Meet Petna, a quiet, four-year-old girl from Tanzania.
“Petna is the second born in a family of three children. She used to be very active and enjoyed playing hide and seek,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). However, due to a lumbar spine tumor on her lower back, Petna has not been able to play or sleep on her back for some time.
According to AMHF, last year Petna’s mother “noticed a small swelling on her daughter’s lower back.” This swelling continued to grow until this September, when Petna was taken to a local hospital and underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
Unfortunately, the tumor was not completely removed “and the swelling is back to a big size and it is also infected,” reports AMHF. If not properly treated, Petna will continue to be in pain and face the risk of the swelling bursting, which can cause even more serious complications.
Petna’s parents are young and rely on livestock keeping for income. It is difficult for them to come up with $920 for Petna’s operation. With help from Watsi’s donors, however, Petna can receive another operation to properly remove her tumor. She will no longer experience pain or face or other complications down the line.
“I feel sorry for my granddaughter because she is in pain all the time,” says Petna’s grandmother. “I long to see her happy again, actively playing with other children.”