Annette's Bladder Exstrophy Surgery

All who will be moved by this 8 month old baby's story, I encourage you to look into your heart and support her. My name is Emmanuel Akese, I currently live in Worcester MA, in the United States, and I am trusting that with your support and that of your community I can raise $30,000 to help pay for this life saving surgery for Annette.


My Niece Annette is a twin born on April 29th, 2015 in Ghana with a rare condition called Bladder Exstrophy, where her bladder is exposed and therefore can be seen topically. It is a condition that needs special surgery to correct.


Anette has had 2 surgeries already in Ghana, West Africa, in an attempt to fix the condition, but both surgeries were unsuccessful. As such the condition remains the same, or has gotten worse in certain cases. Doctors in Ghana have recommended a well suited pediatric setting to take on her case and help her. She has currently been discharged with the condition to go home with no clear plan in sight to help in Ghana.


Initial investigations from John Hopkins University Medical in MD, and Boston Children's Hospital in Boston MA, who specialize in Bladder Exstrophy indicated that correcting this condition here in the US will cost between $400,000 to $600,000. We knew this amount would be difficult to raise, but we continued our search for any possible organization that would support this cause, or sponsor the surgery, while we also created this campaign to get donations from people that could help.

Through our search we were able to reach the Association of Bladder Exstrophy Community (ABEC) www.bladderexstrphy.com and they have indicated their support for this urgent surgery through their charity organization that will have US doctors perform the surgery at other locations outside the United States. This option will significantly reduce the cost of surgery to about $30,000 with the same level of care.

Without the surgery the baby may not get the necessary help and her life could be cut short by a condition that can be corrected. All proceeds will go directly to the Association of Bladder Exstrophy Community to be used to sponsor Annette's surgery. Any additional funds will go to the charity to use to sponsor other children with the same condition. 

My family has already spent a substantial amount in Ghana for the first 2 surgeries that failed, and we are still doing all we can to get her the necessary help. We will be eternally grateful to kind donors who will help save an innocent baby's life and others like her.

Currently Annette is at home with the condition and each passing day makes her prone to infection that could worsen her situation. Surgery therefore needs to be performed as soon as possible.

I hope you have been touched by this baby's story that can happen to anyone. No contribution is too little; please HELP by donating, and or sharing this story with all your family and friends.
 
Thank you,
Emmanuel Akese.