Those who have been followed AHA for a while may remember Mphatso, the now-14-year-old boy from northern Mozambique with a facial tumor. We were introduced to Mphatso by Ali, a fierce advocate based in the US, back in late 2021. Over the last three years, Ali has raised nearly $6,500 for Mphatso’s care and provided unwavering emotional support to him and his family.
Mphatso, photographed in April 2024 after his latest surgery. His next check-up will be in October 2024 and may include a tumor excision.
Read on for her latest update (and congratulations on graduating your midwifery training program, Ali!)
Dear Friends,
I’m happy to have some time to send you a long-overdue update on Mphatso’s progress.
Since the last update in Fall 2023, Mphatso went back to Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care in Blantyre on January 6th, 2024 for several days. The doctor had initially planned for a surgery at this time but it ended up being a check-up instead.
After this visit, the next surgery was planned for late March. Mphatso and his dad arrived back at the hospital on March 25th, and the next operation was done two days later. Mphatso recovered in the ICU afterwards.
By April 3rd, Mphatso was out of ICU and eating solids, and by April 9th, he was discharged from the hospital (the above photo is of Mphatso on his journey from Blantyre back to Mozambique)!
The next step in Mphatso’s multi-year treatment plan is to return in late October for a review and possible tumor excision. (We don’t have more information on the possible extent of that surgery if it takes place.)
As a reminder from the last updates, Mphatso’s condition is a complicated hemangioma - a tumor comprised of blood vessels. His are arteriovenous malformations, so the surgeries are done slowly and incrementally to reduce the tumor safely over time.
Here is an update on the budget:
Total raised so far: $6,456.90
Total spent on Mphatso’s treatment and surrounding supports and care to date: $4,070.56
Recent expenses: $120 for Mphatso’s mother’s income generation - supplies to purchase & cook food to support the family while Alick and Mphatso were away at the hospital for many weeks
Recent expenses: $160 for three roundtrips from Mozambique to Malawi
Recent expenses: $40 for food during three roundtrips to Malawi
Remaining funds available: $2,386.34
It still feels remarkable that this connection was ever made, and that this road forward seems doable. In one of our text exchanges with the support group, it was noted that it indeed does take a village. It’s complicated enough in Malawi when the issue is straight-forward - ie, requiring just one surgery to resolve an issue. And it takes so much extra dedication by so many talented and committed people to be able to stay on track for a multiple-years-long surgical and healing journey as is required for Mphatso. I’m amazed and grateful for all the people and resources that have come together!
Thank you again for all YOUR support and interest over the past few years. I will continue to keep you updated!
Warm wishes,
Ali