Nusiaba A., 1

Seven-month-old Nusaiba Anas is the first child of a young rural family, a first joy, deeply loved. Her father is a full-time farmer who depends on seasonal harvests, while her mother devotes herself fully to caring for their baby girl. Their income is small, but their devotion to Nusaiba is boundless. Nusaiba was growing well until, at five months old, her mother noticed something was wrong. The baby could not support her head or sit, even with help, and then her head began increasing in size. Alarmed, her parents took her to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where she was diagnosed with severe obstructive hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis, a blockage that traps fluid in the brain and causes dangerous pressure. The treatment needed was far beyond what the family could afford, and thankfully, they were directed to Helpster. Nusaiba needs urgent surgery before further damage is done to her growing brain.

Prognosis is good with immediate intervention (VP shunt), however without treatment, the trapped fluid will keep expanding Nusaiba's head and compressing her developing brain, causing progressive and irreversible brain damage. She faces worsening developmental delays, blindness, seizures, and ultimately death, as the rising pressure is fatal in most untreated cases. With timely surgery to drain the fluid, the pressure is relieved and her brain is given the chance to develop normally. Post operatively there’re risk of shunt infection or blockage.