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Success! Khristopher from Malawi raised $846 to fund hernia repair surgery so he can live more comfortably and prevent future complications.

Khristopher
100%
  • $846 raised, $0 to go
$846
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Khristopher's treatment was fully funded on September 20, 2022.

Photo of Khristopher post-operation

October 5, 2022

Khristopher underwent hernia repair surgery so he can live more comfortably and grow up healthy.

Six-year-old Khristopher successfully underwent hernia surgery. He is back home, feeling better, and looking forward to a bright future after full recovery and attending school. He will no longer experience the symptoms of stomachache and swelling when he cries, coughs or strains.

Khristopher’s father says, “I am thankful to my donors for this kind gesture, I am happy that my son’s surgery was successful. He can now go to school and play with his friends without this condition.”

Six-year-old Khristopher successfully underwent hernia surgery. He is back home, feeling better, and looking forward to a bright future afte...

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July 31, 2022

Khristopher is a six-year-old boy from Malawi who attends primary school. He is the fourth born in a family of five children. To support their family, his parents work as small-scale farmers.

When Khristopher was one year old, he began to experience frequent stomachaches. Although his parents thought they would go away, the stomachaches persisted. At three years old, his condition worsened and swelling began to occur in a sensitive area every time Khristopher cried, coughed, or did anything strenuous. His parents shared that these symptoms worry them as they helplessly watch their child in pain due to this condition.

He was eventually diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, and his doctor referred him to a different hospital for surgery. However, due to financial constraints that prevented their family from being able to pay for transportation and medical expenses, Khristopher’s father decided to continue trying to heal Khristopher using traditional methods.

For another three years, Khristopher was treated with traditional herbs. Unfortunately, these methods were not successful, and his condition persisted. His father decided to seek medical care once more, so he brought Khristopher to our medical partner’s care center, Nkhoma Hospital.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), is helping Khristopher receive treatment. On August 4th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. AMHF is requesting $846 to fund Khristopher’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and prevent future complications.

Khristopher’s father says, “I have prayed and hoped for a solution to my son’s condition, and I now have faith that he will be cured.”

Khristopher is a six-year-old boy from Malawi who attends primary school. He is the fourth born in a family of five children. To support the...

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Khristopher's Timeline

  • July 31, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Khristopher was submitted by Edward Mugane, Impact Assessment Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • August 1, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Khristopher's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • August 4, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Khristopher received treatment at Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • September 20, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Khristopher's treatment was fully funded.

  • October 5, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Khristopher's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 14 donors

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment
Hernia Repair with Mesh
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $846 for Khristopher's treatment
Hospital Fees
$210
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$164
Supplies
$298
Labs
$60
Other
$114
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A hernia occurs when a portion of the intestine protrudes through the lower abdominal wall, usually for one of two reasons. The first is a congenital abnormality in which the tissues did not close. The second is excessive stress in an adult, often due to heavy physical labor or pregnancy. Patients experience a bulge or lump in the affected area. The hernia may cause the patient to feel pain, discomfort, weakness, pressure, and sensations of heaviness or aching. These symptoms are often exacerbated when the patient coughs, bends over, or lifts heavy objects. In some cases, hernias have no symptoms and are only detected during routine medical exams.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Patients with uncomplicated hernias may experience only annoyance or discomfort. As the hernia opening expands, the discomfort will increase. Small openings are more likely to trap the intestine, potentially leading to intestinal damage or death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Hernias are common in Africa. People often do very hard physical labor and lift heavy objects. Women tend to have more children than those in developed countries. It is possible that some hernias have infectious or genetic causes.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgery lasts for three to eight hours, depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the hernia. The patient will stay in the hospital anywhere from two days to eight weeks, again depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the hernia. The patient is continually monitored.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

Treatment is curative. The chance of intestinal strangulation or bowel obstruction reduces significantly.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Hernia repair is not a risky procedure, and it comes with few side effects.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Many patients will ignore a hernia until it becomes uncomfortable and seek care at that time. Some people will wear tighter pants or a tight band around the waist to prevent the intestine from protruding.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

If a hernia is not “stuck,” patients tend to ignore it and adapt to living with it. However, this could lead to future complications.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.