Meet Gideon. He is a playful and happy boy. Gideon’s head has been abnormally enlarging since he was two years old. Due to the severity of his hydrocephalus, Gideon is unable to walk properly on his own. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo brain surgery to correct the condition on August 2. We hope that after treatment, Gideon’s head will return to normal size, giving him better balance and preventing further damage to his brain. His family needs help raising $728 for surgery. Both his parent are farmers and have four other children. His mother says, “Please help my son get better. It really hurts me that he is constantly sick."

"She loves to dress up! She hopes that once she has received surgery and she is older she will be able to wear high heels," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Eight-year-old Yin is an adorable young girl from Burma. She developed normally until she began walking, when her parents noticed that she was not able to stand correctly. "If her mum wasn’t holding her hand she had no choice but to run forward because she could not balance on her toes," says BBP. Yin was diagnosed with club feet, which have caused a series of complications with her growth. She cannot play with friends or walk to school, which causes her to feel isolated and distressed. Her parents are also disheartened and hope that a surgery will help their daughter's physical and mental wellbeing. BBP is able to perform an external fixation for $1500, which would stabilize bone and soft tissue and help align her feet. Not only will this help her walk, but it will also boost her confidence -- and when she gets older, she can rock those high heels! Let's fund Yin's surgery and help her walk again.

Julia is pregnant with her second child. So far, the pregnancy has gone well, with the exception of lower abdominal pain as the due date draws nearer. Continued medical attention will ensure Julia and the baby stay healthy, despite the tragic odds of maternal mortality in Kenya. Lwala Community Alliance provides healthcare and education to the women in its community to keep them healthy as possible. Its maternal health program teaches mothers how to care for themselves. When asked what she hoped for, Julia replied: “I would want to see my child go to school when she grows up and get a job. I pray that I remain healthy so that I can take care of my kids and to have a safe delivery.” For $215, Julia and her baby will receive prenatal care at Lwala’s clinic. Julia will also be able to deliver her baby in a hospital and get a post-birth checkup for mom and baby.

Evelyne is pregnant and hoping for a safe delivery, but the odds are against her. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where Evelyne lives, 1 in 39 women are likely to die in childbirth. There's a higher risk of her baby dying than anywhere else in the world. Lwala Community Alliance can provide Evelyne with essential healthcare that will change those odds in her favor. $215 will cover clinical antenatal care, several home visits, a hospital delivery and a post-birth checkup. Like most mothers, Evelyne wants her children to grow up healthy, educated, and able to live up to their full potential. “I hope my children will stay healthy and alive. If the children are healthy they can be educated. After they are educated they can get a good job to sustain themselves.” The first step in helping her achieve this dream is a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.

Odria is a 3-year-old girl with clubfoot, a common condition in which the foot is turned inward. Because of her condition, Odria has difficulty walking. If left untreated, it will be nearly impossible for Odria to live a normal, active life. Luckily, doctors at CURE can perform surgery to correct Odria’s condition. They are confident that with treatment, “Odria can be free of her disability for good.” Odria comes from a supportive family that is eager to see her get healthy. She was brought to the hospital by a caring uncle who has helped raise her since she was a baby. He hopes Odria can get the treatment she needs to grow up normally.