“I would like to see my son happy and with a bright future. I was not keen to notice of the defect but am happy I found a place for that to be corrected. I hope Shadrack gets help,” shares Shadrack’s mother. Her 21-month-old son was born with hypospadias, a condition that makes it difficult for him to urinate and prone to infections. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), says, "If untreated Shadrack may suffer urinary tract infections and he may also have difficulty in achieving erection during his adulthood." Shadrack's mother brought him to AMHF for a diagnosis when she noticed that his urethra was not in the usual place while changing his diaper. AMHF continues, "Upon evaluation, we confirmed that Shadrack has hypospadias. A repair is needed but with it would come need for funds – funds that the combines income of a subsistence farmer and construction site casual worker cannot afford." Shadrack’s parents did contribute $105 to their son’s surgery, however, $655 more is required. With the $655, Shadrack will undergo surgery to have his urethra repositioned so that he can urinate normally. This operation will reduce his risk of urinary tract infections and long term complications. AMHF says, "If surgical repair is done, Shadrack's member will function normally."

"13 days ago, Isaac, a little baby boy, was born as the first and only child to his parents," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares. "He has a leaking mass on his lower spinal region." Isaac was born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect that occurs when the tube fails to develop completely, causing defects in the spinal cord and bones. Isaac is at risk of getting an infection, developing a tethered cord which may lead to scoliosis, and paralysis of his lower limbs. "Due to the risks associated with Isaac's condition, they were advised to seek specialized treatment immediately," AMHF details about the severity of Isaac's condition. His parents are eager for him to receive the necessary treatment so their son has the chance to excel in the future. Surgery is necessary to treat Isaac's spina bifida. The surgery involves closing the opening in the vertebrae and covering the exposed spinal cord with muscle and skin tissue. "Isaac's treatment will reduce the the risk of infection as well as development of tethered cord," AMHF explains. While Isaac's parents are contributing a small amount of money - around $10 - to the treatment, they cannot afford the $805 to cover all surgery and post-operative costs. "It is sad to know I cannot give my son the treatment he requires," Isaac's mother shares. "The best way I can avail it is through asking you to help us make it possible."

Two-month-old Maritu lives with her family in Ethiopia. She was born with no anal opening—a condition known as anorectal malformation. Due to this, she is unable to pass stool normally. “Maritu presented with partial bowel obstruction at the age of one week,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. “A colostomy was performed urgently. Maritu has recovered both from the surgery and the obstructive symptoms but still has a colostomy and an imperforate anus. Now, she needs a definitive surgery for the correction of her anomaly.” Maritu’s father works as a farmer to provide for his six children, but he does not earn enough money to pay for the surgery that Maritu needs. For $1,500, Maritu will undergo an anorectoplasty to create a new anal opening so that she can pass stool normally. AMHF tells us that after surgery, “Maritu is expected to live a normal life.” Maritu’s father hopes that one day his daughter will be well enough to go to school.

Meet 25-year-old Maureen, an expecting mother from Kenya. "Maureen is a jovial mother of three children, two girls and one boy," Lwala Community Alliance tells us. "She is married to a farmer who plants sugarcane in small scale that they sometimes sell to the locals who do the sugarcane milling to pay their children's school fees and also to buy food for their family." As she prepares to welcome her fourth child, Maureen is concerned about having a safe delivery. Many women in her community die or lose their babies during childbirth. But with $290, the Lwala team will be able to provide critical pre and post natal care for Maureen, as well as a delivery attended by medical professionals to ensure everything goes smoothly. Let's help them do what they do best and give Maureen a safe delivery!

Devendra likes studying mathematics and playing volleyball with his friends. Devendra's family has 12 members and is primarily involved in agriculture. As a result, their income is subject to ever-changing rainfall patterns and the market prices for their produce. Devendra has a distal radius fracture in his left hand. According to our medical partner, "Devendra had taken his cattle to graze in the nearby woods when an ox started running and Devendra started chasing it, and in the process fell down on his left hand. After the incident Devendra felt a lot of pain and he cannot move his left hand properly. Due to this he cannot perform his ordinary activities as well." Devendra has been out of school since the accident. For $205 we can get Devendra the cast and medications he needs to perform his daily activities. Let's help relieve Devendra of his pain and get him back in school!

This is Lydia, a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her half-brother and parents, who work hard as casual laborers. Lydia’s journey to Watsi began when she started experiencing severe, recurrent headaches and convulsions. She has not been able to go to school this semester because her symptoms worsened during the August school holidays. In addition to the headaches and convulsions, her limbs have weakened and she can no longer sit or stand without support. Lydia was admitted and later discharged from a local hospital, however her mother noticed that there was no improvement in her health. Eventually doctors diagnosed Lydia with a brain tumor and determined that she would need surgery. “If the surgery is not done,” our medical partners share, “Lydia could suffer permanent brain damage or even premature death.” Lydia’s loving mother says, “my daughter is very intelligent, however this sickness has really affected her schooling. My prayer and hope is that she gets well soon, so that she can go back to school. We hope that we will get support for her treatment.” $1,260 will pay for the craniotomy, a surgical procedure that will allow doctors to remove the tumor. After surgery Lydia will be able to resume school and she will no longer suffer from headaches or convulsions. Let’s help Lydia get well!

