One-month-old Josephat is the first born to his parents, who are both young and live in Tanzania. Josephat’s mother stays at her mother-in-law’s home while his father labors on the family farm. “Even though Josephat has multiple deformities, he feeds well and he is a quiet baby when he is not wet, hungry, or hurting anywhere,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
Josephat was born with myelomeningocele, commonly known as spina bifida, a neural tube defect in which the bones of the spine do not completely form, resulting in a small sac of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) extending through an opening in the spine. Currently, Josephat’s opening on his lower back is leaking CSF, and he can easily contract infections.
“Apart from the lesion on his lower back, Josephat also has other congenital abnormalities, such as an amniotic band on his right hand and unilateral clubfoot,” adds AMHF. Many babies with spina bifida also have too much cerebrospinal fluid in their heads, a condition called hydrocephalus. As this is true in Josephat’s case, he will need additional surgery to relieve intracranial pressure.
For $1200, Josephat will undergo two surgeries. First, the lesion on his back will be closed, which will prevent further loss of CSF and protect him against infections. Secondly, surgeons will place a shunt to drain excessive fluids from Josephat’s brain, thereby treating his hydrocephalus.
His mother hopes “that something can be done so that her son can grow up like other children, and even have the ability to walk.” These operations will give Josephat a chance to live a normal life.
