Amanda is a five-month-old baby girl from Kenya. Since she was born, Amanda has been healthy, but a few weeks ago, her mother started to notice that her eyes appeared more sunken. Soon after, she noticed that a particular hat no longer fit, as her head seemed to be growing faster than the rest of her body. With no knowledge of what might be the issue, she tried not to worry too much and hoped it was nothing serious.
One Sunday when the family was attending a funeral, a stranger noticed Amanda and immediately expressed concern about the size of her head and the appearance of her eyes. The person urged Keziah to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Keziah was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Amanda has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Amanda will experience severe physical and developmental delays. For Amanda’s parents, the diagnosis was both frightening and overwhelming. Not only had they never heard of the condition before, but they were also faced with the reality that they could not afford the treatment their daughter urgently needed. Keziah is currently unemployed, while her father is a loader at bus stops. The little income he earns is barely enough to provide for the family’s basic needs. Lately, her mother has noticed that Amanda cries more often than before, seemingly because of the discomfort she is experiencing. She has lost her neck balance, and can no longer sit on her own. She has also been having frequent fevers, leaving her parents increasingly worried about her well-being.
Amid the uncertainty and fear, a friend referred the family to our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). Amanda urgently needs an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) surgery to drain the cerebrospinal fluid and reduce intracranial pressure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $719 to cover the cost of surgery that will take place on June 3rd. With proper treatment, Amanda will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl.
Amanda’s mother says: “The diagnosis came as a shock, but I believe God has not brought Amanda this far to leave her. I trust that He will touch someone’s heart, and give my daughter a chance to heal.”

