Help Andre, Baka Pygmy, fight TB/heart..

Andre is a Baka Pygmy youth who lives in the rainforest of Cameroon (Central Africa). I first met him in 1998, when I was doing research in his village and his father worked as my research assistant. Since that time, he has grown into an outstanding young man, who has excelled in school, speaks excellent French (the national language), and offers considerable promise for helping his community with the many challenges they face.

     Sadly, when visiting his village in March 2012, I found him in a very weakened state. His body was swollen with fluid and his lungs were so full he couldn't breathe unless he was sitting up. As a longtime friend of the family, I agreed to take Andre to a local hospital where, after stabilizing him and reducing the fluid in his body, doctors determined he had tuberculosis and possible heart damage. They put him on TB treatment and gave him medication to manage his condition, but lacked the facilities to deal with the heart problem. I then had to return to the U.S., but arranged to have Andre taken to the most up-to-date cardiology unit in Cameroon (http://shisonghospital.org/wordpress/cardiac-centre/). There, cardiologists determined that, once the TB is successfully treated, they could perform surgery to repair the damage to his pericardium (the "sack" surrounding his heart). 

     Since his parents live a subsistence life in the rainforest, they have no money to pay for medical care. And because the expenses for his ongoing treatment and future surgery exceed my personal resources, he needs more friends who can help him restore his health, so he can go on to live a productive life and contribute to his community. That's why I am seeking help. Donated funds would be used for visits to the doctor to manage his condition, critical medication, and surgery to repair the heart damage. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated by Andre and his family. Furthermore, sharing this link with friends and family can be a powerful force in gathering the assistance that Andre needs. Please consider helping this very worthy young man. Thank you for your support. 

-- Robert Moïse