Shalom M., 1

Shalom is a 2-week-old twin born prematurely at 34 weeks' gestation with a birth weight of less than 2,000 g. She is the youngest of seven children. Her mother, a small-scale farmer earning about KSh 1,000 per month, struggles to provide for the family, who live in a two-room mud house without electricity and rely on borehole water. Shortly after birth, Shalom developed respiratory distress syndrome and was admitted to the Neonatal ICU, where she required CPAP (a machine that delivers gentle air pressure to keep the lungs open). Because she could not breastfeed, she received trophic feeds (very small amounts of milk to prepare the gut) before transitioning to expressed breast milk. She also developed neonatal jaundice requiring intensive phototherapy, thrombocytopenia (low platelets) requiring fresh frozen plasma transfusion to reduce bleeding risk, and hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium), which was treated. She remained in intensive care for 26 days under close monitoring. Unable to meet the hospital costs, her mother was enrolled into Helpster Charity, enabling Shalom to continue receiving lifesaving treatment.

Shalom was born prematurely with low birth weight and was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and hypocalcemia (low calcium levels), conditions that required specialized newborn care. She was admitted to the Newborn Unit at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, where she received comprehensive treatment and close monitoring. Through the support of Helpster Charity Organization, her family was able to access the necessary medical care without the burden of hospital expenses. During her admission, Shalom was placed in a warm and protected environment to maintain her body temperature and support growth. She received nutritional support through carefully monitored feeding, calcium supplementation to correct hypocalcemia, and regular laboratory monitoring of her platelet levels and overall health status. The medical team closely observed her progress and provided all necessary supportive care to help her overcome the complications associated with prematurity and low birth weight. Over time, Shalom responded well to treatment. Her calcium levels normalized, her platelet count improved, and she gradually gained weight. As her condition stabilized, she became stronger, fed well, and showed steady progress toward healthy growth and development. After successful treatment and stabilization, Shalom was discharged in a stable condition with scheduled follow-up visits to monitor her continued growth and wellbeing. Her mother expressed sincere gratitude to Helpster Charity Organization and Bungoma County Referral Hospital for their compassionate support and quality medical care, which helped save her daughter's life and gave her a healthy start despite the challenges of premature birth.

Shalom is a premature, low-birth-weight newborn who has experienced multiple life-threatening neonatal complications, including respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal jaundice, thrombocytopenia, and hypocalcaemia. She required prolonged Neonatal ICU care with CPAP support, specialized feeding, phototherapy, blood product transfusion, and continuous monitoring. Although she remains medically fragile, she has shown encouraging improvement with treatment. Her prognosis is cautiously favorable, provided she continues to receive adequate nutrition, regular pediatric follow-up, growth and developmental monitoring, and prompt management of any future complications associated with prematurity.