Say hello to Simon, a six-week-old baby boy from Kenya. Simon is cared for by his loving mother, who is in her fourth year of high school and hoping to finish her studies at the end of the year. As a young, single mother, she depends on her parents for support. Simon was born with spina bifida, an open mass on his back. His mother is distraught because she has no way of paying for his treatment. If not treated, Simon can develop a tethered cord, which will cause kyphosis or scholiosis. “I have nowhere else to seek help. I pray and hope that his surgery will go on well and that we’ll find support for the treatment,” says Simon’s mother. Let’s raise $980 so Simon can receive a spina bifida closure. “The surgery will help reduce the chance of infection as well as prevent any possibility of Simon developing tethered cord,” our medical partners write. Let’s get Simon the help he needs to live a healthy life!

The days since Michael was born have been more stressful than joyful for his parents. Michael is their first baby, and he's only three days old. But he's battling a life-threatening condition. Michael has spina bifida, a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Michael's parents are small business owners. They work hard, but unfortunately earn very little and cannot afford the surgery Michael needs to go home healthy. For $980, we can fund a spina bifida closure for Michael. "If the surgery is not done, Michael is likely to get an infection because of the open mass on his back," our hospital partner writes. It could also turn into even more life-threatening problems, like a tethered cord, kyphosis, or scoliosis. Michael’s mother says, “My prayer and hope is that my son gets treatment soon so that he can live a healthy and normal life.”

This smiley chap is Perez from Kenya. He's four, and outgoing and headstrong for his age. He talks at the top of his voice and runs a lot. “He is always inclined to spend time and hang out with children who are older than him. You will rarely find him with his agemates,” his father Amos says. Perez was born with clubfoot, a deformity of the lower leg that can bring physical pain and without treatment, disability. His loving parents have worked hard to reverse their sons' condition. Very early Perez got serial castings on his leg, helping reduce the deformity, thanks to which he is already an active little boy. $1000 will provide Perez with the final surgery to completely correct his leg. This will allow him to grow up physically able to do anything he wants. Perez's leg will also look perfectly normal, which is important, as clubfoot carries social stigma in Kenya. If Perez does not get this last surgery, his deformity will get progressively worse over time, causing him pain and eventually disability. Your donation will give Perez the last leg surgery he will ever need, and allow him to run around his neigborhood on strong, normal legs with his friends.

Meet Lalanne, a one-year-old girl living in Haiti. Born with a cleft palate, Lalanne has difficulties eating and drinking. For a growing kid, this poses major development problems. Lalanne’s mother is from the Haitian countryside, and provides for her three children on her own. She is determined to take care of her family and wants to make life good for Lalanne, but she's already done all she can afford to help her daughter overcome this condition and grow up healthy. Lalanne already underwent one round of repair surgery, but needs one more procedure to fix her cleft palate so she can use her lips correctly. For $960, we can make the simple, daily tasks of eating and drinking better for Lalanne.

Juana is a 6-year-old girl who lives in Guatemala with her mother, a single parent. She has Down's syndrome and, like many children with this condition, she also suffers from congenital heart disease. Juana has a type of heart disease called a ventricular septal defect. The defect will need to be repaired surgically to prevent heart failure. Before her heart can be repaired, Juana will need a little dental work to prevent serious infection during her surgery. Once both the dental work and heart surgery are completed, Juana will have a well-functioning heart for years to come. With $1475, we can give Juana a shot at living a healthy, happy life with her mother. Let's do it.

Two-year-old Ibtisam is an only child who lives with her parents in Kenya. Ibtisam's father describes her as a "happy and jovial girl." When Ibtisam was a year old, she crawled towards a pot of boiling water and tipped it, pouring the hot water on her hand. Ibtisam's parents have spent all the money they have saved up to treat their daughter's burns. Because of their efforts, Ibtisam's father was fired from his job for missing work to take care of his daughter. He lost his health insurance and now doesn't have the money to fund the final step in his daughter's healing process; a surgery. "My daughter does not know that her hand is deformed, but as she grows, she will become more aware of how different she is from other children," Ibtisam's father says. "My prayer is that she will still be a happy girl." For $815, we can fund Ibtisam's surgery and help her regain mobility in her hand so she can grow up happy like her father hopes!