Kervens is a nine-month-old baby boy from Haiti, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. Additionally, he has been experiencing flu symptoms, and is quite sick. According to our partner at Project Medishare, "he is experiencing flu, fever symptoms, and vomiting when eating; his mother says that her son's condition mentally and physically affects her because he does not sleep at night and cries a lot." Kervens needs surgery to repair his cleft palate and cleft lip, but his parents are very concerned because they cannot pay for the surgery themselves. For $960, Kervens will receive surgery and the related medical care he needs to improve his health, and allow him to eat and drink without difficulty. Your donation will pay for Kervens to receive the treatment he needs to feel better, and allow him the opportunity to grow up happy and healthy!

Marvens is a five-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He is the first born in his family, who love him, but his health is off to a rocky start. He was born with hydrocephalus, which means there is excess fluid on his brain. Because of his condition, he’s been very sick with flu symptoms and seizures. Marvens needs to have a shunt placed to remove the excess fluid from his brain, allowing him to have a healthy childhood. His mother works in retail and his father is a mechanic, but they are currently unemployed and don’t have family members who can help pay for treatment. According to our medical partner, Project Medishare, this procedure “will give him access to a healthy life and he will be able to go to school one day and enjoy his childhood.” For just $1260, we can help Marvens pay for life-saving medical care - let’s pitch in and make it happen!

Meet Frantz, a four-month-old who lives in the Haitian countryside with his mother and grandmother. At three months, Frantz began to experience swelling in his head. It became apparent that he has hydrocephalus. Frantz's mother tells our medical partner, Medishare, that Frantz has lately been unable to breathe well, has seizures sometimes, cries often, and is unable to sleep at night. "In children, since the bones of the skull have not completely fused, the size of the head of the child starts getting bigger as the fluid accumulates in the brain," Frantz's doctors explain. "The negative effects of this are many and include – failure of the child to grow and lead an independent life and halting of neurological development because the brain does not function normally. Thus, if the child was learning to craw or walk, they stop." Recommended treatment for Frantz is a shunt replacement. This will reduce swelling and will in turn also address some of the other symptoms. $1260 will cover the cost of the surgery as well as meds and physiotherapy after the procedure. In spite of the discomfort she has seen her son in, Frantz's mother is optimistic: "I am excited to go back home with him and I am looking forward to sending him to school." Let's give her even more reason to be optimistic by funding care for Frantz.

This guy is two-month-old Kaung from Burma. His father works as a driving assistant, earning just enough to meet the family's basic needs. Kaung was born with hydrocephalus as well as a cleft lip. “The pressure of the liquid in his brain pushes Kaung’s eyes downwards," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Because of his cleft lip his mother isn't able to breastfeed him...so he has to use a little slit in the teat of the babies milk bottle to help him feed.” In addition to the potential for longer term cognitive developmental challenges, Kaung is experiencing heart palpitations and difficulty breathing. While Kaung's parents are worried about their child and being unable to cover the cost of his care, they are doing the best they can to give their son everything he needs in life. "Once Kaung gets better, his mother hopes that he will be educated in the future," the BBP team writes. "His father hopes that Kaung will be able to go to international school, and he says that he will try his best to provide a good life for his son." $1200 will cover the cost of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery which Kaung needs to drain the fluid accumulating in Kaung’s head due to hydrocephalus. "After treatment, the size of Kaung's head will reduce to normal size," BBP tells us. "Once the fluid is drained he will be able to support his head unassisted. His eye condition will improve and he will have more energy. When he has healed from the shunt operation, he will be able to receive treatment for his cleft lip.”

Bishwas is an eight-year-old boy living in Nepal. He lives with his parents, grandmother, uncles, and siblings. His family farms, but they only get enough yield to feed the family for three months. Bishwas enjoys sports, and he says that his favorite sport is cricket! Bishwas burned his head years ago and the skin is still so damaged that his hair is unable to grow back in. For $1,415, we can help Bishwas receive plastic surgery to repair his damaged skin, reduce the risk of future complications, and allow the hair to grow back on the injured part of his head. Let's help Bishwas get back to his favorite game of cricket, in good health!

Tha Zin is a nine-year-old girl from Burma, the setting of the world's longest-running civil war. Tha Zin was diagnosed with an orbital pseudotumor when she was six. Her parents took her to Yangon, the former capital of Burma, for surgery. Unfortunately, something went wrong in surgery, and afterwards Tha Zin's eye was even more swollen than before. For the next two years, Tha Zin's parents went into debt traveling to the capital every two weeks to get medication to manage their daughter's condition. Her eye has still not improved, and she's missed a year of school as a result. Quality medical care is scarce in Burma, but Burma Border Projects' partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can facilitate Tha Zin's care in Thailand. It will cost $1500 to coordinate Tha Zin's surgery, which will either restore function to her eye, or remove it and enable her to continue with school. BCMF writes, "When we ask Tha Zin what she wants when she is older, she is very shy and does not say anything. However, later she comes up to a staff member and tells him that she would like to be a doctor." Let's help make that possible!