Daniel, a one-month-old boy from Kenya, is the only child to his parents. “He seems healthy and according to his mother, Daniel feeds pretty well,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
Unfortunately, Daniel has a lump in his navel area that has been diagnosed as an umbilical hernia, or a protrusion of the intestine through the abdominal wall. “The lump gets bigger when Daniel coughs, cries, or when he goes to the bathroom. It shrinks when he is relaxed or when he is lying down,” explains AMHF.
“If not treated early, Daniel is likely to develop intestinal obstruction or strangulation,” continues AMHF. However, Daniel’s parents cannot afford the treatment their son needs. “Daniel’s father is a casual worker in a tea factory near their home,” says AMHF, and he is the sole provider for the family.
“My son is still very little and I am worried of the effects that come with this condition,” shares Daniel’s father. “We have tried our best and have raised $52 towards his treatment but unfortunately it cannot cover all the cost of Daniel’s surgical care.”
With the help of Watsi donors, the remaining amount of $430 can be raised for his hernia repair surgery. During the procedure, doctors will return the herniated intestinal tissue to Daniel’s abdominal cavity and fix the weakened area in his abdominal wall.
“After a hernia repair, Daniel’s risk of intestinal obstruction or strangulation will be lowered,” states AMHF. “He will have a chance to grow up healthy and normally.”
