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Success! Maureen from Kenya raised $685 to fund brain surgery.

Maureen
100%
  • $685 raised, $0 to go
$685
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Maureen's treatment was fully funded on March 20, 2019.

Photo of Maureen post-operation

March 22, 2019

Maureen underwent brain surgery.

Maureen had a successful surgery to help drain the excess fluid in her brain. This has minimized the risk of suffering brain damage, loss of sight, and delayed development.

Maureen had a successful surgery to help drain the excess fluid in her brain. This has minimized the risk of suffering brain damage, loss of...

Read more
March 4, 2019

Maureen is a baby from Kenya. She is the youngest in a family of three children. The family resides in the central region of Kenya. Maureen’s mother is employed casually as an hotelier, while he father is a subsistence farmer.

Maureen has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Maureen has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Maureen will experience severe physical and developmental delays.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Maureen that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 7 and will drain the excess fluid from Maureen’s brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Maureen will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl.

“I am sad to find out that my daughter has hydrocephalus. It is a good thing though that it has been discovered early enough,” says Maureen’s mother.

Maureen is a baby from Kenya. She is the youngest in a family of three children. The family resides in the central region of Kenya. Maureen’...

Read more

Maureen's Timeline

  • March 4, 2019
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Maureen was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, Curative Medical Support Program-Partner Representative at African Mission Healthcare.

  • March 5, 2019
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Maureen's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • March 7, 2019
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Maureen received treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH) in Kenya. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • March 20, 2019
    FULLY FUNDED

    Maureen's treatment was fully funded.

  • March 22, 2019
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Maureen's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 14 donors

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment
Hydrocephalus - Shunt
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $685 for Maureen's treatment
Hospital Fees
$537
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$28
Supplies
$0
Labs
$120
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Symptoms of hydrocephalus include an enlarged head size, irritability, abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and increased intracranial pressure. Cognitive development can be affected, and damage to the optic nerve can cause blindness.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

In young children, hydrocephalus affects brain development, cognition, and vision. In older children and adults, hydrocephalus also causes headaches.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

The burden of infant hydrocephalus in East Africa is significant, with more than 6,000 new cases estimated per year. The majority are caused by neonatal infection and vitamin deficiency, and should thus be preventable. In East Africa, the single most common cause of hydrocephalus is infection, usually via neonatal meningitis or ventriculitis. Neonatal sepsis is common and is exacerbated by the lack of skilled perinatal care for the majority of births in Africa.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Hydrocephalus patients are usually treated within a few days of arriving at the hospital. Fortunately, our medical partner can accept many patients who would otherwise go home if they could not afford the surgery cost. Treatment involves inserting a shunt into the brain to route cerebrospinal fluid to another part of the body. One month after surgery, the patient returns for a follow-up appointment.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This surgery is lifesaving. The patient will no longer be at risk of cognitive and vision damage. Surgical treatment for hydrocephalus can restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This condition is treatable, though the outcome depends on how quickly the disease is identified and treated.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition. With about one neurosurgeon per 10,000,000 people in East Africa, initial treatment for hydrocephalus is often unavailable.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Surgery is the only option.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.