Nyemo is a shy, twelve-month-old boy who lives in Tanzania with his mother and father. He is happiest when he is trying to walk around or playing with his wooden cars.
Around nine months ago, Nyemo’s mother noticed swelling around her son’s scrotum when she was giving him a bath. The swelling caused him such discomfort that he began crying. Since this incident, Nyemo has continued to experience swelling—accompanied by severe pain—periodically.
According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), doctors have diagnosed Nyemo with a hernia, a protrusion of organs through the abdominal cavity that usually contains them. If left untreated, the hernia will progress, leading to intestinal obstruction.
Hernia repair surgery can rid Nyemo of his pain. During the operation, Nyemo’s organs will be returned to their appropriate locations, and his abdominal cavity will be repaired. $610 in funding will cover all of the surgical expenses, along with medication, a three-day hospital stay and a one-week stay in a surgical rehabilitation center. Since Nyemo’s parents work as small scale farmers, “their income is minimal and unstable,” explains AMHF. Therefore, they cannot afford his treatment.
“All we hope is for our son to get the right treatment and for him to continue with normal growth,” shares Nyemo’s mother.