Born and raised in Tanzania, Monica is the only girl in a family of six. She is a quiet one-year-old who likes to be by her mother’s side. Her parents are hardworking pastoralists, raising livestock to provide for their family.
Monica recently suffered a traumatic burn and is having trouble learning how to walk as a result of the scar contracture (tightened skin) that followed. “I pray that my daughter will be able to walk when she grows up,” Monica’s mother says.
Physicians would like to perform contracture release surgery on Monica’s right knee and ankle, skin grafting to the affected area, and an amputation of her 2nd and 5th toes. Totaling out at $1,080, these procedures will enable Monica to walk properly and give her a chance at a normal and productive life.