Meet 12-year-old Felista. She is studying in primary school but her schooling has often been interrupted and progress has been difficult because Felista has hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition that causes enlarged head size, intra cranial pressure, and “sun-setting” eyes. To escape brain damage, blindness, or even premature death, Felista needs surgery, but her parents are unable to raise the funds.
The fourth born in a family of six children, Felista lives in Kenya with her parents and siblings. Felista’s father is a hawker in a nearby trading center, while her mother does small scale farming on their parent’s small land, both jobs bring in very little income. “It has been so difficult for me as a mother to bring up Felista and seeing her condition progress over time. I pray she gets treatment soon and that she lives a healthier life,” says Felista’s mother.
For $980, we can give Felista a shunt incision. Watsi hospital partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation says, “we expect that the surgery will reduce the intra cranial pressure in Felista’s head and she will not suffer brain damage nor become blind.” Let’s help Felista grow up healthy!