Meet Frantz, a four-month-old who lives in the Haitian countryside with his mother and grandmother. At three months, Frantz began to experience swelling in his head. It became apparent that he has hydrocephalus. Frantz’s mother tells our medical partner, Medishare, that Frantz has lately been unable to breathe well, has seizures sometimes, cries often, and is unable to sleep at night.
“In children, since the bones of the skull have not completely fused, the size of the head of the child starts getting bigger as the fluid accumulates in the brain,” Frantz’s doctors explain. “The negative effects of this are many and include – failure of the child to grow and lead an independent life and halting of neurological development because the brain does not function normally. Thus, if the child was learning to craw or walk, they stop.”
Recommended treatment for Frantz is a shunt replacement. This will reduce swelling and will in turn also address some of the other symptoms. $1260 will cover the cost of the surgery as well as meds and physiotherapy after the procedure.
In spite of the discomfort she has seen her son in, Frantz’s mother is optimistic: “I am excited to go back home with him and I am looking forward to sending him to school.” Let’s give her even more reason to be optimistic by funding care for Frantz.