Anthony lives with his parents and two younger siblings in a mining city in central Bolivia. He is in the fourth grade and loves computer science. His parents co-own a small tailoring shop together. Anthony was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive his body of oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. During surgery, doctors will close the hole with a patch and remove the blockage from his valve. Heart surgery will allow Anthony to live a full, active life, and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund his life-saving procedure. Anthony can't wait to feel better soon and shared: "I am excited to be able to start running and keep up with my friends!"

Marina, who is four years old, lives in Takeo province with her mother and father. Her mother works in a garment factory, while her father is employed at a nearby construction site. A year ago, Marina tried to climb a two meter high "spirit house" in her front garden. Spirit houses are temple style shrines, which often have fruit and sweets placed on top of them as offerings. Marina fell from the structure, and fractured her left leg. She was taken to a nearby clinic, and treated for the fracture. Since then, her parents have noticed that she can only walk on her tip-toes. They are worried, as Marina is going to start kindergarten in the autumn, and they want her to be able to walk to school and to play with her friends. Marina and her family sought help from our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. On July 10th, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre plan to perform a tendon release procedure on her left ankle. This procedure will increase the flexibility and function of Marina's leg and ankle. Once she has fully recovered, Marina will be able to walk more easily. Now her family needs your help to fund this $572 procedure. Marina's father said: "We hope Marina will have surgery and she won't feel afraid to start school."

John is a 9-month-old infant from Haiti. He is the youngest child in a large family. John has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, John has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, John will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for John at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from John's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, John will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. John's family hopes the surgery will allow him to live a more full and happy life.

Trizah is an 18-month-old baby girl who is especially playful around her mother. Trizah lives with her parents and three siblings in Kenya, where her mother works as a casual laborer washing clothes, and her father is employed at a welding workshop. Because of the hydrocephalus she was diagnosed with early on, Trizah has already undergone more than three surgeries in her young life. She had a shunt insertion procedure done a few days after her birth, which needed to be revised in May 2022. Her hydrocephalus has worsened, requiring the placement of two external ventricular drains in 2023. Sadly, the revised shunt has failed, and Trizah is now in need of another surgery to have a new shunt inserted to drain the excess fluids in her brain and alleviate the intracranial pressure caused by the fluids. Trizah also needs surgery to stop the convulsions she has been experiencing, and prevent the severe physical and developmental delays that result from untreated hydrocephalus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of the surgery to treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 22nd at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. The excess fluid will be drained from Trizah's brain, reducing the intracranial pressure, and greatly improving her quality of life. With proper treatment, Trizah should develop into a strong and healthy young girl. Trizah’s mother says: “She has been having surgeries since birth. Her head is increasing in size, and she is experiencing scary convulsions. I just hope this treatment will help her to recover.”

Valentina is a beautiful 2-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives in La Paz with her parents, who are a teacher and a homemaker respectively, and two older siblings. Valentina was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. As a result blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Our medical partner HCA is helping Valentina access life-saving cardiac treatment so she can grow up healthy. During surgery, doctors will use a patch to close the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Her family is raising $1,500 to support her surgery and care. Valentina's mother shared: "Our family is very thankful that Valentina can have this opportunity for her heart to be healed."

Emily is a newborn baby from Kenya. She is the third born in a family of three children. Her mother is a stay-at-home mum to help raise their kids and their family relies on their father's to provide for their needs. Her father does small-scale farming and other casual jobs like ploughing farms for people. Emily has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Emily has been experiencing an increasing head circumference since she was two months old. Her parents thought it would stop and she would grow healthier, but it did not. Her parents took Emily to a hospital in Narok town where she was examined and immediately referred to Bethanykids hospital's specialist team for treatment. On arrival, she was examined, diagnosed with hydrocephalus and sent for a scan. The family did not have money to cater for the CT scan and opted to go back home and have the scan done when they got money. Luckily, a neighbor lent them money for the CT scan, which was done, and they were able to bring back the results. She is now scheduled for surgery as soon as possible to protect her brain from being damaged by the excess fluid in the head. Without treatment, Emily will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Her family does not have medical insurance coverage and cannot raise the required amount of money to cater for the hospital bill. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Emily that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 2nd and will drain the excess fluid from Emily's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Emily will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Emily’s father says, “I always try to see things from a positive side, and I know that God will avail the required healing for our daughter.”

On Monday night this week, Christine started experiencing pain in her abdominal area which she thought would disappear but it did not. The pain began when she was in school and her roommate heard her cry at night and went to her help. Upon learning about Christine’s pain, she immediately requested a taxi and rushed her to a nearby hospital. She was examined in the emergency department where first aid and a diagnostic scan was done. Her scan did not reveal anything unusual and she was referred to another facility where she could have a CT scan. Based on her results from the CT scan she was immediately referred to Kenyatta National Hospital. She was taken there in an ambulance, but on arrival they were asked for money which her father did not have. Their family made a decision to bring her to Kijabe Hospital for treatment with hopes that she could get the care she needed there. Christine’s family is having a difficult time right now and is requesting help to support her treatment. They need help raising $1,074 to fund the emergency laparotomy that will heal her pain.

Kyle is a beautiful one-year-old girl. She's the last born in a family of two children and her older sibling is in third grade. Her mother is a single mom who is raising her kids on her own. She earns a living trading second-hand clothes in their neighborhood. Kyle's mom shared that they are signed up for a national health insurance program, but haven't been able to make the monthly premium payments so the insurance is not able to cover expenses like surgery. Kyle has beendiagnosed with a rectovestibular fistula and had a colostomy performed at Kenyatta National Hospital last year. She has now come to our medical partner's care center for the follow-up surgery that she needs for her birth condition. She has needed this surgery for a while but the waiting list has been long at the other hospital and their family could not afford the cost of surgery. Kyle’s mother says, “My young girl deserves to grow up like other kids. She needs this treatment.”

Mark Gabriel is a two-year-old boy from the Philippines. He loves singing the alphabet and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. He is the oldest son of his parents. His father works as a call center agent, while his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Mark Gabriel was born with a birth condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needed to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Mark Gabriel receive treatment. On December 8th, he will undergo colostomy closure surgery to correct his condition. After his recovery, Mark Gabriel will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Now, World Surgical Foundation Philippines is requesting $1,279 to cover the total cost of Mark Gabriel's procedure and care. Mark Gabriel's mother shared, "after his surgery, we hope that he will live a life without carrying a colostomy bag."

Mark is eighteen days old and has been diagnosed with a serious birth condition called anorectal malformation. His mother first had a concern when he was 6 days old, but hoped that it was normal. A few days later she noticed that Mark was experiencing trouble going to the bathroom and took him to hospital. After finding out that he would need surgery, a friend of their family referred them to BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. Upon arrival, he was examined and scheduled for emergency surgery that will help heal his condition and ensure he can grow up healthy. Mark is the only child in their small family. His mother works as a lab technician in a small hospital, but her earnings are limited right now. Mark's father does farming and is able to sell the farm produce. Their family does not have national insurance and can not raise the required amount of money for Marks’ surgery. They have come a long way from Kericho County and are in need of support for his care.

George is a young, active 5-year-old boy. George's father is a taxi driver and his mother does small scale farming to supplement their earnings. Last month, his mother noticed something that didn't seem right when she was bathing him. Upon getting examined by the doctor, the doctor scheduled a corrective surgery to put his testes in place and prevent future challenges. George was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, George has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. George will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) to undergo corrective surgery on March 30th. George’s mother shared, “We would like our child to have a family of his own when he grows up but if left untreated, his medical condition makes that impossible. We are requesting for any help so that our son can get treated."