Three month old Keziah lives with her parents and two older siblings in Kenya. Her father, who works as an artist, is the sole breadwinner for the family. Keziah was born with open spina bifida and bilateral club feet. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect, in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. While she has undergone some therapy for her condition, without additional treatment, Keziah is at risk of lower limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Keziah's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 5th at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. This surgery will hopefully spare Keziah from the risks associated with her condition, allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Keziah's father says: “She is a jovial kid. We are sad that she is unwell. I hope that she is treated, and she can walk in the future.”

John is a 2-month-old baby from Tanzania. He resides in a modest home with his parents and two siblings. His mother is a devoted stay-at-home mother, while his father works as a carpenter. His father’s income is enough to cover the family’s basic needs. After John's birth, the doctors realized he was born with a congenital condition and advised his mother to seek specialized care. His right foot was twisted inward and downward. They started him on casting at the hospital for three weeks, hoping it might help him heal. However, it became apparent that his condition was more complex and would require surgical intervention as the only viable option to give John a chance at a more mobile and fulfilling life. However, the financial burden proved to be overwhelming for John’s family. Living on a modest income, they could not afford the surgical treatment cost. They had to make a hard decision to stop their son’s treatment. Sometime after discontinuing their son’s treatment, John’s mother learned about our medical partner the Plaster House and the services it provides. Fueled by love and hope for her son, she sought assistance from the center. John underwent a comprehensive wellness assessment; however, the family cannot raise money for his treatment and is appealing for financial assistance. John has clubfoot on his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. The Plaster House team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund John's clubfoot repair. After treatment and as he grows he will be able to walk comfortably, wear shoes, enjoy playtime with his peers, and reassure his parents that their son is free from disability. John’s mother says: “I hope my son’s treatment will be smooth and he will turn out okay after his treatment.”

Ly Huor is a 19 month-old toddler who lives in Pursat province with his grandparents. His grandmother is his main caretaker as his mom and dad work factory jobs several hours away. They are able to visit Ly Huor every few weekends. At home, Ly Huor likes playing with the kids in the village and eating soup. In December 2022, his right hand was burned when he accidentally put his hand into a pot of hot rice porridge. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his burn. He has difficulty holding objects and playing with toys. When Ly Huor's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On September 14th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help him to use his hand easily again. Now, his family needs help to fund this $495 procedure. His grandmother shared, "I hope he can use his hand again and play with the other kids."

Kervens is a 6-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father and has two brothers that love him dearly. Kervens has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. This excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen, putting harmful pressure on the brain's tissues. As a result of his condition, Kervens has been experiencing intracranial swelling. Without treatment, Kervens will experience severe physical and developmental delays. The procedure that Kervens needs that is critical to his treatment will drain the excess fluid from his brain to reduce intracranial pressure. This will greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Kervens will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Fortunately, our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), has the only site in the country where the procedure is currently available. Doctors at PM were able to schedule the procedure for August 1st at Hospital Bernard Mevs. PM is now requesting $897 to help fund the cost of surgery for Kervens. Kerven's family said that they are heartbroken that their baby is sick. They now have hope that the surgery will give them a happy healthy child.

Gifton is a fifteen-month-old boy. He is the only child in his family and resides in an urban area Nairobi. His mother, Mercy, works as a housemaid in the area, undertaking various household tasks, including washing clothes. Gifton's mother noticed a deformity in his feet immediately after birth. His feet were turned inward, not as other children's. Gifton has been diagnosed as having clubfoot of both feet--a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. As Gifton grows, this will cause difficulty walking and even wearing shoes if not corrected. Mercy sought medical help for Gifton. When he was just one month old, a course of serial casting to correct the position of his feet was started. Despite these efforts, the condition has not improved, prompting Mercy to seek a pediatric orthopedic review. Doctors at AIC CURE International Hospital in Nairobi have determined that Gifton needs bilateral PMR surgery to correct the deformity. This surgery will be performed on October 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gifton's clubfoot repair. After treatment, there will be a significant impact on Gifton, as the treatment will realign his feet to their normal position. As he grows, he will gain the ability to walk comfortably, just like other children. “I am appealing for help from well-wishers to help my boy walk comfortably like other children,” Gifton's mother told us.

Carlos, who is two months old, lives with his parents in the hills above La Paz, Bolivia. His father is an electrician, while his mother is a fruit seller. Carlos was born with a rare cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. As a result, Carlos' aorta - which is the the main blood vessel leading from the heart - is too narrow, causing blood to back up into the heart. In order to remedy this condition, Carlos will need to undergo surgery. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is helping Carlos' parents to access the care their child needs. On July 20th, surgeons at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will widen Carlos' aorta, restoring normal blood flow. Now Carlos and his parents need your help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Carlos' mother said: "Our son has been in hospitals ever since he was born. Our family is hopeful that after this surgery he can come home to live with us!"

Rayan is a one-month-old infant and the firstborn child in his family. He lives with his mother and her parents. His mother just completed her aviation diploma, but is currently unemployed. His father is also unemployed. Rayan has clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape. This will cause him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rayan receive treatment. He traveled to AMH's care center where, on January 17th, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Now, Rayan and his family need help raising $935 to fund his procedure and care. Rayan’s mother shared, "I am afraid my son won’t have a normal life in the future. I hope he gets the treatment that helps his condition."

Neang is a cheerful 14-year-old student from Cambodia. She is the oldest child in her family and has one brother and two sisters. Her parents are farmers in Kratie province, one of the less-populated eastern provinces in Cambodia. She is in the 6th grade and likes to help her siblings with their homework. In the evenings, she and her siblings like to watch funny shows on the television. Two years ago, the retina of Neang's left eye detached, causing her partial blindness and tearing. She has flashes of light in her affected eye and it is difficult for her to read. When she is outside, she is afraid she will trip and fall due to reduced peripheral vision. When Neang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 1st, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Neang's family needs help to fund this $649 procedure. Neang says, "I hope after surgery I will see well again. I want to do well in school and have a good job one day to help my family."

Boniface is a 9-year-old student with two siblings. He started school late and enjoys taking part in science classes. Boniface likes to play soccer with his peers, but it is hard for him to play for long because of his leg condition. Boniface was diagnosed with genu valgus. His right knee knocks on his left knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Boniface. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 8th. Treatment will hopefully restore Boniface's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Boniface’s mother says, “It has been hard for him with his leg condition. He wishes to do more, but he is limited."

Alex is a sweet baby from Kenya and the youngest in his family of five children. His parents own livestock but, because of an ongoing drought, they have had to sell some of their livestock to provide food for the family. Alex has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of this condition, Alex has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Alex will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alex receive treatment. On November 16th, he will undergo a procedure to drain the excess fluid from his brain, which will decrease intracranial pressure. This treatment will help Alex as he develops into a strong, healthy young boy. AMH is requesting $720 to cover the cost of this surgery. Alex’s mother says: “It has been a very hard time for me as I have to stay with him all the time because of his condition. I want to help in the provision for my children.”