“Augustina is the first of two children of her mother who is a single parent,” says our medical partner, Ortho FOCOS. “She is currently in school studying with the hope of becoming a lawyer and a writer in the future.”
Augustina is a 15-year-old girl from Ghana. She was first diagnosed with scoliosis in July 2013, and was supposed to undergo surgery the following November. However, due to a lack of funds, she had to cancel the surgery. She still lives with scoliosis, almost two years later.
“She is unable to do strenuous work and can no longer attend school,” says OF. “Her condition has affected her social life because she feels uncomfortable in the midst of her colleagues. She has resorted to putting on very big clothes to conceal her deformity whenever she attends any social gathering.”
Raising Hope Africa and FOCOS has contributed $7500 toward the cost of Augustina’s corrective treatment. However, she still needs $1500 to fund overseas preparation and transportation to receive care.
“With surgery, Augustina is expected to live a full, productive and healthy life,” OF tells us. “She feels hopeful that she will one day get the needed support to help her undergo surgery.”