When baby Olivia was born earlier this year, his mother’s heart swelled with a mix of emotions. She had imagined welcoming her daughter with joy, not fear, grief, and desperation. As she held her newborn, her gaze remained fixed on a large swelling on Olivia’s tiny nose.
At just 21 years old and still reeling from the shock of new motherhood, Mama Olivia felt as though her world had collapsed.
“I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was grateful for a safe delivery, on the other, the swelling really worried me,” she shared, her eyes welling with tears.
Her fears deepened as our doctors examined Olivia. Their diagnosis confirmed her worst nightmare—Olivia had nasofrontal encephalocele, a rare and life-threatening condition where brain tissue protrudes through the skull. Every breath was a struggle. Every feeding attempt was a challenge, made even harder by his cleft palate.
The only hope? A delicate and urgent surgery—one that was costly and far beyond the family's means.
“My only source of strength was my mother. I am a single parent, so is my mother. We prayed and trusted that God would provide a way,” she shared with hope.
Olivia’s grandmother, a hard-working waitress, did everything she could to support her family. However, her modest income barely covered daily expenses, let alone the cost of a complex surgery.
Then, earlier this month, God answered their prayers! With support from generous well-wishers, our ENT and paediatric surgery team successfully performed the procedure, removing the mass and closing the opening in his mouth.
Now, Olivia is recovering well. In our paediatric wing, he sleeps peacefully, occasionally smiling in his sleep as though savoring his newfound comfort. We pray for his speedy recovery and a long, healthy life ahead!
Every month, we encounter families in need of #CompassionateHealthcare. If you would like to support patients in need of life-saving surgeries, please contact us through our contact center - 0709728200, or write to us at [email protected].
#110YearsLegacy
