Juma is a 19-year-old young man from Kenya. His mother gave birth to him at home with the help of midwives, and Juma was brought to a hospital a day later for a review. Tests at the hospital showed that he was healthy baby boy, and his mother took him back home. Six days after his birth, however, Juma started convulsing and crying persistently. Additionally, his head had started growing significantly more than the rest of his body, and his mother was alarmed.
Worried, Juma’s mother took him to the nearest dispensary, where painkillers were prescribed, but with no definitive diagnosis. The next few days were quiet. Juma was able to sleep well, and his mother was able to sigh with relief. However, this was short-lived and Juma began crying persistently again. His mother took him back to the dispensary, only for her to get sent back home with a fresh batch of painkillers. This trend went on for three months. Determined to ease her son’s agony, Juma’s mother took him to a larger hospital, where he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Juma and his mother were then referred to our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH).
At the hospital, Juma underwent a shunt insertion surgery to drain the excess fluid and relieve the pressure. He was discharged a few days later, his mother’s hope rekindled. She looked forward to a brighter and healthier future for Juma. In the 15 years that followed, Juma was growing healthy, attending school, playing with his peers and helping with household chores. He still underwent routine check-ups, and showed no signs of distress or concern.
One day, Juma started experiencing headaches, and soon after, blurred vision. Worried for her son’s health, Juma’s mother took him to a referral hospital, where he underwent a shunt revision surgery. Less than two years later, however, the shunt malfunctioned. Juma’s parents had to sell their livestock and farm so they could afford the medical bill, and hoped that this time it would be a longer-term solution.
Recently, Juma started convulsing and vomiting. His mother contacted BKKH’s mobile clinic team, who advised her to bring him in for surgery. The family struggled to raise funds to facilitate their journey to Kijabe, which is about a 10 hour journey from where they live at the Coast, and got to the hospital a few days ago.
Juma is now scheduled for a shunt revision surgery on July 1st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $574 to cover the cost of surgery for Juma, to relieve his symptoms and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Juma will continue developing into a strong, healthy young man.
Juma says: “I am in so much pain, I feel like my head is about to explode. I hope that this surgery will ease my pain and allow me to go back home soon.”