Meet Shedrack, a five-year-old friendly and energetic boy from Tanzania. He is the third born in his family of four children. Shedrack is a kindergarten student and enjoys singing, learning the ABCs, counting numbers, and playing with other children.
“He was born without any deformities, but at age four his bones started getting weak and bowed inwards creating a condition known as genu valgus or knocked knees,” Shedrack’s doctor at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us. “As time went on the condition kept getting worse and his fellow pupils started passing comments and laughing at Shedrack.”
“We are worried about our son’s legs,” Shedrack’s parents share. “Many times he comes home crying because some pupils laughed at him. We don’t want him to become disabled, but rather continue with his education and later on become a successful, independent young man.”
“His parents desperately kept looking for a way to help their son,” AMHF continues. “They gave him some supplements, traditional herbs, but nothing helped. Shedrack’s mother works at a town market selling some onions, tomatoes, and peas. His father is a merchant, walking around town selling second hand shoes. They both work very hard to take care of their children and they really want their son to get the right treatment, but coming up with enough cash has been a problem.”
For $940 we can make sure Shedrack receives treatment to correct his knocked knees. His doctor explains that after treatment, “Shedrack’s gait will improve, he will be able to walk without knocking his knees and the risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age will also decrease.” Let’s support Shedrack in getting the treatment he needs, and improving his confidence at school.
