A 16-year-old Gambian boy with a serious congenital heart condition is appealing for financial and medical support after years without specialist treatment, according to documents from Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and an appeal circulated by a family contact.
Samba Ceesay was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a combination of four heart defects present from birth that reduces blood flow to the lungs and can cause fatigue, breathlessness, and bluish skin. A medical report dated December 2019 from the Banjul hospital stated that he would benefit from cardiac surgery, which was not available in The Gambia at the time. The appeal states he has received no further treatment since 10 December 2019 because of financial constraints.
His condition has worsened, the appeal says. He now struggles to walk short distances without resting and sometimes falls. Despite these difficulties, Ceesay works as an apprentice tailor to learn a trade and support himself.
Fatima Danso, who is assisting the family, has circulated the appeal to seek help with medical assessments, specialist consultations, further cardiac investigations, and surgery if re-evaluation recommends it. She has also asked for connections to hospitals, charities, or foundations that can help. The family’s only medical records are from 2019, and some are unclear.
“He is only 16 years old, and he deserves the opportunity to receive proper medical care and have hope for a healthier future,” Danso wrote in the appeal. “Any assistance, whether financial support, medical sponsorship, or a connection to the right people, would mean so much to him.”
For further information, contact Fatima Danso (872415995) or Ceesay’s uncle (877264616). The family welcomed offers of financial help, medical referrals, or introductions to organizations that might assist.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a well-recognized congenital condition for which corrective surgery is standard in many countries and can significantly improve quality of life and long-term outcomes when performed. Access to such care remains limited in parts of West Africa, and families often rely on charitable or external support for complex cardiac procedures.
The appeal urges anyone able to help—or to share the request with others who might—to contact the numbers above.
