Besufikad is a four-month-old baby boy and the first child of his mother from Ethiopia. His mother grew up in a rural area, raised by her parents, who were farmers. Unfortunately, when war broke out, her parents were killed, forcing her to flee to Addis Ababa. Besufikad’s mother was working as a domestic worker but her employer asked her to leave when she told them she was pregnant. She lived on the streets and relied on others for food.
When she went into labor, a friend took her to a health center, where she gave birth. Besufikad was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. They visited a hospital where Besufikad was given a colostomy bag to help with his condition.
Returning to the streets with Besufikad’s health issues was difficult. Doctors suggested that they go to a charity home, where they stayed until Besufikad was given a schedule for his surgery.
Besufikad will undergo surgery to correct his condition on August 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Besufikad’s procedure and care. After his recovery, Besufikad will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future.
Besufikad’s mom said, “I hope my baby will get the necessary treatment and heal.”

