News / Health
'Xeroderma' children seek assistance
24 Aug 2014 at 21:36hrs | Views
A Harare couple from Epworth is desperately seeking about R240 000 to get their children aged four and nine to South Africa for urgent lifesaving operations.
Doctors suspect the children are suffering from a condition called Xeroderma.
'Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder. There is an impairment of the skin's ability to repair damage from ultraviolet (UV) light, leading to early skin changes, early sunburn, dry skin and a vastly increased tendency to develop skin tumours and eye damage from UV light.'
The four-year-old risks losing his right eye as the cancerous growth is spreading from his neck.
The elder child has since stopped going to school due to complications caused by her condition.
Their parents are no longer gainfully employed as their children's conditions require them to be monitored round the clock.
Their Mother, Thandiwe Jabangwe told Bulawayo24 News that she had no hope of raising the money.
She appealed for assistance from the public
"I have to endure the agony of watching my children suffering because of this painful affliction every day. My daughter, Rutendo, has a growth on the leg, which keeps growing and sprouting sores that emit puss. The younger one, Kudakwashe, suffers from the same painful growth. He can no longer play with his friends because of the pain. Doctors said if he does not go for an operation soon, he will lose his right eye," said an emotional Jabangwe.
She said a hospital in Johannesburg has given her an R120 000 quotation for each of the children to undergo an operation.
Jabangwe said the children had to be kept indoors most of the time because doctors said exposure to the sun accelerates the size of their growths and the proliferation of sores on them.
"We have to keep the away from sunlight so we keep them indoors most of the time. We spend about $300 on sunscreen lotions every month. The money is hard to come by and Rutendo has been ill since 2006. We also have two other children to look after," she said.
"We are desperately appealing for assistance in cash or specialist doctors who can treat this condition for less. My wish is to see my children going to school and playing with other children. It is painful as a parent to see them suffer this way," Jabangwe said.
She said those who could assist should call the family on Econet numbers 0772 915 866 or 0776 303 818.
Doctors suspect the children are suffering from a condition called Xeroderma.
'Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder. There is an impairment of the skin's ability to repair damage from ultraviolet (UV) light, leading to early skin changes, early sunburn, dry skin and a vastly increased tendency to develop skin tumours and eye damage from UV light.'
The four-year-old risks losing his right eye as the cancerous growth is spreading from his neck.
The elder child has since stopped going to school due to complications caused by her condition.
Their parents are no longer gainfully employed as their children's conditions require them to be monitored round the clock.
She appealed for assistance from the public
"I have to endure the agony of watching my children suffering because of this painful affliction every day. My daughter, Rutendo, has a growth on the leg, which keeps growing and sprouting sores that emit puss. The younger one, Kudakwashe, suffers from the same painful growth. He can no longer play with his friends because of the pain. Doctors said if he does not go for an operation soon, he will lose his right eye," said an emotional Jabangwe.
She said a hospital in Johannesburg has given her an R120 000 quotation for each of the children to undergo an operation.
Jabangwe said the children had to be kept indoors most of the time because doctors said exposure to the sun accelerates the size of their growths and the proliferation of sores on them.
"We have to keep the away from sunlight so we keep them indoors most of the time. We spend about $300 on sunscreen lotions every month. The money is hard to come by and Rutendo has been ill since 2006. We also have two other children to look after," she said.
"We are desperately appealing for assistance in cash or specialist doctors who can treat this condition for less. My wish is to see my children going to school and playing with other children. It is painful as a parent to see them suffer this way," Jabangwe said.
She said those who could assist should call the family on Econet numbers 0772 915 866 or 0776 303 818.
Source - Byo24News
