Meet Rickenley. He is three years old, and lives with his parents and sister in Haiti. Rickenley is intelligent and curious, and loves watching soccer (his favorite team is Real Madrid). “Rickenley suffers from a condition called coarctation of the aorta, in which the aorta is too narrow to allow blood to pass through normally. The heart must work much harder to push the blood through,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “This causes the heart to fail, and in Rickenley’s case it would soon be fatal.” “We have been very scared ever since the doctor explained to us what is wrong with Rickenley,” his parents say. “It’s a miracle that he will have the chance to be fixed!” $1,500 will help Rickenley get the surgery he needs to repair his heart. Let’s work together to give him a chance to lead a healthy life!

This is Ny, a 20-year-old woman from Cambodia!! "Ny makes rice with pork, chicken, and noodles that she sells in a stall in the market," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. Ny also likes to watch Khmer music shows on television. When Ny was born, she had a squint in her left eye. "She is very sad that everybody makes fun of her and calls her 'cross eye,'" CSC explains. For only $290, we can provide Ny with treatment to correct her left eye and enable her to see clearly. "She wants to feel confident," Children's Surgical Centre says. "and not be shy so customers will come and buy food from her."

"Paulo is a cute and happy five-month-old baby boy," African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us about this only child from Tanzania. "Paulo’s parents are small scale farmers. They were given a small piece of land by Paulo’s grandfather and their major income is through that piece of land." Paulo was born with clubfoot in both of his feet and affects his gait when he walks. Clinicians at AMHF have been able to take a look and have recommended a corrective surgery so this can be taken care of early in Paulo's life. "When Paulo starts to walk, he will be able to step on his feet and walk on plantigrade," AMHF continues. "Chances of developing early osteoarthritis will also decrease." We wish for him to be able to walk properly when the time comes and be independent as he continues to grow,” Paulo's mother says of her baby boy. Let's fund the surgery Paulo needs to walk properly for the rest of his life.

Meet four-year-old Angeline from Haiti. "Angeline is a very quiet and sweet girl, who is shy around new people but very attached to her mother," Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us. "She likes listening to music and playing with her older brother. She hasn't yet started primary school, but will start next year once her heart is fixed." "Angeline was born with a condition called pulmonic stenosis, in which a muscular blockage prevents blood from flowing freely into the pulmonary artery, causing it to back up into the heart," HCA writes. Luckily Health City Cayman Islands has stepped up with $5,000 to help fund the cost of the surgery Angeline needs. "Following surgery, Angeline should have normal blood flow through her heart, and should not experience any ongoing symptoms from her condition," HCA continues. $1,500 will cover the rest of costs associated with Angeline's care, including overseas prep and transport. "I want to say thank you to everyone who is helping Angeline have surgery," says Angeline's mother. "God will give you all blessings!" Together we can make sure Angeline gets the care she needs to be healthy.

“Mitchena has a heart condition called mitral valve regurgitation, as a result of an untreated strep throat that she suffered as a child,” describes our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance. Strep throat led to rheumatic fever, which severely damaged her heart valve. “She is in advanced heart failure and very emaciated, as her body cannot adequately retain nutrients. She has had to leave school, and cannot summon the energy to be active in any way.” Mitchena is a shy girl who enjoys reading and going to school. She lives with her father and younger sisters, and is looking forward to having her condition treated. "I want to say thank you to everyone who helps me," Mitchena says. With $1,500 from us, Mitchena's family will have enough to cover the cost of the complex logistics of Mitchena’s overseas medical transport, allowing her to receive advanced care for her heart. She will be fitted with a mechanical mitral valve, and will receive post-surgery care and monitoring from Haiti Cardiac Alliance. “After her heart heals and gains strength, she should be able to lead a full and active life, and to gain weight and improve her overall health,” says Haiti Cardiac Alliance. Let’s help Mitchena return to school and live a full life!

“It has been a long journey for us,” shares David’s mother. “I am glad that my son will finally be operated on, and I look forward to his treatment and good recovery.” David is a four-year-old boy from Ghana who is typically a very happy child; however, since falling ill, his spirits have dropped and he no longer smiles or laughs. David has been experiencing severe headaches and lack of stability when walking due to a brain tumor. When David got sick, his parents rushed him to a local hospital in Ghana, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Unfortunately, the local hospital had no specialist surgeon to treat David, so he was referred to BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, over 2,600 miles away. With the support of friends and family, David and his parents managed to get airline tickets to travel to Kijabe. Now, David’s father and mother need our support to help make this journey a success and ensure their son’s recovery. “David is likely to suffer increased intracranial pressure, which may lead to brain damage and ultimately death if not treated soon,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $1,260 we can fund the craniotomy surgery that will stabilize David’s intracranial pressure and prevent any possibility of blindness or death. Let’s help David grow into a healthy, happy young man!

