Help Christian get the surgery he desperately needs
Twelve-year-old Christian is fighting for his life. Join us in securing his adoption and life-saving spinal surgery.
The Urgent Need
At 12 years old and standing at just 4'5", Christian Kolleh is suffering from Pott’s disease, a severe tuberculosis infection of the spine that creates abscesses, gradually crushing his vertebrae and compressing his organs.Time is critical: without intervention, his declining health poses an immediate threat to his life.
Meet Christian
Christian’s dream is simple: to “be tall like his friends.”
But the reality is much more difficult than that.Christian lives in Ghana with his seventy-year-old American stepmother, Sharon Kolleh, who has faithfully provided for him since he was a toddler.However, because Christian was never legally adopted before his father died, Sharon cannot bring him to the U.S. or authorize the medical procedures he desperately needs until the adoption is finalized.
The Reality of Our Situation
The Risk of State Care: If the adoption is not completed, Christian faces Ghana’s state system, where over half of children face physical abuse, 40% suffer from malnutrition, and nearly 70% of residential homes operate without a legal license. Christian would become incredibly vulnerable to child labor and worse, sex trafficking.If Christian does not get the specialized surgery he needs (cleaning out the pockets of infection in his spine and implanting a steel rod), he will eventually die of suffocation, a heart attack, or sepsis, all while slowly becoming paralyzed.
We understand there are a lot of "charities" out there. That's why we want to be completely transparent about where donators' funds go. Below is a tentative list of the expenses we expect to encounter on the road to Christian's recovery. The numbers may not be exact (they are our best guess)!Please note that we currently have Christian's fundraiser set to $10,000 for his adoption. This is because Christian is a Liberian citizen. You can find a more detailed explanation of the breakdown on our blog. All excess funds from this will go directly toward his surgery. Thank you for understanding!- The Kepka Family
Cost Breakdown:
TOTAL RAISED
$305
GOAL
$45,300
Adoption Finalization
Travel
Liberia transportation & taxis
$3,600
Housing
3-month eligibility requirement
$1,050
General
Support & well-being
$750
Legal Fee
Cost of lawyer
$900
Spinal Surgery at FOCOS Hospital
Surgical Cost
assuming no complications and w/ minimal post-op
$39,000
Total Amount to
Save Christian = $45,300
Learn the "why" behind this breakdown + stay in the know
Follow every chapter of Christian and Sharon's story, from the first diagnosis to our current mission.
Our Commitment to You
We prioritize absolute transparency. While we are not a 501(c)(3) due to sponsorship hurdles, we personally cover all operational costs of this fundraiser. This ensures that 100% of your contribution goes directly to Christian’s medical and adoption needs. If you have any questions, please reach out to us personally at [email protected].
How to Help
Nothing is Too Small
Donate: Contribute via GiveSendGo.
Share: Tell Christian’s story to your community to help us reach our goal.
Pray: Keep Christian and Sharon in your prayers for health and legal favor.