“We all want what is best for Kendory and hoping that this test will provide a way to fix his heart,” says Kendory's mother. Kendory is a two-year old boy from Haiti with a condition called a ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two chambers of his heart. To determine whether this condition is repairable, doctors need to insert a catheter into the chambers of his heart to diagnose his condition with confidence, and come up with an accurate treatment plan. This procedure costs $1,500, and following the procedure, Kendory's family will know with certainty whether the condition is operable or not. “If operable, plans will then be made to move forward with this surgery as soon as possible,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring him to Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that he can have heart surgery later in the year,” shares HCA. Kendory lives with his mother, father, and older sister and brother, and is a very happy child, curious about everything around him. Let's help Kendory receive the test and treatment he needs.

“I am old but I am able to do my farming and take care of my home,” John shares. “I hope I will get help so that my hand can be well again. This way, I will continue with my passion of farming.”
 This is John, a 62-year-old father of six from Kenya. Normally, John works actively as a farmer but has sustained an injury that now prevents him from working. John fractured his right hand a few months ago when he fell at work. The local hospital applied a plaster to his hand that did not help. A surgeon advised an ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) procedure for John, but his family did not have the money. “John and his wife are farmers,” the staff at African Mission Healthcare Foundation tell us. “John and his wife's financial needs are supplemented by their only daughter who works as a security guard. Her income is not in any way able to meet the cost of this surgery that John needs.” "If not treated," AMHF continues, "John will continue having pain and delay in treatment may lead to nonunion and disability." For $1,125 we can make sure John receives the ORIF procedure necessary to repair his hand, allowing him to get back to farming.

Meet Khamt, a 16-year-old boy from Burma. When Khamt entered ninth grade he came down with a fever and fatigue, so his mother took him to the closest private clinic, six hours away. "At the clinic, they learned that he had a heart problem and needed to go to Rangoon for treatment," says our medical partner Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Since his family lacked the financial resources required to get him treatment, they were not able to pursue further care." Even though Khamt continues to experience fatigue, labored breathing, and a poor appetite due to his ventricular septal defect, he still attends school. "He strongly desires to complete school and attend a university to become a public worker," BBP explains. "He thoroughly enjoys studying economics and is also intrigued by the idea of medic training." However, his mother worries that he may not be able to reach these goals with his current condition. "She fears for his prognosis and worries about the possibility of his health declining," BBP says. For $1,500, we can fund Khamt's heart treatment so he can regain his health. "Khamt says the idea of surgery does not scare him and that he would love to be able to play sports with his classmates and friends," BBP tells us. "He hopes that surgery will allow him to be more active and live life to the fullest."

“I pray that my baby, Shantel, will get treated and make a quick recovery,” says Shantel’s mother. Meet Shantel, a newborn baby girl from Kenya who has an open mass on her lower back as a result of protruding vertebrae. “Shantel is at risk of developing infection. She is also likely to develop spinal complications like kyphoscoliosis – an abnormal curvature of the spine,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Shantel’s parents were excited about their new baby but this condition has caused a conflict between them,” continues AMHF. “Her mother traveled a distance of over ninety kilometers to get specialized care. Shantel’s mother owns a small saloon, lives in a single rental house, and is unable to raise funds for Shantel’s surgical care.” For $805, we can fund a Spina Bifida Closure procedure for Shantel. AMHF concludes, “We expect that after the surgery, Shantel will no longer be at risk of infection. She will have a healthy and normal life.”