Sasa is a calm, gentle and hardworking 15-year-old boy from a village in Simiyu Region, Tanzania. He goes to primary school and is currently in Standard 5. Although he enjoys his classes, the daily commute to school is stressful and a challenge for him due to the condition he is living with. Sasa’s mother primarily raised him after his father passed away. She later remarried, and Sasa now lives with his stepfather and siblings in a large family of 14 children. The family depends on farming maize and cotton for their living.
Sasa was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition where both legs curve outward at the knees, also known as bowlegs. Several factors can cause this condition, including growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. The condition started early in Sasa’s childhood and makes it difficult for him to walk long distances. He spends most of his days helping on the farm, but deep down, he wishes for a better life —one with a stable job that will allow him to provide for his mother.
Sasa’s family learned about our medical partner, Kafika House, through a village outreach team, and now he is full of hope that his upcoming surgery, a bilateral PTO surgery, will correct his legs and help him regain the ability to walk freely and pursue his dreams.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Sasa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 7th, and will hopefully restore Sasa’s mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications.
Sasa says, “Thank you for this chance to have a better life. I hope the pain will go away, and I will be able to work harder in school and on the farm.”