Parent of child born without an anus appeal for help
By Dumisani Ndlovu
A 64-year-old Anna Smith from Zhaugwe Resettlement Area in Shurugwi South, whose granddaughter has a missing anus is appealing to well-wishers to assist her 5 year old granddaughter, Praymore Thanks Siwela to undergo the surgical repair of an imperforate anus. The anus doesn’t have a hole.
According to the family, Praymore who is academically talented was born without an anus, an important organ to a human being and she needs urgent correction. Unknown to them, Praymore has been passing faeces through her private parts and the discovery came two months after the child’s birth.
The elderly woman told this publication that her underprivileged family are now appealing for financial support to enable the child undergo corrective surgery.
“When my granddaughter was born, we were not aware the child had a strange abnormality until two month later,” Smith said adding that although she once underwent initial treatment after the intervention of a well-wisher, she now finds it difficult to raise US$1500 needed for her grandchild’s further Colostomy diagnosis.
A colostomy is a surgical procedure performed on children who are unable to pass feces safely due to anatomical defect. Anal malformations have different effects in boys and girls.
A baby born with an anal malformation has problems with the anal opening, where poop leaves the body and the rectum, the section of large intestine above the anus.
In a telephone interview Gogo Smith told Kwedu News that the grandchild underwent an operation after her condition deteriorated a couple of years ago but could not go for further treatment due to lack of the required money.
“My grandchild was iniatially diagnosed of imperforate anus-at Harare Central Hospital, also known as KuGomo. She is supposed to go for further treatment but money is the major setback. The doctor told us the girl’s intestines is also supposed to be operated on as he said its condition had deteriorated due to the the missing anus.
She said since she was born sixty-four years ago, she has never heard or seen a child born without an anus.
“Both her biological parents and relatives were equally perturbed. There is no family history of such an abnormality. I am blessed with several grandchildren and great grandchildren and the deformity will not stop me from loving her, I will Praymore as her name depicts.
The problem is caused by abnormal development of the fetus and may be associated with other birth defects. Imperforate anus is a relatively common condition that occurs in about 1 out of 5,000 infants.
Those willing to assist Praymore Thanks Siwela can get in touch on +263 775 111 796 or contact Sister Rufu on +263 77 354 2229
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