Baby with spine deformity risks kidney, brain damage; parent can’t afford ¢17K surgery

A three-week-old baby born with spina bifida occulta (spine deformity) in the East Gonja municipality of the Savannah Region is likely to die as his parents are unable to afford a surgical procedure to correct the medical condition.

Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital say if the baby does undergo surgery early, he could develop sepsis, a medical emergency that causes the immune system to go into overdrive and attacks the body’s own organs and tissues.

Sepsis can also cause damage to kidneys, lungs, brain, and heart, leading to death.

The Hospital authorities say they will need 17,000 cedis to perform the spina bifida occulta surgery on the baby.

But parents of the baby told 3news.com they have spent all their money on X-rays and travels, hence unable to raise the amount to enable the baby undergo the surgery.

Mother of the baby, Rashida Rahman, is therefore appealing to Ghanaians to support her save her baby.

A Physician Assistant (PA) at the Salaga Government Hospital, John Aganiza-ah, where the baby was delivered, confirmed the condition of the baby to 3news.com.

He said the condition was caused by a probable maternal nutritional deficiency (folate deficiency).

He has appealed to the public to support the parents of the baby to undergo surgery.