Makirini is a one-year-old Ugandan girl, who used to be a very playful baby; she was constantly laughing and smiling. However, Makirini is now malnourished and is losing weight rapidly. As a result, she is irritable and has little appetite; without nutritional care she could experience severe developmental delays. “Makirini’s father refuses to take any responsibility for her and so her single mother is working hard to care for her family and daughter, but she is not able to come up with the money required for the food and care Makirini needs to recover and grow healthily,” writes our medical partner, The Kellerman Foundation. For $360, Makirini will receive nutritional care to help her become healthy and develop normally. Let's help Makirini get the help she needs for a happy, healthy childhood!

This is Zakia, a two-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the youngest of five siblings and lives with her mother who works hard as a small-scale farmer. Zakia was born with bilateral club foot, a congenital condition in which the feet are turned inwards about 90 degrees. The toes face each other instead of facing outwards. This has been hard for Zakia; it takes her a long time to stand up and she is not able to walk. Additionally, she is at risk to develop painful osteoarthritis in her feet. Despite these challenges, Zakia is resilient. "Zakia is a cheerful little baby girl," our medical partner writes. "Although she cannot walk, she still joins other children when they are playing by sitting close by and cheering." Zakia's mother wants the best for her daughter but is unable to pay for the corrective surgery Zakia needs. “My hope is to see my daughter able to walk like the rest of my children so that she can go to school and later get a job,” she says. Watsi donors, you can make this a reality. For $715, Zakia can receive a casting procedure and a surgery called a tenotomy to correct her clubbed feet. These two procedures will allow her walk and finally keep up with all of her friends!

Dennis lives with his 15-year-old mother and his retired grandparents, who are working hard to try to support the youngest member of their family, but they do not have a regular income. Dennis was born with spina bifida, a congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the neural tube. A portion of the spinal cord protrudes through the skin, causing an open hole in the lower back. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, reports, “if surgery is not done, Dennis is likely to develop an infection or have spinal complications as he grows up. This can lead to mobility issues and nerve damage.” Dennis’ grandmother is hopeful we can help her grandson. She says, “My hope is to see my grandchild well. How I pray and hope that we’ll find treatment for him. I hope we’ll get support for his surgery.” For $980, Dennis will receive a spina bifida closure, a surgery that will close the hole in his back. This surgery will reduce Dennis’ risk of infection and eliminate his possibility of developing spinal complications.

This little bundle is newborn Swares. Swares and his family live in Kenya, where his father is a casual laborer and his mother stays home to care for their two children. Swares was born with occipital encephalocele, a birth defect occurring when bones in the skull do not develop properly. This has resulted in a mass of tissue forming on his head. Left untreated, Swares will likely develop hydrocephalus, a swelling in the brain that will impair his brain development. Surgery to repair the encephalocele costs more than Swares' parents have been able to raise. Throughout this time, that his mother describes as an uphill battle, she remains optimistic, and says, “I pray and hope that we’ll get support for my son's treatment soon.” Treatment for Swares condition costs $1,500, which includes the cost of surgery and other medical costs related to the procedure. The surgery will allow Swares to heal and grant him the opportunity to grow into a healthy boy. Let's help Swares defy the limitations of this condition!

Meet Faith, a three-year-old girl from Kenya. Faith is the youngest of nine (that’s right, nine!) children. Her parents own a small farm, which they depend on for their daily consumption. They also work small jobs around their village to provide for the basic needs of their large family. Faith has a brain tumor. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation explains, “as a result she experiences convulsions, headaches and feels weak. Without treatment, her tumor will likely be fatal.” With nine mouths to feed and provide for, Faith’s parents cannot afford the cost of the surgery she needs. They are deeply distressed because they know that they cannot pay for the treatment which will most likely save their daughter's life. Faith’s father says, “I feel so sad watching my daughter’s health deteriorate. How I hope that she will be treated as soon as possible.” We can help her father's wish come true! For $1,500, Faith will receive a craniotomy, a surgery that our doctors are optimistic will save Faith's life. Let's give Faith the chance to grow up and have a happy, healthy childhood with her eight siblings!

Friends and neighbors came together to help two-month-old Abebe's parents bring him to our medical partner's hospital because he was born without an anal opening. Abebe is currently functioning with an emergency hole through his stomach. But if this continues, he may be prone to infections and other dangerous complications. He needs immediate surgery to get him out of harm's way and set him up to live a healthy life. Our medical partner tells us that Abebe's mother “wants her son to be able to live a normal life like other children." For $1,500, we can fund Abebe’s surgery and make his mother's hopes a reality.

Meet Loshiro! He is a seven-month-old boy from Tanzania who was born with a club foot. Loshiro is the youngest of four children and lives with his parents and sisters on their small farm. Loshiro's parents grow maize and vegetables to provide for the family. They cannot afford the procedure needed to correct Loshiro's condition. But if left untreated, Loshiro will learn to walk improperly, which will lead to pain and difficulty for the rest of his life. For $715, Loshiro will receive surgery to correct his condition, giving him the opportunity to learn to walk normally and live an active life!

This is Kamza, a sweet two-year-old from the Comoros Islands. She has congenital nevus on her scalp - a rare condition that presents as a dark-colored patch of skin at birth. These marks often become cancerous, and can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Kamza lives in Kenya with her two older siblings and parents, where she has received initial medical care and treatment. However, the scar remains on her scalp and may become malignant if left untreated. "I want my daughter to live a long and healthy life. I want her to go to school and play with other children," her mother shares. For $1,500, Kamza will receive surgery allowing her to grow up healthy, social, and strong. Let's help Kamza to grow and develop healthily!

Getrude is expecting a child at the end of the month, but needs help accessing maternal healthcare to ensure she delivers safely. Getrude is incredibly driven and bright. She is determined to complete her education and provide for her child and her siblings. "I wish and pray to get better health care services in a health facility," Getrude told our partner, "even though I am aware that my parents cannot afford it, that is my greatest wish." Lwala Community Alliance is helping to ensure that Getrude and her baby are happy and healthy. For $215, Getrude will receive prenatal care, delivery in a facility with skilled attendants, and a postnatal check-up. Let's help Getrude have a safe and comfortable pregnancy!