“Two-week-old Irene—the last born in a family of three—lives with her parents and siblings in a two-room, iron-sheet house,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). To support the family, Irene’s mother works on their small farm, while Irene’s father makes a modest income working as a casual laborer for their local village in Kenya.
Irene was born with a “sac-like protrusion on the lower back area,” AMHF explains. This mass—caused by a congenital neural tube abnormality called spina bifida—occurs when the spinal cord improperly develops in utero, leading to gaps between the vertebrae. In Irene’s case, this defect has created an opening in her back, exposing a small mass of spinal neural tissue.
If left untreated, spina bifida can lead to other health complications. AMHF states, “Irene is at risk of infections on the exposed nerves and tissues.” Specifically, AMHF says that Irene could “develop tethered cord syndrome (stretching the spinal cord), which can lead to either scoliosis (a curved spine) or kyphosis (a hunched back).”
With $805, Irene will receive treatment to remove the mass from her back and close the gap in her spine. Her surgery will be safely carried out by performing all of the necessary medical examinations both before and after her operation. After the procedure, she will be closely monitored during a five-day stay at the hospital, and will also work with a physiotherapist to help ease her into recovery.
The proposed operation is expected to have a great impact on Irene’s life, allowing her to experience healthy childhood development. AMHF explains, “Irene’s treatment will prevent infections from developing in the exposed nerves and tissues.” They add, “It will also prevent development of tethered cord syndrome.”
Irene’s mother tells AMHF, “I hope that Irene will be treated and that we can get back home.”
