Maui's brain hemorrhage, caused by a leaky cardiac valve with cancer 

Mid July 2019 our Healthcare Team found 12-year old Maui in his home in the Topsia slum. They immediately realized that it was serious. He could not control his saliva in the left side of his face, which indicated paralysis. He could almost not walk or hold himself raised, due to impaired mobility, sensibility and strenght in his left arm and legs. He told us with very weak voice, that the right side of his head was aching, but he did not remember hurting it in any way. Then he told us that it had been like this for three whole days. Everything pointed in the direction of a brain hemorrhage, and therefore we hurried him to the hospital.

Maui got his lungs x-rayed, blood samples taken and got an MR-scan. The pediatric neurologist at Apollo Private Hospital, was very surprised that he had a hemorrhage in the right side of the brain, as it is very atypical for a child his age, according to the doctor. Despite the seriousness of the matter the doctor would not admit him to hospital, until he had a negative Corona. So it was alll postponed for 2 more day as we had to waiting for the answer. But from then on, everything went as fast as possible in order to find the course of the hemorrhage in Maui's brain.

It turned out that Maui had a leaky cardiac valve including a tumor, and the doctors told us that without heart surgery, an operation, not only risky, but also very expensivehe, he would not live long. To afford Maui's operation, priced at 45.000 DKK, we made a fundraising campaign, raising 55.000 DKK. 

The operation went without any complications and Maui recovered incredibly fast, which we can thank his young age for. Our team regularly keeps an eye on his rehabilitation; makes sure it runs smoothly and that he does not forget to take his anticoagulant medicine, a lifelong treatment. The extra 10.000 DKK left from the fundraising, are earmarked to ensure Maui a healthy future.