Family appealing for help for their daughter

A FAMILY from Chief Mvuthu area outside Victoria Falls has sold virtually all its belongings, particularly livestock to save their seven-month-old daughter who was born with hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder.

Hydrocephalus is caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep within the brain. This excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen, putting harmful pressure on the brain’s tissues.

Born through Caesarean section on February 22, Queen Ncube’s condition has been deteriorating, and doctors recommended surgery to drain the fluids.

Her parents, Mr Nhlanganiso Ncube and Ms Sisasenkosi Ndlovu from BH26 Village under Chief are appealing for US$3 000 for their daughter to undergo surgery.

The baby’s backbone is weak and has also affected her legs. The right leg bones are soft.

Residents of Victoria Falls and local villagers have launched a fundraising campaign to raise money towards the medical fees.

The fundraising campaign was started on Sunday after the family appealed for help.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Ncube said his daughter was in pain.

“We were planning to go to Zambia, but when we went to Victoria Falls Hospital, doctors recommended that we should take our daughter to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. Unfortunately, we don’t have money and some well-wishers have taken it upon themselves to raise money for us,” he said.

“They have said we should look for transport money while they run around to raise medical fees for us.”

Queen is the couple’s third and last child. Her siblings are aged 13 and nine years.

Mr Ncube said he sold his livestock to raise money for his daughter’s surgery, but it was not enough.

“Her head is full of fluids. She was delivered through an operation and was immediately transferred to Bulawayo. They put a tube from the head to her navel and the tube is now blocked and no longer draining the water,” he said.

“So, she needs an operation to drain the water. She also has a problem with her right leg which is weak. When she was born her back was stuck on her mother as she had a lump on the backbone and they operated on it.”

Queen vomits each time she consumes food and she cannot sit on her own. Mr Ncube said the head constantly increases in size.

“We have a problem and we are appealing for help. We have literally sold everything we had yet her condition continues to deteriorate,” said Mr Ncube.

The couple can be contacted on 0785355414 or 0778418588.