Meet Maudeline, a 13-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents, three younger sisters, and her grandfather. Maudeline is in the sixth grade, a good student, and hopes to be a doctor or nurse when she grows up. "She also likes going to church, singing, and helping her mother around the house," Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us. "Maudeline was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole between the aorta and the pulmonary artery which normally closes naturally when a child is born, instead remains open," HCA writes. "Blood flows through this hole, preventing normal circulation through the body. As a result, Maudeline is frequently short of breath and out of energy." Health City Cayman Islands has stepped up to help Maudeline cover the cost of the surgery she'll need to close up the hole in her heart. $5000 will fund the surgery but Maudeline still needs $1500 for things like prep and overseas transport. "Following closure of the hole, Maudeline should be able to lead a normal life with no cardiac symptoms," HCA continues. "I'm not scared at all about having surgery," Maudeline says. "I'm looking forward to it!" Let's fund the remaining $1500 of Maudeline's treatment.

"Samuel has been having profound, intractable seizures for the last four years," Dr. Peter Rohloff, the Medical Director at our partner in Guatemala writes. Samuel, a perpetually smiley five-year-old boy, hopes to start school next year. "If only he would stop seizing I think he would be able to develop normally," his mother told Dr. Rohloff. "He's a really smart child." Unfortunately, Samuel's seizures are constant. "He is always just recovering from or just about to have another seizure," Dr. Rohloff writes. Samuel needs seizure studies to determine the root cause of his seizures, as well as medication to help him control them. But the cost of treatment, $1,385, is more than his mother can support. "Mom is really desperate and frustrated," Dr. Rohloff continues. "She's looked for help in numerous other places, but she's not getting the help she needs. Now, after years of looking for help, she's running out of money." With just $1,385, we can cover the cost of Samuel's treatment and help him live seizure-free. What are we waiting for?

This is Shin, a five-year-old boy living in Thailand with his mother and father. Shin loves playing with toy cars and his mom often catches him talking about cars, too. His mother says that she wants him to go to school and study like other children, and after he has finished high school she says she will let him choose what he wants to do with his future. When Shin was just over a month old his mother noticed he might have an eye condition when he wasn't responding to light and other stimulus. At first, she thought her son was blind and that he would never be able to see. She only knew that her son's condition was getting a little better when she caught him looking up at the moon. There is treatment available to provide Shin with clearer vision and prevent him from going blind. However, Shin's father works in a furniture painting factory and his entire salary goes towards the family's basic expenses, and there is not enough money for Shin's treatment. A bilateral lens replacement for both eyes will guarantee that Shin's vision will improve. Shin's mother tells the staff at Burma Border Projects that even if the process is long and complicated involving reoccurring doctor visits she wants to do what is best for her son. She says, "all I want is for my son to be healthy again. I want him to grow up to live a good, productive life." For $1,500 we can give Shin the chance to improve his vision and promise him a better life.

Maudeline is a twelve-year-old girl who loves school but has been unable to go for the past two years because she has been too ill. "Maudeline was born with a condition called infundibular pulmonary stenosis," our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, shares. "The part of her heart that leads to her pulmonary artery is narrowed, causing blood to back up into her heart and the right side of her heart to fail. This makes her very tired and sick, and has been getting worse with age; if not treated soon, it will be fatal." Maudeline needs to travel outside of Port-Au-Prince to undergo surgery for her heart. Haiti Cardiac Alliance tells us, "Following surgery, Maudeline's heart failure will be reversed and she should have normal blood circulation throughout her body, giving her the energy to go to school and lead an active life." $1,500 will cover the cost of travel and preparation for her surgery. Maudeline says, "I am excited to go on an airplane and visit another country! It is like a dream to me." Let's help Maudeline recover from her heart condition so she can have the opportunity to lead a long and healthy life!

This is Emmanuel. He's 11-years-old and he lives in Kenya with his parents and five brothers and sisters. Emmanuel's parents both work to support their big family - his father is a security guard and his mother farms. "Emmanuel has been to two different hospitals over the last two months without any improvement," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. "Emmanuel is not able to walk without support and is always drowsy. He has not been able to attend school this term because of his condition." The recommended treatment to remove the tumor from Emmanuel's brain and to help him resume a normal and healthy life includes a brain tumor surgery, or more specifically, a craniotomy, which will cost $1260. “I am so sad to see my child’s condition deteriorate every day," says Emmanuel's father. "I pray and hope that he gets treatment as soon as possible. We pray that we’ll get funding for his surgical care soon.” Let's fund this procedure and help Emmanuel out.

Meet eight-year-old Mi Soe! Mi Soe lives with her parents and younger brother in Thailand. Her parents work as agricultural day laborers in their village, planting beans and corn to make money. Due to the seasonal nature of their work, they sometimes aren’t able to make ends meet and have to ask around for small loans. Despite their circumstances, Mi Soe’s mother dreams of sending Mi Soe and her brother to school. “When Mi Soe was just two years old," our medical partner writes, "she began showing signs of Thalassemia,” a genetic disorder which causes the body to produce abnormal hemoglobin resulting in symptoms like anemia, fatigue and stunted growth. "She had a fever and couldn't eat or sleep, she became very weak and wasn't able to walk. Since then she has had to come regularly to a clinic along the border for blood transfusions and medicine.” Mi Soe can’t attend school because she is too weak to walk. Without treatment, Mi Soe will continue to experience fatigue, jaundice, abdominal swelling, shortness of breath and overall weakness. For $1,000, Mi Soe will receive a splenectomy, or a spleen removal, with professional medical care before, during and after her surgery. This treatment will increase Mi Soe’s energy levels and overall appetite while reducing abdominal swelling. Eventually, she will have enough energy to walk again so she can go to school.