HELPING JEROMY GET A DIAGNOSIS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Hello everyone! My name is Tusaiwe Munkhondya (Jeromy's mom). Jeromy is a 7-year-old boy. We are fundraising for Jeromy to go to the hospital in South Africa to find answers (diagnosis) to what might really be the problem with his condition. I gave birth to Jeromy when I was 16; he didn't cry when I gave birth to him. After one week, Jeromy was always in and out of the hospital; he was always sick, and everybody, including some health professionals, thought he wouldn't make it, but as a teen mom, I still decided to stand by him and love him even though I didn't know how best to do that. Jeromy's growth and development have been slow, like in everything in his life, from sitting to walking to talking; we suspected he might also be on the spectrum, but we will find all the answers in South Africa.

As Jeromy grew older, his health issues persisted, and it became increasingly challenging for me to understand the root cause of his condition. Despite the uncertainty, I remained determined to find answers and provide him with the best possible care. The decision to seek specialized care in South Africa was made after considering the limited local resources and medical expertise. Hopefully, this journey will provide Jeromy with the necessary answers and the best possible care for his physical condition and any potential developmental concerns. Right now, he struggles with eating and drinking; he doesn't close his mouth or completely close his eyes, so we will be more grateful and appreciative of your support. As we prepare for our journey to South Africa, we remain hopeful that the medical professionals there will provide us with the answers we have been seeking for Jeromy's condition.

Despite his challenges with eating and drinking, Jeromy has shown remarkable resilience and determination in other aspects of his life. Jeromy is a kind and loving kid who always brings joy to those around him. His natural talent for making people smile and his positive attitude are truly inspiring.

We are fundraising for hospital bills, transportation, accommodation, and food. We plan to stay for 3 weeks or less because we want to ensure that our son receives the necessary medical evaluations and treatments as soon as possible. We hope that, with the help of specialists in South Africa, we can better understand his condition and find ways to improve his overall development. We will meet different doctors who will help us with diagnosis, and then we will see the way forward.

Every donation is greatly appreciated and will go towards covering the expenses of our trip, including medical consultations, tests, and any necessary medical bills. 

Thank you in advance

Tusayiwe Munkhondya (Jeromy's mom)