Logan is a child from Kenya. The only child to his parents, Logan lives with his family in the Nairobi suburbs. His mother is a full-time mom while his father does casual construction jobs to sustain the family. For some time now, Logan has had a right hydrocele. This swelling causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on January 25, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Logan's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I am praying every day and hoping that my son will recover soon. I am kindly requesting for assistance,” says Logan’s mother.

Cristina is a 17-month-old girl from Guatemala, but she is only the size of a healthy nine-month-old. Her family cannot afford to give her a healthy diet, so she is not growing well or hitting her developmental milestones. For example, she cannot sit on her own. Cristina has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, she began malnutrition treatment on November 8, 2016. Cristina lives with her family in an adobe house. She was adopted by her biological aunt and uncle. Her uncle works as a tailor, and her aunt takes care of the household. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Cristina recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Cristina a chance to grow healthy and strong. "We are so excited to have a little girl," says Cristina's aunt. "We want to give her the best. She came to us like a light, and we want her to be a good person when she grows up."

Estuardo is an 8-month-old boy from Guatemala. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Estuardo began malnutrition treatment on October 28, 2016. Estuardo is an only child, and he lives with his family in an adobe house. He loves to play with his stuffed animal. His father works as a day laborer, and his mother weaves textiles for a living. They cannot afford to pay for this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Estuardo recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Estuardo a chance to grow healthy and strong. "I hope that he grows well, and he is able to grow taller and gain weight so he's healthy for his age," says his mother. "In the future, he can go to school and be a professional."

Meet Consuelo, a 17-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. Consuelo lives with her large family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Since she has so many brothers and sisters, her mother is unable to give all of them the nutrition they need to stay healthy. Since her father abandoned the family, Consuelo's mother has been struggling to raise her and her siblings alone. She has had to move in with her parents, leave every morning before dawn to look for firewood to sell, and work on a farm harvesting peas in order to make enough money to even buy just tortillas to eat. Consuelo does not even eat one egg, fruit, or vegetable per day. Consuelo is far too small for her age, growing too slowly because of her malnutrition. Since she does not have access to a nutritious diet, she has been losing weight, getting sick more frequently, and lacking the energy to play and learn. Since her immune system is weakened by her low-calorie diet, getting sick not only takes away her energy and prevents her from growing, but is dangerous and can be life-threatening. If she does not receive treatment, she could face problems such as stunted neurodevelopment, chronic diseases, and difficulty getting and keeping a good job. A multifaceted treatment consisting of growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and deworming medication will help Consuelo recover from malnutrition--saving her life now and putting her on track to live a better life in the future. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. Her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, preventing her from having any more life-threatening situations with diarrhea, fevers, and cough. Her mother will receive the support she needs to feel empowered to give Consuelo the diet she needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Consuelo the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made her sick in the first place. In her mother's words, "I dream that my daughter will grow and when she's big be a good student."

Jonas is a seven-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the first born to his parents who are both subsistence farmers. Jonas was born with a left clubbed foot. Clubfoot is a congenital condition where the foot is curved inwards at the ankle, as opposed to straight. This condition will cause Jonas to have difficulty walking as he gets older. His parents asked around their village for anything that could be done to help Jonas, but couldn't find help. When the outreach team of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), visited, they explained that Jonas's condition could be fully corrected with surgery and casting. The total cost of treatment is $1,160, and includes four months of physical therapy at a rehabilitation center after surgery. Let's help Jonas take his first steps! "I would like to see my child walking normally like other children," shares Jonas's mother.

