A couple years ago, seven-year-old Lowasa was playing in his home in Tanzania when he fell into an open fire. “The material of his clothes that he was wearing quickly caught fire and he incurred severe burns,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains.
After being rushed to the hospital, Lowasa’s burns on his chest were treated and have since healed. Because of the skin damage he sustained from the burns, he developed a keloid on his chest, which is a build up of extra scar tissue where the skin has healed after injury.
“If not treated, the growing keloid will eventually take over his whole chest,” AMHF explains. The keloid is very itchy, causing Lowasa to scratch it and create small open wounds.
To treat his condition, Lowasa will have the keloid surgically removed and will need injections of steroids and fluorouacil (an ointment for his skin). It will cost, in total, $920. After treatment, Lowasa will no longer feel uncomfortable due to his condition, and will have a much smaller scar.
As the third born in a family of four children, Lowasa’s parents are worried what will happen to their son. He loves school, and his parents hope that he can return after treatment.
“The best thing I can do for my children is to take them to school,” Lowasa’s father shares with us. “I will be happy for Lowasa to go to school without frequent interruptions of having to go to the hospital.”
