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Noel is 9 years old and lives in the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa: Kibera, Nairobi. His father was shot dead on the street in Nairobi during the 2008 election unrest, even though he was not involved in the violence, so his mother now has to provide for her two daughters (aged 9 and 13) on her own. With unemployment in Nairobi as high as 80 per cent, this is no easy task: the result is underpaid, hard labour (laundry, cleaning), often with no weekends off.
All of this might still be bearable. But Noel suffers from a blood disorder: sickle cell anaemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is a form of anaemia caused by a genetic defect, in which the increased breakdown of red blood cells is caused by a congenital abnormality in haemoglobin, the red blood pigment. The condition is inherited.
Homozygous carriers, such as Noel, show the first signs of the condition as early as infancy. This leads to episodes of pain caused by blockages in the blood vessels of various organs and the resulting oxygen deprivation, which in turn leads to tissue damage.
The course of the disease is characterised by episodic, acute anaemic crises and vascular occlusions, as well as by a recurring temporary halt in the production of new blood and an increased susceptibility to infection. Infections and oxygen deprivation can trigger such crises.
Vascular occlusion can lead to tissue damage (infarction) and consequent functional impairment in various organs. Infarcts can occur, for example, in the brain, lungs and heart.
Such a crisis occurred some time ago. Thanks to your donations, Noel was successfully treated as an in-patient with antibiotics, blood transfusions, potent painkillers and, initially, intravenous fluid therapy (to prevent acute kidney failure).
Due to the painful flare-ups of the illness, which unfortunately recur time and again (!), and the necessary treatments associated with them, the condition places an immense strain on the family’s already tight household budget.
Noel – who, in the photo, still has the yellow eyes caused by jaundice resulting from his illness – sends his heartfelt thanks to you; without your help, he would probably not have survived this flare-up.
Thank you very much!