"Abdirizak is his mother's first baby," our partner, Edna Adan Hospital (EAH), tells us. "She is a home maker and his father does odd jobs." Abdirizak has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the skull, and spina bifida, in which the spinal cord is not fully formed and developed. Because of the spina bifida, Abdirizak has paralysis in his legs. “Unfortunately the paralysis is not reversible and Abdirizak will be paralyzed his entire life,” EAH explains, “But removing the lesion will decrease his risk of dying from sepsis through an infection in the lesion." "His mother is looking forward to the lesion being removed from Abdirizak's back," his doctors add. Abdirizak’s mother has received educational information about his condition and has been given access to a disability outreach program that will help her provide care for her son. “She has also been commenced on folic acid to decrease the likelihood of having children being born with spina bifida in the future.” For $1,118, we can fund Abdirizak's treatment to remove his lesion and reduce his chances of infection.

Birendra is a sweet nine-year-old boy from Nepal. He fell into a pot of hot oil when he was just a year old, sustaining serious burns on his head. The burns were never properly treated. Now, the resulting scar tissue is preventing the skin on his head from fully healing, and his hair from growing. Birendra is in fourth grade and lives with his mother, grandmother, siblings, and uncle’s family. As is common in Nepal, his father works in India and sends money home. Birendra is well loved - his grandmother confided in our medical partner that he is her favorite grandson! For $1,415, we can pay for surgery that will repair the skin on Birendra's head and allow him to move past this childhood accident.

Meet Rupa! She's interested in local and international politics, and wants her son to become a health specialist. She also has kidney stones, which she can't afford to have treated. Rupa, who herds animals and farms for a living, started having pain on her side six years ago. The discomfort makes it difficult for Rupa to walk, let alone care for her livestock. The procedure to remove the kidney stones to prevent urinary tract infections and further damage will cost $765. Let's fund her treatment so she can get back to living a healthy life!