French Couple Rallies Support for Moroccan Child with Rare Spinal Condition

Little Yaniss suffers from a spinal cord malformation, Spina Bifida. A condition that does not allow him to move properly, reports La Dépêche. He is a year and a half old, his Moroccan parents, Djamel and Khadija, met Bouzien and Marie-Christine, two residents of Toulouse originally from Tarn-et-Garonne, who were traveling in Morocco. They told them about their son’s illness. "They spoke to us with great discretion. They confessed their difficulties for a good care of Yaniss. So when we came back to France, we said we couldn’t just do nothing," explains the native of Caussade, now settled in the Toulouse region.

After discussing with Bouzien’s brother, Hassan, and other friends from Escatalens, including Régis Vivin, the couple decides to launch a fundraiser. "The idea is to be able to relieve Yaniss’ parents as much as possible, morally and financially. Because unlike France, medical care in Morocco has to be paid out of the parents’ pocket," Bouzien continues. It is not easy for Djamel and Khadija to have Yaniss treated. They have to go to Marrakech for care, three and a half hours from their village of Ait Ben Haddou, and have to rent housing. Enough to inflate the bill.

Bouzien and his wife launch a kitty on the specialized site Leetchi. Objective: to raise around 10,000 euros. They have also decided to participate in the 24-hour bike race at the Bol d’Or 2025, a challenge scheduled for June 6 and 7 next year. "For each kilometer covered, the companies commit to making a donation. And it’s multiplied by the distance covered by each team," details Bouzien. In parallel, the couple created an association and organized a charity evening in a business in Castelmaurou (Haute-Garonne), part of the proceeds of which will be used to finance the operations undertaken.

The Tarn-et-Garonne residents are also taking steps to help Yaniss’ parents obtain a medical visa. They need to have the opinion of a French doctor. "My partner sent a letter to First Lady Brigitte Macron. I didn’t really believe in it but in the end, she replied that she was forwarding the file to the Ministry of the Interior, who is guiding us in our steps," savors Bouzien. In parallel, the French couple contacted the Toulouse-Purpan children’s hospital to make an appointment. "We had a great welcome," rejoices the Caussadais, who pays tribute to the healthcare staff.

If the steps are successful, Yaniss and Khadija, his mother, will arrive in France to undergo the tests, at the home of the French couple, before returning to Ait Ben Addou, Morocco.