Blessing is a 17-month-old baby girl from Kenya. She lives with her mother and grandparents, all of whom work as subsistence farmers. At her young age, Blessing is just learning to talk and recently said "mama" for the first time. Benchmarks like these have brought a mixture of emotions to Blessing's mother, who is concerned about the deteriorating condition of her baby. Since she was six months old, Blessing has been living with a condition known as hydrocephalus. With this condition, excess fluid builds up in the skull and causes the brain to swell. Blessing's family first noticed the rapidly growing circumference of Blessing's head, and they then grew increasingly alarmed as they observed that she could not walk, sit, or hold up her head the same way that other babies her age could. If untreated, Blessing’s condition could lead to permanent brain damage, loss of vision, and even death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is therefore requesting $685 to fund the surgical insertion of a shunt in Blessing's brain. The shunt is scheduled to be implanted on June 29 and will hopefully allow Blessing to continue reaching positive developmental milestones. “I am glad you can help Blessing get better and have a healthy life,” says Blessing’s mother.

17-year-old Harun is a secondary school student who lives in central Kenya. He is the oldest of three children in his family. His father is a farmer, and his mother stays at home. The family had been living in a rental house until they built a two-room house with the help of well-wishers and their extended family. Harun has bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both of his feet are twisted out of position due to short tendons in his feet and ankles. As a result, Harun cannot walk for long distances. His condition was neglected because his parents feared huge medical bills that they could not afford. Treatment for clubfoot is surgery to release the tendons in the involved foot and ankle. Doctors then move the foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. After the casts are removed, some patients wear a brace for a year or more to maintain the proper position of the foot. Harun's surgeons plan to start treatment on his left foot on August 21 and treat his right foot at a later date. "We cannot afford the bill as stipulated, and we request your help," shares Harun's father. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,224 to pay for Harun's surgery, six-day hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and surgical supplies. Hardworking and focused both at school and at home, Harun aspires to become a doctor when he grows up. Let's help fund his surgery!