Meet Alvin, a one-year-old little boy from Kenya, with a left undescended testis.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares, “Alvin lives with his parents in a two-room house. Alvin’s father serves as church minister near their home while his mother, who is a trained teacher, stays at home to look after Alvin. She has been seeking employment to supplement her husband’s income, but has not been successful. Alvin’s father earns very little from his pastoral role and they are unable to raise funds for Alvin’s surgical care.”
AMHF describes Alvin’s condition as “absence of the left testicle in the scrotal sac. Alvin’s left testicle did not drop into the scrotal as it is expected in baby boys soon after birth.” An undescended testis puts Alvin at a higher risk for testicular cancer, hernia, and infertility. Thus it is critical that he undergo treatment.
For $540, an incision will be made and Alvin’s left testis will be surgically lowered into the scrotum alongside its right counterpart. This will radically lower any health risks and allow Alvin to grow up more normally and comfortably.
AMHF tells us, “[Alvin] started taking his first steps recently, and spends time standing and holding on to furniture and anything else that can support him.” His mother adds, “It has been hard living on the little my husband earns. I am hoping to get work soon so that I can help with the house expenses. I pray that little Alvin gets treatment and grows up to be like other boys.”
