Funding Request: $2,498.76 CAD
Critical Need: CNKNA0224B
Baby Francis is the first grandchild of Martha, the coordinator of sponsorship in all Chalice’s African sites. Her son, Norman, and his wife Sylvia welcomed their baby into the world in October 2023.
When Francis was three weeks old, he started struggling to breathe, and the family took the baby to the mission hospital. The pediatrician recommended admission to the pediatric acute ward. The baby received intensive care and treatment for 23 days; Francis was critical and on oxygen throughout.
At the beginning of December, after another chest scan, they referred him to another hospital for further treatment. There he received treatments in the departments of cardiology, pediatrics, physiotherapy, and radiology.
His medical team diagnosed him with patent ductus arteriosus, in which a part of the heart does not close after birth and disrupts the proper flow of oxygenated blood. He needs to stay in the hospital until it fully closes. In recent months, baby Francis has shown remarkable improvement as he responds well to treatment. The recent test showed the patent ductus arteriosus had closed significantly.
Since his first hospitalization, the baby’s family and national health insurance have covered more than $4800 CAD in medical bills. When their child fell sick, the young parents were out of employment and had to seek help from the family. They have exhausted their financial resources, but there remains $2,498.76 CAD in bills from the current hospital.
Martha and her colleagues in Nairobi have therefore requested to cover baby Francis’ outstanding hospital bills, which will repay the rest of the bills incurred at the second hospital where he had been admitted since December 2023.
Please note that any donations that exceed the request will be used to fund other critical need emergencies that may arise.
