Help Baby Jipson's Family

Hello friends! First off, I wanted to let everyone know that I arrived home safely in Washington yesterday after spending 3 weeks volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania. My time spent there was truly indescribable and it was very bittersweet to have to leave such an amazing place so soon. I am forever changed by the wonderful people I met and the friendly, welcoming culture that I experienced. I was nowhere near prepared for the variety of emotions that I felt during my time there and was not expecting my heart to change the way that it did. A large part of that is due to a family that I met who I want to tell you about.

Jipson is a 13 month old boy who lives with his mother, 23, father, 25, and his twin brother Grayson in a small mud hut in Arusha. His parents have been through more in their short lives than most could comprehend; they met and grew up together in an orphanage, where they were kicked out at a young age and forced onto the streets to fend for themselves. Once they became pregnant with twins, they were able to find temporary residency in this small hut that is only available to them until January 2020. The father, born with albinism, has struggled to find work as albinos are often shunned in Tanzania. Their only source of income is the mother who sells vegetables on the street, making their income around 20,000 TZS on a good week (for reference, this is less than $10 USD a week). It is impossible for them to be able to save any money for clothing, diapers… really any basic household items, let alone a permanent residency to raise their children.

I met Jipson on March 22 during a home visit after he had arrived at Kaloleni Health Center, my hospital placement, the day prior. He had severe burns to his face, chest and limbs. Using an open flame to cook is very common here and unfortunately, extremely hot porridge had been spilled onto him accidentally. To say I was shocked when I saw this poor little baby was an understatement. He had been sent home with nothing more than a burn cream; the health center told his parents that they did not have any further resources to help him. I and other volunteers knew that he needed further medical treatment immediately to avoid further infection, sepsis, and possibly even death. His parents could not afford a ride to the hospital, let alone the cost of a lengthy hospital stay. I feel as though fate brought us to this family, as we were able to cover these costs and help them through a very traumatic hospital experience.

The days that followed were very humbling and yes, often frustrating, as we tried to ensure that this baby was receiving the care he needed. It is obvious that the healthcare system works very differently there then it does here in the U.S., and the language barrier was an additionally large obstacle. This poor baby had his burnt skin scrubbed off with zero anesthesia or pain medicine. His mother was made to hold him in the process, being told that she needed to be “strong for her baby”. It was sometimes difficult to feel like we were helping this child when all I could see was the pain he was feeling. However, as I visited him day after day I could see the progress he was making in his health and his curious, joyful spirit coming back little by little. Through it all, his family was amazing and so incredibly grateful. I was and still am taken aback by the resilience, strength and love that his parents showed throughout the entire process.

I have now arrived home with a new purpose thanks to the mark that this family left on me. Although they have seen awful things and have experienced hardship after hardship, they continue to be positive and hopeful for their future and for the future of their baby boys. They will never understand how my time with them has changed my life, and I want nothing more than to be able to give back and help this family build a better life. My goal is to raise $1,000 for this family, which would be enough to help them acquire a stable home for themselves and to support their young children.

I want to thank you all, first and foremost for the support and love you showed me while I was away, and for letting me share this story. We are all truly more fortunate than we know, and it would mean the world to me to be able to give this family a little more love and support.

Thank you & all my love,
Kacey