Meet Hezron, a 19-month-old boy who lives with his mother and older sibling in Kenya.
“Hezron was born with an abnormal urethral opening, forcing him to pee with a lot of difficulty,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “His mother sought treatment when he was six months old, but she could not raise the required funds for his treatment.”
Hezron’s condition, known as hypospadias, is characterized by a urethral opening on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip and often contributes to other health issues. “If not treated,” AMHF explains, “Hezron is likely to suffer urinary tract infections. He will also not be able to pass urine normally.”
To treat hypospadias, a surgeon takes tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to extend the length of the urethra so that it opens at the tip of the penis. After surgery, “Hezron will be able to pass urine normally,” explains AMHF. “The risk of urinary tract infections will also be minimized.”
Hezron’s mother, who sells second-hand clothes to support her family, has not been able to raise the total funds required to pay for the surgery that Hezron needs.
$655 pays for Hezron to undergo surgery to repair the hypospadias as well as 10 days of hospital care after surgery. Family and friends have contributed $215 to cover additional costs associated with his care.
“I try to give my children the best,” Herzon’s mother says. “I have no one to look up to, and I’ll appreciate any support.”
