Meet Layoni, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Health Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Layoni was born to a large, loving family. His parents are both small scale farmers and tend a few livestock to support their five children.
“Layoni was born with multiple deformities; Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and bilateral clubfoot,” AMHF tells us. His neural tube defects were addressed with surgery when he was young, and he is doing much better because he received the medical treatment he needed at the time.
“He likes to crawl and sit together with other children drawing on the ground,” shares AMHF. He is getting eager to stand and walk, but with clubfeet, a musculoskeletal malformation where the feet are twisted out of shape, his feet and ankles are unable to support weight.
With $1160, Layoni will receive surgery, stretching, and casting to reshape and strengthen his muscles. AMHF will provide a surgeon and hospital respite for his recovery, so that Layoni will be able to run around and play with other children.
“I hope my grandson will one day be able to walk,” Layoni’s grandmother shared in their pre-operative interview with AMHF. With our help, Layoni will be able to walk normally.