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Success! Josiah from Kenya raised $646 to fund surgery so he can grow up healthy.

Josiah
100%
  • $646 raised, $0 to go
$646
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Josiah's treatment was fully funded on December 6, 2022.

Photo of Josiah post-operation

December 19, 2022

Josiah underwent surgery so he can grow up healthy.

Josiah’s surgery was successful with no complications. This care has greatly reduced the risks of future complications. Josiah’s mother has been bringing him for follow-up appointments so his doctors can make sure he fully recovers. Josiah’s parents are very happy that the treatment has been done.

Josiah’s mother shared, “We are very happy that he has been treated and now he can grow up as other children.”

Josiah’s surgery was successful with no complications. This care has greatly reduced the risks of future complications. Josiah's mother has ...

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July 1, 2022

Josiah is a curious and playful two-year-old. He lives with his parents and his sibling in a small, rented house. To support their family, his mother sells face masks at a local shopping area and his father does various jobs, depending on what work is available at the time.

When Josiah was one years old, his parents noticed that one of his testes had not descended. After taking their son to a nearby hospital to be examined, they were told to wait a few months to see if the testes would descend. More than six months later, the condition had not changed, and Josiah was referred to our medical partner BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. His family managed to raise enough money to bring Josiah in for examination, and upon arrival, he was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, he would have an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future.

Josiah’s family could not raise the amount of money required for his surgery alone. Fortunately, he will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Josiah is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 4th. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Josiah’s mother says, “After hearing the consequences of his condition if not treated, I was very much worried for him since we cannot afford his treatment.”

Josiah is a curious and playful two-year-old. He lives with his parents and his sibling in a small, rented house. To support their family, h...

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Josiah's Timeline

  • July 1, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Josiah was submitted by Ruth Kanyeria, SAFE Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • July 4, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Josiah received treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH) in Kenya. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • July 7, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Josiah's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • December 6, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Josiah's treatment was fully funded.

  • December 19, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Josiah's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 14 donors

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment
Orchidopexy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $646 for Josiah's treatment
Hospital Fees
$480
Medical Staff
$10
Medication
$30
Supplies
$90
Labs
$5
Other
$31
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

One of the testicles either appears to be missing or cannot be felt in the scrotum.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Left untreated, this condition can lead to infertility. The higher temperature inside the body can affect sperm production. Men with both testicles affected are more likely to experience fertility-related issues than men with only one affected testicle. This condition can also cause inguinal hernia, in which the intestine protrudes through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. Only surgery can correct this condition, which can otherwise result in intestinal damage or death. Finally, this condition is a risk factor for testicular cancer. If surgery is performed early, this risk is limited.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Undescended testis is the most common birth anomaly in boys. This condition is present in about 1-4.5% of newborns, with a higher incidence in premature babies (30-45%). Unilateral undescended testis is four times more likely than bilateral. Data on this condition is scarce in Kenya, so the true prevalence of acquired undescended testicles is still unknown.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

After surgery, the patient will stay in the hospital for an average of three days. The patient is continually monitored.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

Treatment will reduce the risk of infertility, inguinal hernia, and testicular cancer.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This condition is very treatable, and the procedure is low-risk.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

An alternative to surgery is to use synthetic hormones that encourage the testicle to move into the scrotum. Hormone therapy is only recommended if the child’s testicle(s) are close to the scrotum. However, hormone therapy is not commonly available in Kenya.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.