Esther is a seven-month-old from Haiti who lives with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition where fluid accumulates in her skull. She needs surgery to drain the fluid, get her out of harm's way, and allow her family to resume its normal routine. Esther's mother loves her, but she is worried about her ability to care for her. "I face a lot of problems with my child because she cries a lot and often," she says. "I cannot leave her, even for a moment, to do my daily tasks - to cook, do the washing or go out to do other activities." For only $1,260, we can fund a surgery to drain the fluid from Esther's brain and potentially save her life. Let's help get her healthy!

Meet Laura, a one-year-old living in Guatemala! Laura has a classic case of the "dwindles" - a common representation of chronic malnutrition in Guatemala. Laura is fighting what healthcare professionals call, "failure to thrive." Her development is slowing. She has less energy and appetite then other kids her age, and each month her growth slows. If this trajectory is not reversed, it will permanently limit her potential and prevent her from living a healthy life. Laura's family is frustrated and concerned about her. But they lack the resources to give her the medical care and nutritional support she needs. This is where we come in! For $525, Laura can receive intensive nutritional therapy that will result in improved growth, energy, appetite, and brain development. Let's help Laura get healthy!

Say hello to Solina, a one-year-old from Haiti! Solina has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in her skull. As a result, she has been experiencing coughs, fevers, vomiting, and seizures. Solina's mom is a small merchant who also works as a laborer to make ends meet. As we would imagine, her daughter's condition leaves her distraught. She knows the condition is treatable but cannot afford it. For $1,260, a surgical procedure can be performed that will drain the excess fluids in Solina's skull and will get rid of all the related symptoms. Solina's mom is deeply grateful for the care Solina has already received. She says, "I thank the nurses and doctors who are taking care of my baby because I couldn’t afford the care. When I was told they had to do a CT scan I cried because I couldn't afford it, but they did it anyway. After the treatment I am looking forward to continuing my business." We've come this far, let's go all the way and get Solina the complete treatment she needs!

Marta is a six-year-old girl living in Guatemala who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for the past three years. Her hands and knees are so inflamed and painful that she cannot walk or use her hands normally. It is painful for her to pick up objects like cups and spoons. Without treatment, Marta's joint damage can result in permanent disabilities, and the number of affected joints may increase. We're raising $750 so Marta can receive an emergency intervention to slow the disease and prevent permanent damage to her joints. Medical staff at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will give Marta anti-inflammatory steroids immediately and transition her onto a long-term arthritis medicine. They will provide her with eye exams to rule out potential arthritis-related eye damage. Finally, they will provide ongoing, long-term follow-up care. Let's help get Marta treatment so that she can live a healthier life with much less pain!

Elizabeth is an adorable little girl whose efforts at starting to walk have been put on hold by bilateral clubfoot, a foot deformity which makes it impossible for her to stand. Elizabeth's condition is treatable with surgery, but her parents are farmers. They work hard to cover the cost of her and her siblings' school fees, but they can't afford the $500 procedure Elizabeth needs to walk normally. AMHF tells us that Elizabeth's parents are very concerned about their daughter's future. "Elizabeth's mother is praying for her foot deformity to be corrected" so she can "grow like her other children."

Dominga is a cancer survivor who is one surgery away from being on a path toward a normal and healthy life. After being diagnosed with stomach cancer, Dominga received surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy through Wuqu' Kawok's Complex Medical Care program. The surgery required a colostomy (diversion of her intestines into a bag). Now that she is cancer free, Dominga is a candidate for a reverse colostomy. This surgery will enable her to process food normally again and become more mobile and physically active. Wuqu' Kawoq's Medical Director says, "Dominga is an amazingly strong woman who shouldered through a really tough chemotherapy and surgery regimen without a single complication or complaint. She is delighted to have survived cancer and is really excited about the possibility of no longer needing a colostomy."