Five-month-old Tsehay lives in rural Ethiopia with her parents. She was born with a birth defect called an anorectal malformation. She developed bowel obstruction because of the condition and an emergency colostomy surgery was performed.
While a colostomy works temporarily, it will not permanently treat Tsehay’s condition. She needs an anorectoplasty, followed by a colostomy closure 2-3 months later, to pass stool on her own. If left untreated, the colostomy could cause infection, irritation, and blockage. Tsehay would also never be able to pass stool on her own.
“We expect that after anorectoplasty followed by a colostomy closure in a few months Tsehay will be able to pass stool on her own,” her doctor shares. “She will no longer be at risk of infection and other colostomy related complications.”
“Tsehay’s parents are farmers and she is the third child in the family,” explains our medical partner. “Tsehay’s father has low financial status to manage the household, and as a result the family is struggling. For this reason they can’t pay for their child’s medical bill and this worries them very much.”
$1,500 will cover the cost of Tsehay’s treatment, which will take place over the next few months.
“We haven’t money to cover our child’s bill,” her mother said. “My husband has three wives and it is even difficult to manage the household daily needs. And that worried us so much. When we heard about this sponsorship program (Watsi funding) we came. Now we hope Tsehay will get treatment and get better.”
