The youngest son of Lul Ali Hassan, a 38-year-old mother of 10, has hydrocephalus, a medical condition in which the head swells. Doctors at Benadir Children's Hospital in Mogadishu say the boy requires special treatment known as “shunting” - inserting a shaft in his head to drain the fluid into his body - but this cannot be done in Somalia.
Hassan spoke to IRIN on 13 April about her sick son, Abdirahman.
"I had him in 2006 and he was perfect; I had no problem delivering him. He was a normal boy and did all the things normal boys do. Then everything changed three months ago when his head became bigger and bigger and he got weak and could not do anything.
"I was scared and worried about what was happening to him. I did not understand anything.
"I went to every doctor in town to seek help. I even went to religious scholars to pray for him. In over a month [of searching], I must have met every doctor in Mogadishu.
"Finally, a month and half ago, I came to Benadir hospital where I was told I may get help. We have been here ever since. The doctors told me his condition could have been caused by any number of things. They advised me they could not do anything for him here. They said he needs specialist treatment not available locally.
"We could barely afford to take him to doctors here. How are we going to take him outside the country?
"It breaks my heart to watch my son slowly disappear, and there is nothing I can do for him. I feel helpless and lost.
"Only God can help us now. I don't know where else to turn to."
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Hassan spoke to IRIN on 13 April about her sick son, Abdirahman.
"I had him in 2006 and he was perfect; I had no problem delivering him. He was a normal boy and did all the things normal boys do. Then everything changed three months ago when his head became bigger and bigger and he got weak and could not do anything.
"I was scared and worried about what was happening to him. I did not understand anything.
"I went to every doctor in town to seek help. I even went to religious scholars to pray for him. In over a month [of searching], I must have met every doctor in Mogadishu.
"Finally, a month and half ago, I came to Benadir hospital where I was told I may get help. We have been here ever since. The doctors told me his condition could have been caused by any number of things. They advised me they could not do anything for him here. They said he needs specialist treatment not available locally.
"We could barely afford to take him to doctors here. How are we going to take him outside the country?
"It breaks my heart to watch my son slowly disappear, and there is nothing I can do for him. I feel helpless and lost.
"Only God can help us now. I don't know where else to turn to."
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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