Brighton, an eight-day-old baby boy from Kenya, was born to a loving family who wants to bring him home as soon as possible. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares that “his mother is a stay-at-home housewife while her husband works long hours in a farm.”
When he was born a few days ago, Brighton had a swelling mass on his back. “After being seen by a neurologist, Brighton was confirmed to have spina bifida,” AMHF explains. Spina bifida is a congenital malformation where a sac filled with fluid forms on the spine.
“Brighton is at risk of getting an infection,” AMHF continues. “He lis likely to develop tethered cord syndrome which can lead to either the spine bending sideways or an exaggerated curvature of the spine that results to a hunched back.”
With $805, Brighton can receive surgical treatment, medications, and hospital stay. According to AMHF, a surgeon will drain the mass, reconstruct the spinal deformity, and close the open wound. “Brighton’s treatment will prevent infections from developing and further damage to the exposed nervous tissue,” AMHF explains. “It will also prevent development of tethered cord syndrome.”
“It breaks my heart every day to see Brighton fighting this condition,” shares Brighton’s mother. “He cannot go on like this, and needs help in order to have the operation on his spine.”