Tiny

This boy was born prematurely in another village at 31 weeks gestational age. We think that attempts to deliver his cord dislodged his twin’s placenta. Despite an urgent C-section, his brother died shortly after birth here. Now, at one week of age, Tiny’s abdomen became very distended and an X-ray this morning confirmed an intestinal perforation.

This 1 Kg baby is one of the smallest humans I have seen, let alone operated on. We found a perforated cecum - the first part of the colon and lots of contamination (spilled stool) in his abdomen. I think he has an obstruction of his colon that caused the upstream bowel to become massively dilated and eventual just die and fall apart. He now has a tiny ostomy in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen. No long term ventilation here - he breathed on his own throughout the operation (which he barely survived) and is clinging to life. There is something about having your hands inside someones abdomen that make you very attached to them.

If you feel moved, you can join us in prayer for him. Tiny and his mom will appreciate it!