Three-year-old Neymarah lives in Haiti with her mother, who works as a tailor, and her grandmother. She likes to help her mother prepare the fabric for the school uniforms that she makes. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Neymarah was born with a condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect, in which blood mixes between all four chambers of the heart without fully obtaining oxygen. This leaves her weak and out of breath and would eventually be fatal.” Neymarah needs surgery to create two functioning valves between the upper and lower chambers on both sides of the heart and to place patches over the existing defects (holes). “Following surgery,” says HCA, “Neymarah should have normal circulation restored to her heart. She should not need further surgery in the future.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Neymarah’s surgery. MECENAT is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. Neymarah is excited to start preschool after surgery. Her mother shares, "I want Neymarah to be able to walk to and from school like the other children."

Thidar is a 41-year-old mother of five and the breadwinner of her family. Up until recently Thidar owned and managed her own food shop in Burma, where she sells prepared food and vegetables. Thidar has uterine tumors that cause severe side effects. Thidar’s abdomen is distended, making it difficult for her to move easily or sit for long periods of time. Due to the pain and complications as a result of her illness, Thidar has a hard time taking care of herself and her children. She was forced to close her shop four months ago. It’s been a long road for Thidar, who has been experiencing pain since 2013 and has spent much of her savings for medical care though wasn’t diagnosed with myoma until very recently. However, diagnosis has given her hope at last that she will be relieved of pain and discomfort so she can reopen her shop, allowing her to save money to send her youngest child to school and care for her family as she used to. We need $865 to pay for the surgical removal of Thidar’s myoma to restore her health. Once she is back in good shape, Thidar would like to move closer to her mother and extended family and reopen her shop. Let's do this!