Karin is a three-month-old boy from Kenya. His mother stays at home with him, and his father is a subsistence farmer.
About one week ago, Karin suddenly lost the ability to hold his head up and began to cry incessantly. Within a few days he was also vomiting and developed a fever. Karin was then taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium that can increase pressure on the brain, causing severe mental and physical health problems.
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to fund Karin’s operation, which is scheduled to take place on June 19 at our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. The surgery entails insertion of a shunt in Karin’s brain that will drain the excess fluid. Without treatment, Karin will be at risk of permanent brain damage, loss of vision, and even death.
“We are determined to overcome this illness and not let it ruin his life, with your help,” says Karin’s father.