Khadija A., 3

Khadija is 3years she lives with her parents, she is the 6th of 7 children. Her father is a local farmer who works hard to provide for the family while her mother sells cooked food in small quantity within their community. Khadija before her sickness was a playful and joyful child who many in the community likes very much. She attends an Islamic school and she is in Nursery 1. The child started having fever about 6months ago and she was taken to a general hospital in bernin gwari but her condition got even worse. It was from one hospital to another back forth yet no improvement. About a month ago, she started having convulsions and the size of her herlad was noticed to be bigger than normal and as days went by she was convulsing, with fever and increasing head size. The family then took the child to Barua dikko but the facility could not take her because they lacked the facility to handle3 the case. She then heard about an NGO that helps children with similar condition so they located Helpster and the doctor had them booked for urgent surgery because as at the time they arrived, she had lost control over her neck, her sight, her ability to speak, walk and she was unconscious. MRI of her brain showed she has a condition called communicating hydrocephalus, where fluid builds up inside the brain's cavities, causing swelling. The scan also revealed a cyst in the back part of her brain and underdevelopment of a part of the brain called the cerebellar vermis, which together are diagnosed as Dandy-Walker syndrome. To treat this, an urgent surgical procedure called ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is required. This surgery involves placing a small tube to drain excess fluid from the brain to relieve pressure. After the surgery, she will need regular follow-up care to monitor and support her recovery.

Khadija Alhassan, a brave young patient, underwent a critical Emergency VP Shunt insertion surgery after 7 days of admission. The procedure was a success, and she was moved to the ICU for close monitoring. As Khadija fought for her health, she showed remarkable resilience. She began lifting her neck, responding to light, and regaining consciousness. Her medical team worked tirelessly to support her recovery, administering antibiotics (Ceftriaxone, Flagyl) and pain management (Paracetamol). Despite still being on admission, Khadija's spirit remained unbroken. She attempted to communicate, making efforts to form words and speeches. After 20 days of dedicated care, Khadija was discharged with take-home antibiotics, continuing her journey towards full recovery. Khadija's progress is a testament to her strength and the power of medical care. We're honored to support her ongoing recovery.

The doctor's position on Khadija Alhassan's prognosis is cautiously optimistic with timely intervention. They expect that with emergency ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery to relieve the fluid buildup in her brain, most of her symptoms which are pressure-related will be alleviated. However, because of the underlying Dandy-Walker syndrome—a congenital brain malformation—Khadija will require ongoing follow-up to monitor her neurological development, skull growth, and overall health. In most cases the posterior fossa cyst disappears gradually after the Vp shunt over time. Only a small percentage of patients may further surgical intervention. The doctor recognizes the seriousness of her condition, given the progressive symptoms of seizures, headache, regression of already achieved developmental milestones and loss of vision but believes that early and well-managed surgical treatment combined with regular care offers the best chance for improved function and quality of life. Potential complications remain a concern and will need to be carefully managed through expert care and long-term monitoring. Overall, the opinion emphasizes the importance of urgent surgery and sustained multidisciplinary support to optimize outcomes.