The Story
Meet Nana: A Bright Spirit in Search of Independence
My name is Adwoa, and I am reaching out to you today on behalf of my 20-year-old niece, Nana. If you ever met Nana, the first thing you would notice is her engaging personality and her incredibly pleasant demeanor. She is a bright light in our family, but she is currently trapped by a condition that limits her every move.
Nana lives in Ghana with her mother, Akua—a widow who has dedicated every moment to Nana’s care. Because Nana is non-ambulatory and wheelchair-bound, Akua must lift and carry her everywhere. This physical toll has now caused Akua to develop chronic back problems of her own. Our family is at a breaking point, and Nana is running out of time.
The Journey So Far
Nana was born prematurely at 28 weeks. By the age of one, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly. At age three, she began suffering from epilepsy. Over the years, we have tried everything available in Ghana: serial casting, years of intensive physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Despite our best efforts, Nana’s condition has not improved. She suffers from severe muscle stiffness, developmental delay, misalignment of the eyes, and severe myopia. Her doctors in Ghana have now recommended complex hip, spine, and brain surgery—procedures that are simply not available where she lives.
The Window of Opportunity
Nana is now 20 years old. Her doctors have made it clear that this surgery is her only hope of achieving any level of independent living. However, as she enters adulthood, the "window of opportunity" for these surgeries to be successful is closing. The passing of time is our greatest enemy.
How You Can Help
We are planning to bring Nana and Akua to California, where she can receive the specialized surgical intervention and rehabilitative care she desperately needs.
Because medical costs in the U.S. can be prohibitively expensive, we are setting a goal to cover her medical expenses and travel:
- Travel from Ghana to California
- Specialized surgical fees (Hip, Spine, and Brain)
- Hospitalization and post-operative care
- Miscellaneous medical supplies and recovery expenses
No Donation is Too Small!
We understand that times are tough for everyone. If you can only spare $5 or $10, please know that it gets us one step closer to changing Nana's life forever. If you cannot donate, sharing this link with your network is just as powerful.
On behalf of Akua (Nana’s mom) thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, your prayers, and your generosity.
Help us help Nana break out of the prison her condition has created.
With gratitude,
Adwoa and Akua
