In June 2025, a cry for help reached us, through Dr. Ranganai. The request for help from Naomi Dube, a 9-year-old girl with severe intestinal problems.
Her mother - a single woman with two more children - had no health insurance and hardly any financial resources. Medical help for her daughter was thus virtually unattainable.
Desperate.
A daughter in constant pain, unable to go to the toilet and barely eating.
Naomi had been in the hospital for several days. An initial basic examination had been performed. The doctors suspected a bowel obstruction that needed to be surgically fixed. But further research required money. And there wasn't any. So ... nothing happened.
Dr. Ranganai asked for our help. And so began the crowdfunding for Naomi. Within no time the necessary amount for the research and the operation was raised.
What gratitude.
The examination indeed revealed a blockage. Surgery was necessary - and more expensive than thought. Fortunately, people had given generously.
In August, Naomi had surgery. A piece of her intestine was removed. After a short hospital stay, she was allowed to go home to continue her recovery. That would take a few weeks.
But it didn't go well. Naomi did not recover. The pain remained. She could still barely go to the bathroom.
I'll spare you the video her mother sent us:
A girl, weakened, crying in pain in her mother's arms.
My heart broke.
Antibiotics were prescribed and a strict diet.
But to no avail. A second operation proved inevitable.
Together with the local church community, supported by family, acquaintances and the help of the Foundation, we were able to support this too. The Foundation was not yet officially live, but through the efforts of many committed people we could already mean so much.
The second surgery is now being scheduled. We fervently hope that this will give Naomi the relief she so desperately needs.
We stay in touch with her mother.
We continue to follow Naomi.
