Shadrack is a five-month-old boy from Kenya. He was born with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. Shadrack is the youngest in a family of two children. When he was two months old, his mother noticed that his head was rapidly increasing in size. She notified a medic during a pediatric checkup, and a scan revealed the excess fluid in his head. They were referred to our medical partner's hospital, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital, for specialized treatment. On December 8, Shadrack underwent a shunt insertion, during which doctors inserted a device to drain the fluid from his brain. Shadrack lives with his older brother and parents in a one-room rental house. His mother is a housewife, while his father is a fisherman. They cannot afford to pay for healthcare. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to fund this procedure. Shadrack's mother is relieved that her son is receiving care. "We love him so much, and it hurts so much to see him cry in anguish," she says.

Shakir is a cute and charming boy who loves people. He enjoys discovering new things and eating sweets and rice. Shakir has been diagnosed with Hirschprung's disease, a condition that affects the large intestine and causes uncomfortable symptoms. He underwent a previous treatment, which only solved the problem temporarily. On December 27, he underwent a corrective surgery at our medical partner's care center. During this surgery, doctors removed the diseased part of Shakir's intestine. Shakir’s mother is a single mother who is unemployed. Her brother supports the family, but he cannot afford healthcare. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 in funding.

Purity is a newborn baby from Kenya. When she was born, she was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine develops improperly and is exposed. Purity was referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital. Without treatment, she risked infection, spinal deformities, and paralysis of her lower limbs. Fortunately, on December 14, she underwent a spina bifida closure procedure. Purity is the youngest in a family of three children. Her family lives in a two-room house in central Kenya. Her parents are subsistence farmers. They cannot afford this treatment, so our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 in funding. "We are hoping to get help towards Purity’s surgical care," says her mother.

Meet Zakileydie, a nine-year-old girl from Haiti. Zakileydie “is very bright and is in the fourth grade. She loves to sing and dance,” shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Zakileydie was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sickly and weak,” shares HCA. The healthcare system in Haiti is fragmented with few reliable providers. The goal of our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is to work with partners to scale up the availability of life-saving cardiac surgery to all Haitian children who need it. For $1,500, we can fund a treatment that will restore normal blood flow to Zakileydie's heart. $5,000 of her treatment is subsidized from from Gift of Life International. The cost of the treatment includes overseas transportation, as this procedure isn't accessible in Haiti. "I am happy that all the doctors and nurses are being so nice to me, and I am excited to get my heart fixed,” she shares.

Three-year-old Neymarah lives in Haiti with her mother, who works as a tailor, and her grandmother. She likes to help her mother prepare the fabric for the school uniforms that she makes. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Neymarah was born with a condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect, in which blood mixes between all four chambers of the heart without fully obtaining oxygen. This leaves her weak and out of breath and would eventually be fatal.” Neymarah needs surgery to create two functioning valves between the upper and lower chambers on both sides of the heart and to place patches over the existing defects (holes). “Following surgery,” says HCA, “Neymarah should have normal circulation restored to her heart. She should not need further surgery in the future.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Neymarah’s surgery. MECENAT is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. Neymarah is excited to start preschool after surgery. Her mother shares, "I want Neymarah to be able to walk to and from school like the other children."