Joseph is a cute and happy eight-month-old baby boy who lives with his family in Tanzania. Joseph was born at home, but he was quickly rushed the hospital soon after birth because he had trouble breathing.
Enlarged adenoids—masses of lymphatic tissue between the back of the nose and throat—have made it very difficult for Joseph to breastfeed. He cannot breathe through his nose, snores a lot, has trouble sleeping, and his nose runs constantly.
Treatment for Joseph is an adenoidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the enlarged adenoids. His parents, who work as small-scale farmers and keep a few cattle, work hard to take care of their family, but they cannot afford to pay for the surgery that Joseph needs.
$488 pays for Joseph’s operation as well as three medical consultations and three days of hospital care, including lab tests, an X-ray, pain medicine, and antibiotics.
“All I want is my baby to have the ability to breathe through his nose so that he can breastfeed with ease and sleep better,” shares Joseph’s mother.