Esther, a 12-month-old girl, was born with a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect, in which a large hole exists between all four chambers of the heart, allowing blood to mix freely between them. This prevents her body from receiving enough oxygen, and leaves her sick and weak. This condition is especially common in children like Esther who have Down syndrome. Esther lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and two older brothers. Her parents both sell products in a local market. Esther is a very curious and friendly child and enjoys spending time with her brothers. Esther will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On August 9, she will undergo cardiac surgery. Her family needs help to fund the cost of travel. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343. Her mother shares, "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping my daughter have this chance at surgery!"

“I hope to get help for this surgery so that I can go back home and continue living a normal life.” Dennis, an 18-year-old boy from central Kenya, is the second-born in a family of five children. His parents are small-scale farmers, and since graduating from high school in 2015, he has been working on their small piece of land. He has been searching for more formal employment as well. Dennis was a healthy teenager until three days ago, when he was hit with sudden bouts of vomiting and severe abdominal pain. His mother brought him to Nazareth Hospital, our medical partner's care center, because the local public hospital is not operating. There, an abdominal x-ray revealed that Dennis has intestinal obstruction, meaning that the movement of waste through his intestines has been blocked. This is a life-threatening condition; if left untreated, his bowel could rupture, leading to leaking of harmful intestinal content into the abdominal cavity. Fortunately, Dennis has been scheduled for emergency surgery on September 21. But he needs your help to pay for it. When we raise $750, we will be able to fully cover his operation, as well as his lab tests, medications, and one night’s stay in the hospital. After his surgery, it is expected that Dennis will be able to go back to farming. He will also be able to continue looking for formal employment to sustain himself. Let’s make sure this young man is able to make the most of his early career by restoring him to good health.

Lesly is a social 11-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. She loves to play with her toy doll. Lesly's parents work hard to support their family. Her father works as an agricultural laborer, and her mother weaves and sells traditional Mayan textiles. Lesly was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Lesly has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that further compromise her growth. She may also face long-term consequences of malnutrition if left untreated, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Lesly to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 22, Lesly will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age. "I hope with the nutrition program my daughter will better her growth and development," says Lesly's mother. "I have every intention to put my time and effort into collaborating so that my daughter grows.”

Jericho is a three-year-old boy from the Philippines. Jericho loves to play with the neighborhood kids and is the youngest son of the three siblings. Jericho was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too few calories, proteins, and nutrients. Beginning on July 11, Jericho will receive at-home malnutrition treatment through our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). ICM will provide Jericho with nutrient enriched food packs to help him gain weight and achieve optimal physical and mental development. The program will also teach his family about proper nutrition, sanitation, and organic gardening to better care for their son. ICM is requesting $173 to cover the cost of Jericho's ongoing care.

Ferester is a farmer from Malawi. She recently traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Kabudula Community Hospital. Kabudula is a rural community outside of the capital city of Lilongwe. The health catchment area serves roughly 350,000 people, but the health centers and the hospital are often poorly stocked and staffed.  One of Ferester’s teeth has been causing her bothersome symptoms. Diet is an issue for dental health in Malawi, where sugarcane is prevalent. Also, there is little to no oral health education in Malawi and limited access to a dental professional. In fact, there are fewer than 20 dentists across the country. Fortunately, a visiting dentist will perform a dental extraction. A dental extraction is a simple procedure with few risks, and it will result in a significant reduction in her symptoms. Ferester is scheduled to undergo treatment on July 18. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting just $28 to fund the procedure.

Catheren is a farmer from Malawi. She recently traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Kabudula Community Hospital. Kabudula is a rural community outside of the capital city of Lilongwe. The health catchment area serves roughly 350,000 people, but the health centers and the hospital are often poorly stocked and staffed.  One of Catheren’s teeth has been causing her bothersome symptoms. Diet is an issue for dental health in Malawi, where sugarcane is prevalent. Also, there is little to no oral health education in Malawi and limited access to a dental professional. In fact, there are fewer than 20 dentists across the country. Fortunately, a visiting dentist will perform a dental extraction. A dental extraction is a simple procedure with few risks, and it will result in a significant reduction in her symptoms. Catheren is scheduled to undergo treatment on July 18. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting just $28 to fund the procedure.

Levi is a 17-month-old boy from Guatemala. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Levi began malnutrition treatment on November 14, 2016. Levi lives with his parents and brother in rural Guatemala. He likes to play cars with his brother. His father works hard as a day laborer in the fields, but his income is small and unsteady. While Levi's parents want the best for their son, their resources are already stretched thin. They cannot afford to pay for his $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Levi recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Levi a chance to grow healthy and strong. "My son always gets sick, and it worries me because he stops eating," says Levi's mother. "He stops wanting to play with his brother and only cries. We––my husband and I––try to give him what he needs, but we do not always have the resources. I am thankful for the help you all will give my son. God bless you. When my son is bigger, I hope that he will be a doctor."