A two-month-old girl from Kenya, Ann is the youngest child in a family of four. She has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus—a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the skull, causing the brain to expand. If not treated, Ann is at risk of becoming visually impaired, as well as accumulating cerebral spinal fluid that may cause permanent brain damage.
Ann was admitted to a local hospital four days after birth due to her inability to breastfeed. She was then hospitalized for one week. One month later, it was obvious that her head was growing at a disproportionate rate to her body. Ann’s family was referred to a hospital associated with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), to seek treatment for Ann. A scan confirmed that Ann has fluid in her head and will require a shunt to drain it. The procedure is scheduled for April 27.
Ann’s parents separated one month ago due to the demands of taking care of a sick child. She now lives with her mother in a single-rental house in the coastal region of Kenya. Ann’s remaining siblings live with her father. Ann’s mother farms on leased land to sustain her daily needs as well as those of her daughter. The income she makes is not enough to cover such medical expenses.
AMHF is asking for $685 to cover the expenses of Anne’s operation. Your donation will help pay for the costs of the surgery, anesthesia, laboratory tests, medication, and five nights of stay in the hospital.
