YH

YH is a four-year old boy recently admitted to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Llongwe, Malawi. He arrived at the hospital with scald burns on his face. YH's  mother told the hospital staff that her child was feeling chills, so he sat by the fire. She left briefly to collect water from a well, but unfortunately a pot with water was left on the fire to boil. While she was gone, her son had a convulsion and fell down; the hot water spilled on and scalded his face.

The child had been to two hospitals, Kapiri Health Center and Mchinji District Hospital, prior to his referral to KCH. He has been diagnosed with severe second degree burns on the face as well as malaria. Currently, YH is being cared for in a high dependency unit pediatric ward. His face is swollen and oozing burn wounds and his breathing is labored. Unfortunately, he could not have a tracheotomy. However, YH is surviving on oxygen, from concentrators donated by World Altering Medicine's Breath of Life Program. He is also receiving antibiotics and anti-malarial medication.

Clearly, YH's situation his grave. He has been on oxygen for three days, and without it, he could not survive. YH is the youngest born into a family of seven. His parents are farmers, and they have already lost two of their children. YH's mother has expressed her gratitude for the Breath of Life Program and those generous individuals who donated oxygen concentrators to Kamuzu Central Hospital.