December 2, 2015
Two-month-old Maritu lives with her family in Ethiopia. She was born with no anal opening—a condition known as anorectal malformation. Due to this, she is unable to pass stool normally.
“Maritu presented with partial bowel obstruction at the age of one week,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. “A colostomy was performed urgently. Maritu has recovered both from the surgery and the obstructive symptoms but still has a colostomy and an imperforate anus. Now, she needs a definitive surgery for the correction of her anomaly.”
Maritu’s father works as a farmer to provide for his six children, but he does not earn enough money to pay for the surgery that Maritu needs.
For $1,500, Maritu will undergo an anorectoplasty to create a new anal opening so that she can pass stool normally. AMHF tells us that after surgery, “Maritu is expected to live a normal life.”
Maritu’s father hopes that one day his daughter will be well enough to go to school.
Two-month-old Maritu lives with her family in Ethiopia. She was born with no anal opening—a condition known as anorectal malformation. Due t...
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April 11, 2016
Maritu received life-changing anorectal surgery.
Maritu underwent a successful anorectoplasty (PSARP) operation, and she now has a new functional anus. Maritu subsequently underwent dilations to ensure that the new anal opening did not collapse, and three months later, Maritu underwent a colostomy closure. She can now pass stool normally and is recovering well.
“Maritu’s parents were very excited seeing their baby girl recovering from a big surgery,” explains her medical team. “They are grateful and overwhelmed with what was done for her.”
“My child is now well and we are so thankful,” her parents wrote. “This program raised our hope and gave us this big surgery for nothing in return. God bless our sponsors and we like to say thank you.”
Maritu underwent a successful anorectoplasty (PSARP) operation, and she now has a new functional anus. Maritu subsequently underwent dilatio...
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