A
female
age
41-50,
*ariab
writes:Dear All.I am seeking advice from all please? I am trying to help a family in Zimbabwe who have a son that has kidney failure. He has to travel 4 hours to the capital city in Zimbabwe twice a week (4 hours there and 4 hours back) in order to get dialysis. Please please...if anyone has any information about how a poor boy in Africa can get a chance at a transplant or any kind of information then I would be more than grateful! His parents are struggling to meet the high costs of upkeeping him on dialysis! Reply to this Question
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reader, anonymous, writes (8 December 2011): To be honest you should be asking the doctors in africa or see in person an executive of a big african children charity to see what they can do. However, I doubt they will make a priority of him unfortunately as so many others suffer , but imsure if u appeal in person they will help!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (8 December 2011): I would contact the Red Cross, give them details..or any of the World Childrens or Christian Charities.
Also check with the Embassy to find information and to check if its a genuine case.
I understand your concerns but I wouldn't get too deeply involved.
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A
female
reader, Abella  +, writes (8 December 2011):
 Hi Mariab,
Sorry to question you re your question. I can see you are genuine. But so many are duped with similar sounding situations. The question sounded originally like a third party query in that you had heard about the situation and were concerned.
I guess if you had said you had already met the family that would have put a different interpretation on the question.
And my first answer would have been different.
As you are on the ground in the country regularly you would be far more aware of the real situation in the country.
Doctors without Borders are active in Zimbabwe http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
And some of the organisations supporting people with kidney problems in your country may have encountered the same problem with other children. And may have some ideas.
http://www.britishkidney-pa.co.uk/
http://www.kidskidneyresearch.org/
It would appear that kidney problems in children in Zimbabwe are very very common, which makes it so much harder for one child to be prioritized up the queue when so many others are suffering the same issues with various kidney diseases.
http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC2141624
If you are able to also find a charity willing to help, along with the above Doctors willing to give their medical assessment then joining the two together might allow something to be done. Though I guess they get thousands of similar queries every year, to see if a child could be helped more.
You have already been kind and personally supported the family.
Either with treament in Zimbabwe or possible treatment outside of Zimbabwe, that would be wonderful for the family.
But might involve some fund raising before it is possible.
Or could the family relocate to closer to the treatment place?
If the child has one functioning kidney then the child can manage for many years without a transplant.
But if the child is becoming more frail it is true that the travel will tire the child out.
Travel back and forth on a regular basis will take a big toll, not just on the child but also on the rest of the family.
I know that Zimbabwe has been in turmoil and prices are out of control. Is there any kind of counselling and palliative care in Zimbabwe? The situation does indeed sound dire.
And the family may benefit from more support to help cope with what they are facing.
You are indeed very caring and kind to this family..
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A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (8 December 2011):
 Are there any Red Cross nearby for example, or other volunteer help-centers?
I am sure that the parents know best their options and what they can do and not do. They know the circumstances the best. So if they do not have any solution, then I doubt you can come up with one.
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A
female
reader, Mariab +, writes (8 December 2011):
Mariab is verified as being by the original poster of the question For chigirl.. i am an Engineer and sometimes I am posted in remote parts of Africa. I came across this family in Zimbabwe. I am just looking for advice on how to proceed. if anyone has clues.... thanks..xx
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A
female
reader, Mariab +, writes (8 December 2011):
Mariab is verified as being by the original poster of the questionOH NO.. I MET THE BOY PERSONALLY!!! It is not a scam! I met his parents and I help them with transport costs from home to hospital! I am just trying to find long term answers for the boy. His father was not a match and his mother has high blood pressure so they wouldn't even consider her.
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A
female
reader, Mariab +, writes (8 December 2011):
Mariab is verified as being by the original poster of the questionOH NO.. I MET THE BOY PERSONALLY!!! It is not a scam! I met his parents and I help them with transport costs from home to hospital! I am just trying to find long term answers for the boy. His father was not a match and his mother has high blood pressure so they wouldn't even consider her.
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A
female
reader, Abella +, writes (8 December 2011):
before answering this apparently heart felt problem I entered these seven words into Google:
Internet scam victimizes the gullible and elderly
Although, sadly, both older and younger people are often scammed on the interest due to being too gullible.
The problem tugs at the heart strings. But the reality can often be far more crude, with fraudsters knowing just how to present their problem, complete with photos and emails. And it can look so legitimate. And then they need just these few $$ and then a few more to fix a few problems $$$$ and then as they reel in the kind caring person who wants to help it becomes $$$$$$$$$$$$
If anyone asks you for money for a problem too far away for you to check it out for legitimacy then also google
Internet Scams
Because sadly people are scammed out of millions of dollars every year. By fraudsters who weave a truly impressive story. When the real aim is to tug at the heart strings and extract money from the gullible
And it is so very very sad to have to be so blunt. But the reality is that very good people are scammed very often. And then choose to tell no one as they are so ashamed that they, as good honest kind people, have been duped by convincing crooks in another place in the world.
Be very careful when a stranger weaves a story, and has you so moved by the tragic sound of the circumstances, and then agrees to open up their hearts and next they are sending money and then a little more. And then a lot more.
Please check out the details with your own Embassy servicing that area. All may not be as it seems
Better to be cautious than completely scammed and then broke
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A
female
reader, chigirl +, writes (8 December 2011):
Perhaps you could give more information on how you came in contact with this family and why you try to help them? What resources are available to you, for example what is your line of work?
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