Challenges of Feeding By Mouth Instead of A Feeding Tube

Donate to help Maria get a feeding Tube: https://www.mchanga.africa/fundraiser... This Is Urgent Maria is 21 years old. She has Cerebral Palsy, and right now, every meal she takes by mouth is a choking hazard. We took her to see a surgeon. The assessment of Maria's case is urgent. She needs a feeding peg inserted surgically as soon as possible. Without it, the risk she faces every single day will only grow. We are asking for your help to make this surgery happen. What the Doctor Found Maria lacks the natural reflexes around her stomach, which makes the surgery more complex than a standard feeding peg procedure. The surgeon will need to tighten her diaphragm muscles during the operation to ensure the peg is properly secured. This complexity has two important implications. First, SHA (Social Health Authority) will not cover this procedure. Every shilling needed must be raised by us, the people who love Maria and believe she deserves to live without fear at mealtimes. Second, we must purchase the feeding tubes ourselves and bring them to the hospital on the day of surgery. We will buy two pegs of different sizes because if the surgeon opens and finds that one is not the right fit, they need a second option ready. There is no room for delay in an operating theatre. There is also a real possibility that Maria may need to return for a second surgery, either because of her condition or if the peg shifts or comes loose. We are planning for that possibility so that if it happens, we are ready and she does not have to wait. After Surgery, The Family Still Needs Support Once the surgery is done, Maria will require round-the-clock care for at least one month. That care will fall to her mother, the same woman who has been her sole caregiver her entire life, and who is also the only breadwinner for their family of four. For that month, Mama Maria will not be able to work. That means no income for the household. We cannot ask this family to carry that cost alone. The appeal includes provision to ensure they have what they need while Maria recovers. What We Are Raising: KES 1,000,000 (10,000 USD= Here is exactly where every shilling will go: Item Amount 1 Vital organs test before surgery KES 70,000 2 Purchase of 2 feeding tubes (different sizes) KES 80,000 3 Surgery KES 350,000 4 Buffer for potential second surgery KES 350,000 5 Post-operative care and household bills KES 150,000 Total KES 1,000,000 Every shilling raised will be used exclusively for Maria's medical journey and family support during recovery. We will provide full transparency and updates at every stage. What Your Contribution Means No amount is too small. Here is what different contributions make possible: KES 500 — contributes toward her pre-surgery vital organs test KES 1,000 — goes toward purchasing the feeding tubes she needs KES 5,000 — contributes toward the surgery fund KES 10,000 — helps ensure the family has provision during her recovery Any amount — tells Maria and her mother that strangers care, and that they are not doing this alone Watch Maria's Story We believe you should be able to see exactly who you are giving for. We have put together a playlist that will be continuously updated with videos of Maria, her family, and the progress of this fundraiser — from today all the way through her recovery. ? Watch the playlist here:    • Maria´s Story   A Note From Geuza Wazo Foundation We have walked with Maria's family for nearly a year. We have sat in their home, shared meals with them, and watched her mother carry an impossible load with grace and determination. Maria deserves to eat without fear. She deserves dignity, comfort, and safety. And her mother deserves to know that when her daughter needs surgery, the money will not be the reason it doesn't happen. We are not asking for much from any one person. We are asking for something from as many people as possible. Donate. Share. Tell someone who can help. Every contribution brings Maria one step closer to the table.