Meet Ronald, a baby boy from Kenya. At three months old, Ronald’s head began increasing in size and he cried very often. Having never raised another child, his parents were not aware that something was wrong.
During a normal pediatric clinic, the doctor noted that Ronald’s head was abnormally big. After a scan, it was confirmed that five-month-old Ronald had a condition known as hydrocephalus. If not treated Ronald may suffer delayed milestones and brain damage. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was recommended to treat the hydrocephalus, but the funds were not available to pay for it.
Ronald’s father is the sole provider for the family and works hard doing casual labor at construction sites not far from home. His mother stays home and takes care of him, soothing and caring for him when he cries and is uncomfortable.
For $615, Ronald will receive ETV treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. His parents hope that little Ronald will be able to receive treatment, despite their lack of funds, and get well as soon as he can.
“Our lives have changed because we cannot do any of the things we used to do,” shares Ronald’s mother. “Ronald requires utmost attention and therefore I can’t even commit to work. I hope he gets well and our lives get back to normal.”