turyasingura has a hydrocele, a sac of watery fluid around one or both testicles that causes swelling in the scrotum or groin. The fluid comes from the abdomen and travels along the same paths that the testes follow when they descend into the scrotum before or shortly after birth. While hydroceles may occur at any age, the cause of their development is generally unknown.
“If not treated,” says AMHF, “Turyasingura is at risk of testicular atrophy, infection, and progressive swelling, which would affect his quality of life.”
For $215, Turyasingura will undergo a hydrocele repair to decrease the scrotal swelling. The surgeon will make a small incision in his scrotum to remove the sac of fluid and then use stitches to close the path between the scrotum and abdomen so that no more fluid can accumulate. Funding also covers the cost of a two-week hospital stay and medicine to prevent infection.
“I cannot afford to pay for my son’s treatment,” shares Turyasingura’s father, who supports his family with a stipend for his work at their church and income from selling the extra produce from his gardens. “Thank you in advance for offering to help me. God bless you and your generosity.”
