Mercy is a seven-year-old girl living in Kenya with her mother and sibling. She is very social and has a beautiful smile. Mercy's mother is a vendor who sells vegetables in the village. She is a single mother and thus the sole provider in the family. Mercy is in the second class in her primary school. Mercy is a very bright girl and would like to be a doctor in the future. Mercy has left-sided hemiplegia, a type of cerebral palsy, and also left-sided clubfoot. Clubfoot is an umbrella term for congenital foot abnormalities, which includes when the foot is twisted out of shape or position. As a result, the tendons in the limbs are shorter than usual, and further complications of limited movement and stability may occur. With the combination of the hemiplegia and clubfoot, Mercy has difficulties walking. She needs surgery for clubfoot correction. Her mother is unable to afford the corrective surgery and needs financial assistance. The total cost of her procedure is $1,224, and covers medications, supplies, and six days of inpatient care. Her procedure is scheduled for July 10. "My desire is to see a bright future for my daughter," shares Mercy's mother. "I will be happy to see my daughter going for surgery and coming out of the operation room."

Meet Purity, a one-month-old baby girl from Kenya. Purity lives with her parents, who run a small shop in the local area to support the family. “When Purity was born, one the first things her parents were notified of was that their daughter’s head was larger than the average of a newborn,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “After further investigation, the doctor confirmed Purity has hydrocephalus.” Hydrocephalus is a condition in which an excess of cerebrospinal fluid builds up, creating heavily pressurized areas in the brain. As Purity grows and develops throughout her childhood, this condition could pose serious health complications, including vision loss and limited physical mobility. For $980, Purity will receive surgery in which a shunt will be placed in her head to reroute the cerebrospinal fluid to the abdomen, where it can be more easily absorbed. “Purity’s surgical care will reduce the increased intracranial pressure in the brain which could be fatal,” says AMHF. “She will have a chance of leading a quality life.” “Before Purity got sick, I did not know about hydrocephalus,” shares Purity’s father. “To be told of all the risks that our daughter is at because of this, shocks and saddens us. It was a great relief to hear from the doctor that hydrocephalus can be managed.”

Say hello to Jayden, a one-year-old baby boy from Kenya! According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “Jayden is only two months old, the first and only child to his parents. Jayden’s father is a casual laborer, while his mother is a housewife.” Unfortunately, Jayden has a cystic mass on his lower back. As a result, Jayden is particularly exposed to infections and is more likely to develop a series of spinal complications if this condition is not addressed soon. According to AMHF, Jayden’s parents “have exhausted the little money they had while seeking treatment for their son in a Government referral hospital – the efforts proved futile.” For $805, Jayden will receive the proper surgery to close his spinal malformation, and will no longer be at risk of infection or additional complications. Let’s help Jayden have a healthy start to life!