Jao is a lively 11-month-old baby from the Philippines who "loves to smile at the people around him," shares our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). “When Jao was born, it was found that he did not pass stool at all," ICM shares. Jao was born with an imperforate anus, and one day after birth, Jao received a colostomy as a temporary solution. Jao’s parents tell ICM, “We have given up farming and started to do weaving so that we can stay at home and take care of Jao.” However, their combined earnings of $55 a month from bag weaving is not enough to support the family’s daily needs, much less the colostomy bags Jao requires. $965 will fund corrective surgery to create an anal opening for Jao. ICM expects that after a few months, Jao will be able to have his colostomy closed and, “With this, he is one step closer to becoming a normal child with lots of things to look forward to as he grows." Jao’s parents share, “We would really love to see him well just like any other kid."

"Fadix is from a war zone in Somalia. Her mother is unwell and cannot afford transport to get Fadix to the hospital," explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. One of Fadix's relatives brought her in to the hospital after noticing she was unable to pass stool normally. Fadix is a smiling newborn living in Ethiopia. She was born with an anorectal malformation. After she was born, she immediately underwent surgery to get a colostomy, an artificial passage to make it easier for her to eliminate waste. The colostomy is now blocked and she needs surgery in order to pass stool healthily. "It’s hard for us to get medical treatment for Fadix where we live. If Fadix does not get help here, we are afraid that she will die,” her relatives say. Fadix's family does not have the money they need to cover her medical bills and are eager for her to get better. With $1500, Fadix will receive an anorectoplasty. This operation will surgically create a new passage through which Fadix will pass stool. This operation will eliminate her need for a colostomy and ensure that she can eliminate waste from her body and grow into a healthy young child.