Faisal is a two-year-old baby boy and the last-born in a family of seven children from Tanzania. His parents are small-scale farmers who grow maize and beans. His father also does carpentry to make a living. Nevertheless, their income is not much but is just enough to get them by.
Faisal was diagnosed with a right valgus. His right leg is bowed inward so that his knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Faisal cannot walk or get around without pain.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Faisal. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 7th and will hopefully restore Faisal’s mobility. In addition, it will allow him to participate in a variety of activities and greatly decrease his risk of future complications.
His family says, “We have tried medication but it has not helped, he now needs to have surgery but we cannot afford the treatment cost.”