Judith is a 20-year-old expectant mother from Uganda. She is married, but is currently away from her husband while she takes care of her sick mother. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, describes Judith as a “cheerful young mother who hopes to go back to her husband after her mother gets better.” The Kellermann Foundation continues, “Judith likes making new friends and sings in a choir at her local church. In her free time, she likes to make mats, which she sells to earn money and uses in her own home for bedding.” Unfortunately, scans of Judith’s stomach have shown that her baby is folding its hand against its face and is in breech presentation: the baby is positioned to exit the pelvis feet or buttocks first as opposed to the usual head-first presentation. This malpresentation puts both Judith and her child’s lives at risk and her doctors say she will need a caesarean section to ensure a safe delivery. Judith’s treatment will cost $303, but because she has been spending most of her time with her ill mother, she has not been able to make enough mats to afford it. She is also working hard to provide food for her family, and is thus in very great need of financial support. “I look forward to holding and carrying my own baby. I would love to help my child go to school and become better off than I am,” Judith shares. “I want to thank everyone, the doctors and the good Samaritans, who are supporting our health care. May God bless you abundantly.”

Meet Diana, a bright, five-year-old girl from Kenya. Diana and her family live in a two room traditional hut and she has three siblings currently enrolled in school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), informs us that she was brought to their hospital last night in critical condition, and is currently in the ICU. “Diana has been suffering severe headaches, an inability to walk, persistent vomiting, and drowsiness,” AMHF reports. Sadly, these symptoms are the result of a brain tumor. The tumor was first noticed in nursery school when her symptoms began. Over the last few years, “her parents sought medical intervention from several hospitals but her condition got worse,” AMHF says. Diana’s father works on his own tea farm and her mother is a housewife. All of the family’s savings have been used paying for Diana’s medical bills. AMHF reports, “they sold the few livestock they had to get treatment for little Diana.” Diana needs a craniotomy to remove her tumor. $1,260 in funding will pay for the MRI or CAT scan needed to isolate the tumor, the craniotomy to remove it, and Diana’s post-operative recovery in the ICU. AMHF reports, “If treated, Diana will be relieved from the risk of experiencing high intra-cranial pressure and it will also minimize the risk of developing brain damage or becoming visually impaired.” Diana’s mother shares, “I really hope that little Diana gets well, we love her so much."