Ali U., 7

Ali Usman is a 7-year-old gifted boy which used to be number one in his class, and he has the ability of easy memorization. He is the second to last child of the family, his father is a farmer and his mother sells groundnut. Two months back when Ali Usman come back from school, he suddenly starts to feel a nagging discomfort in his lower abdomen. It begins as a dull ache, something he can't quite put his finger on, but it gradually intensifies. He experiences pain when he tries to urinate, which is quite sharp and burning, often felt at the end of urination. He started to dread going to the toilet because of this discomfort until he was brought to Helpster charity. On presentation at our hospital, he was evaluated and diagnosed with Bladder Stones requires urgent surgery.

Seeing Ali leave my office a few weeks later, with a bright smile and a newfound spring in his step, was incredibly rewarding. He even gave me a high-five, a gesture that spoke volumes about his recovery. It's moments like these that remind me why I do what I do – helping little ones like Ali get back to the important business of just being kid.

Bladder stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the bladder. They develop when minerals in concentrated urine crystallize and clump together.