Gift W., 1

Gift is a four-week-old baby and the last-born in a family of four children. He was born prematurely at 32 weeks' gestation with a very low birth weight of 1,200 grams and was referred from Bokoli Sub-County Hospital to a Bungoma County Referral Hospital for specialized newborn care. Shortly after birth, he developed severe breathing difficulty, rapid breathing, chest indrawing, grunting, poor feeding, and low oxygen levels, indicating significant respiratory distress. He was immediately admitted to the Newborn Unit and placed on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a machine that gently delivers pressurized air through the nose to keep the lungs open, improve oxygen delivery, and reduce the effort required to breathe. Owing to his prematurity and fragile condition, he required close monitoring, warmth, nutritional support, and specialized neonatal care. Gift's mother, who earns about KSh 900 per month as a security guard and is the family's sole provider, was overwhelmed by the rising hospital bills. Living in a modest two-room mud house without electricity and struggling to meet even basic needs, she feared her baby would miss lifesaving treatment until a hospital administrator referred her to Helpster Charity for financial assistance.

The doctor explained that although Gift's condition was critical, his prognosis is favorable with timely and consistent treatment. Specialized neonatal care helps improve breathing, treat infection, support kidney function, prevent bleeding due to low platelets, and promote healthy growth. With adequate nutrition, regular follow-up, and close developmental monitoring, he has a good chance of achieving normal growth and developmental milestones. Without prompt treatment, however, he would have been at high risk of respiratory failure, severe infection, kidney failure, life-threatening bleeding, poor growth, permanent disability, or death.