“I would do anything I could to see my baby healthy again,” says the mother of Youdelande, a nine-month-old girl who lives with her parents and siblings in Haiti.
Youdelande’s mother brought her to our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), seeking treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. CSF is a clear fluid that is produced in the chambers, or ventricles, of the brain. In an infant, too much CSF can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head and developmental issues.
“Three months [after her birth], Youdelande became sick when suddenly her head started getting abnormally large,” explains PM. “A CT scan has been performed, and the results reveal that Youdelande has excess fluid in the brain, and she needs surgical Intervention to save her life.”
Doctors recommend surgical placement of a shunt in Youdelande’s brain to drain the excess CSF. The shunt is connected to a tube that runs under the skin and empties into an abdominal cavity, where the excess CSF is resorbed by the body.
Youdelande’s father, who grows food to feed the family, and her mother, who works as a wash lady, have not been able to raise money to pay for the surgery that Youdelande needs.
With $1,260 in funding, Youdelande can undergo surgery to place the shunt, receive five days of hospital care, and 40 days of physiotherapy. “After the treatment,” shares PM, “Youdelande will grow up in good shape.”
Let’s help fund surgery for Youdelande!