Meet Ronald, a baby boy from Kenya. At three months old, Ronald’s head began increasing in size and he cried very often. Having never raised another child, his parents were not aware that something was wrong. During a normal pediatric clinic, the doctor noted that Ronald’s head was abnormally big. After a scan, it was confirmed that five-month-old Ronald had a condition known as hydrocephalus. If not treated Ronald may suffer delayed milestones and brain damage. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was recommended to treat the hydrocephalus, but the funds were not available to pay for it. Ronald’s father is the sole provider for the family and works hard doing casual labor at construction sites not far from home. His mother stays home and takes care of him, soothing and caring for him when he cries and is uncomfortable. For $615, Ronald will receive ETV treatment at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. His parents hope that little Ronald will be able to receive treatment, despite their lack of funds, and get well as soon as he can. “Our lives have changed because we cannot do any of the things we used to do," shares Ronald's mother. "Ronald requires utmost attention and therefore I can’t even commit to work. I hope he gets well and our lives get back to normal."

Collins is a 2-month-old boy who lives with his family in a two roomed house in central Kenya. Collins' mother is a hair stylist while his father is employed casually at a construction site and does farming to supplement their income. Collins' mother noticed that something was quite abnormal with her son, and brought him to a clinic where he was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. For $430, doctors at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital will perform surgery to relieve Collins of his pain and swelling. If untreated, Collins will most likely suffer intestinal incarceration, obstruction and/or strangulation. Collins’ parents want the best for their son that he grows up normally with no complications. “I am saddened by my son’s condition but I am happy to have found a place he can get treated," shares Collins' mother. "My only distress right now is how to raise the funds required. I would appreciate if I got any sort of help."

Meet one-month-old Arnold, an active baby boy from Tanzania. “Arnold’s parents are a young couple and Arnold is their first born,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “His mother is a homemaker and his father works as a wildlife guard in a wildlife conservation area.” Arnold was born with a myelomeningocele, a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. “Arnold has an open lesion on his lower back which is leaking cerebral spinal fluid,” continues AMHF. “If not treated, Arnold will be at risk of contracting infections causing bigger problems.” After an extensive hospital stay for Arnold and his mother, Arnold’s parents are unable to cover the cost of this procedure. “They are worried about the condition of their son and they have already spent quite a lot of money in a hospital,” reports AMHF. "Nothing was done regarding the open wound on his back. They badly need financial support so that their son can be treated.” For $1100, Arnold will receive surgery to close the covering around his spinal cord. “The cerebral spinal fluid will no longer leak from Arnold’s back, reducing the risk of contracting infection and allowing him to live healthy,” says AMHF. “We are very happy to be blessed with a son and we want him to live and have a good future,” says Arnold’s mother. Let’s help Arnold enjoy a healthy, thriving childhood.

Gasper loves to read, write, and color pictures with his friends. He was also born with bilateral clubfoot, a deformity that causes the bones in his feet to grow incorrectly, causing extreme pain and difficulty walking. Gasper loves playing with his siblings and classmates, but, if his condition goes untreated, he won't be able to move about as easily and is at risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Gasper's parents work hard to support their son and his siblings, providing them with the food and support they need to go to school. Though Gasper's father earns money as a carpenter and his mother sells tea and snacks at a local café, they do not have enough money to pay for Gasper's medical care. "My dream is to become a business man when I grow up," Gasper says. For $1,160, we can fund Gasper's surgery and help make that dream a reality! Once funded, Gasper will undergo surgery to repair his congenital deformity and allow his bones to develop normally. Gasper will be able to walk without pain and difficulty, and continue to thrive in school and whatever else he dreams of doing!