Majaliwa is a quiet, three-year-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the fourth born in the family and his mother is expecting another baby in a few months. Majaliwa likes to play with other children and he especially likes to pull his favorite wooden car, which is tied to a string.
Majaliwa was born without an anal opening. An immediate colostomy was done and Majaliwa has been passing stool through a stoma on his stomach. Majaliwa needs a pull-through procedure to be done, and later on, a colostomy closure.
His parents are small scale farmers and they also keep a few livestock. As much as they wanted their son to get treatment two years back, they just have not been able to save up enough to cover the cost of operations which Majaliwa needs.
Majaliwa needs a three-part surgery to correct his anorectal malformation. $1,500 will cover the cost of each procedure, as well as all pre- and post-operative care. After treatment, Majaliwa will be able to pass stool normally.
“My hope is that my grandson will get treatment that will allow him to live a normal life like other children,” shares Majaliwa’s grandmother.