Nikolaus was born in 2010 with a spinal deformity which has caused neurological issues including incontinence and a disability of his lower legs and feet. His mother Glory is 35 years old, a single parent of two boys; Nikolaus and his younger brother Jackson, who is 6 years old. The family lives in poverty in a small rented house in Shinyanga municipality. Glory is jobless and reliant on casual cleaning and domestic work to provide for herself and her two boys. The family faces many challenges including a lack of money for food, medication for Nikolaus and no health insurance.

After Nikolaus was born, his mother took him to three different hospitals for spinal treatment between 2010 and 2014. His condition improved a little. In 2015 he was taken to a fourth hospital for spinal surgery. The spinal wound healed well but he was not able to stand on his own and had lost all sense of feeling in his feet and toes. The doctor advised that he needed physiotherapy to help restore sensitivity. In 2016 he was taken to CCBRT in Dar es Salaam for surgery to improve sensitivity but unfortunately it was impossible as the first surgery had damaged some nerve impulses. The alternative was to make a calliper splint for him. The devise that was made to fit him in 2016 when he was 6 years old, he has been using to this day!

Nikolaus is 13 years old. He has outgrown his calliper but without it he cannot stand or walk. It is clear that he is in pain from the device which is so tight it rubs his foot and leg. He struggles to walk with the aid of a stick. He gets tired and has to stop to rest every 100 meters. The one kilometre walk to school leaves him utterly exhausted.

Dear friends, Care Ministry in Shinyanga Diocese, on behalf of Nikolaus’ family is hereby seeking funds of £740 for Nikolaus to get new callipers to enable him to walk pain free and live as happy and normal a life as any other young 13 year old boy in Tanzania.

Thank you

Rev Canon Stanley Sewando, Diocesan Secretary and Care Ministry Project Coordinator, and

Friends of Amani Tanzania.

31 October 2023