This is Mwangi, a three-month-old patient at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, who lives with his loving mom.
Mwangi has spina bifida, a congenital disorder that causes some of the vertebrae of the spinal cord to remain unfused and vulnerable. This has caused a large mass to grow on Mwangi’s back. If left untreated, it is likely that he will develop scoliosis, urinary and bowel incontinence, and a humpback - preventing him from living a normal life.
For $980, Mwangi will receive spina bifida closure surgery. This surgery will prevent further nerve damage and infection. It is expected that surgery will also prevent scoliosis and the other medical problems mentioned above. Let’s help Mwangi grow up healthy and active!