Ian is an 18-month-old toddler - the second born in a family of two children. His parents come from modest backgrounds; his mother is a homemaker, while his father, the primary earner, works casually at construction sites.
When Ian was about 10 months old, his mother was bathing him when she noticed that neither of his testes could be felt in the right place. She informed Ian’s father, but due to lack of finances, they could not take him to the hospital. However, Ian’s father informed one of his friends.
In February this year, staff members from our medical partner’s care center Nazareth Hospital visited Ian’s home area to condole a colleague that was bereaved. The friend to Ian’s father saw a staff member that he knew and mentioned Ian’s condition. The staffer asked Ian’s family to go for review at the hospital and even paid for their transportation to the hospital.
Upon review, Ian was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testes fail to descend. Without surgery treatment, he will be at risk of cancer or infertility.
Fortunately, Ian is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 18th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.
Ian’s father shared, “We are worried about our son and hope he can get help so that he grows up like normal boys. We are seeking help because on our own, we are not able to raise funds for his treatment.”