Ruhama is a five-year-old boy living in Tanzania with his parents and four older siblings. He is in first grade and enjoys learning how to read and write. He also likes to ride his old bicycle and run around with the other children. His parents are small scale farmers and they have three dairy cows. They work very hard to care for their children who are all in school.
For the last two years, Ruhama has been having trouble breathing, especially at night. While asleep, he has episodes of pausing without breathing, followed by gasping for air. Ruhama has also been having frequent fevers with associated vomiting. His fevers prevent Ruhama from properly attending school.
After visiting the hospital many times, Ruhama has been told that he has infected and enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Tonsils and adenoids are masses of tissue that trap contaminants at the back of the throat as they pass through to the lungs. They also produce antibodies to fight infections. Sometimes they will become inflamed and infected, causing fevers, and swelling that compromises breathing. When this happens frequently, it is often better to have the tissues surgically removed.
The little that Ruhama’s parents earn is not enough to cover the cost of surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, tells us that for $545, Ruhama can have his tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Successful surgery will allow Ruhama to breathe easily and eliminate the possibility of infection. “I will be happy to see him healthy,” Ruhama’s mother shares, “without the frequent fevers so he can continue going to school.”
