“Beautiful, confident, and composed are just a few of the impressions you get when you meet Dorcas,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare foundation (AMHF). Six-year old Dorcas is also one of the brightest pupils in her class, with aspirations to become a pilot.
The last born in a family of five children in Kenya, Dorcas has suffered loss at an early age. At two-months old, Dorcas lost her only then surviving parent - her mother - to a brain tumor. Since then, Dorcas and her siblings are under the care of their elder sister who is only 20 years old.
For three years, Dorcas was healthy, until she developed severe headaches, nosebleeds, and seizures, causing her to miss most of her classes. Her condition progressed until her sister had no choice but to reach out to a relative to bring Dorcas to the hospital, as she had no funds to bring her on her own. There, Dorcas was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“Dorcas is at high risk of increased intra-cranial pressure, which is likely to cause brain damage or even death,” AMHF says. “She is also at risk of losing her eyesight.”
With a small profit made by selling vegetables in a stall near their one room rental house, the family has no additional funds for Dorcas’ treatment, and her symptoms are getting worse. Nearly two weeks ago, Dorcas’ left limbs became numb. Her mobility has become infrequent, and she staggers while she walks.
$1,260 will pay for Dorcas’ brain surgery. AMHF says that with it, “Dorcas will be relieved from experiencing severe headaches, nose bleeds and seizures; she might also regain use of her hand and leg.”
“If only I was informed earlier, maybe it could have been less severe…we are not too late though, Dorcas will be well again. Our plea is for financial help,” says Dorcas’ aunt.