At one-month-old, Ana is the youngest of eight children. Her father works as a laborer harvesting coffee in their native Guatemala, and “does not make enough money to even buy basic foods for his family, let alone expensive infant formula,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). Ana's mother cannot produce breastmilk, and because the family is unable to afford formula, Ana is now acutely malnourished. "Her life is in danger if she does not receive formula," explains WK. Ana’s hunger causes her to cry frequently, and she frequently has diarrhea, a common symptom of malnutrition. “In the long term,” WK explains, “she could face permanent brain damage, have developmental delays, and have stunted growth if she does not receive treatment.” For $1016, we can fund a multi-pronged treatment plan that will restore her health. “Ana’s mother will receive deliveries of formula every week for a year, and will have in-home motivational nutrition classes to teach her about what Ana needs to be healthy,” WK reports. “This treatment will help Ana grow, strengthen her immune system, and help her avoid life-threatening seizures and diarrhea.” Ana’s mother is optimistic about Ana’s future. “Now that we can receive your help, we are sure that our daughter will be able to grow healthy. We hope that she will be a very intelligent girl and will become a professional."

Edgar, a 41-year-old father from Guatemala, is the sole provider for his wife and three young daughters. "Edgar had a basketball-sized tumor on his liver which was removed in 2007," explains our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Although the surgery was extremely successful--they were able to remove 95% of the tumor--he needs chemotherapy to ensure that the 5% that is left is shrunken and does not return again." Edgar has been struggling to support his family with his current health condition. $1,430 in funding will supply Edgar with the chemotherapy treatment he needs. "Treatment will allow Edgar to finally enter remission and reduce the chance that his tumor will return a third time," explains WK. "This will give him a greater chance of being able to work and support his family, which would ensure that his daughters can continue school." "I just want to be there for my family, to provide for them," Edgar shares.

Tariku is a ten-month-old little boy from Ethiopia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), introduces Tariku: “Tariku is very active and loves to play and laugh with his parents. He is a beautiful baby. Unfortunately, Tariku was born with an anorectal malformation. An anorectal malformation is a congenital birth defect in which the rectum develops abnormally, making bowel movements difficult and often putting the patient at risk for spinal or heart complications as well. Depending on the severity of the malformation, emergency colostomies are sometimes necessary to avoid a bowel obstruction. This was the case with Tariku, who received his colostomy bag at just three days old. Since then he has been unable to independently pass stool, and is likely to undergo further colostomy complications such as leakages, infections, or obstruction if his condition is not addressed. Furthermore, Ethiopia, Tariku’s home, is located in a region whose weather patterns are significantly affected by El Niño; the country is currently experiencing its worst drought in 50 years. Tariku’s family is one of the many who are having difficulty harvesting crops during the drought. Subsequently, with already limited finances, they are unable to afford further treatment for Tariku. “His father and I don’t have the money to cover our son’s expenses,” Tariku’s mother shares. “I hope I will see my baby’s condition treated and see him be healthy.” Tariku needs a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty to surgically reposition his rectum and anus and allow for regular bowel movements. While Tariku recovers from the anorectoplasty, another colostomy opening will be created. Then, two to three months later a colostomy closure will be done to complete the process. With $1,500, this will be possible for Tariku. The funds will also include his antibiotics, imaging, and inpatient stay. After his recovery, Tariku is expected to be able to independently pass stool and live a normal and healthy childhood.

13-year-old Bunneng is a student in Cambodia who enjoys reading books, watching TV, and listening to music. Bunneng was born with congenital bilateral patella dislocation, where both of his knee joints did not develop properly. "In September 2014 he had surgery on his left leg to repair the congenital dislocation," reports our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). He later visited some private clinics closer to his home, but could not afford treatment for his right leg at these centers. Since his right leg was not properly fixed, Bunneng is still unable to walk very well. He has travelled three hours with his mother to reach CSC for medical treatment. Bunneng needs $392 to fund a joint stabilization procedure where doctors will surgically stabilize his right knee joint so that he will be able to walk again. Bunneng is very excited for his surgery so that he can return to life as a student. "When I am healed I want to go back home and return to school," Bunneng shares. "After surgery I hope I can walk properly again."

Ivan is a two-year-old boy, and the son of subsistence farmers in Uganda. He currently lives with severe malnutrition. Ivan lives with his parents and newborn sister, who is only three weeks old. His parents grow millet, sweet potatoes, cassava and ground nuts. Ivan’s favorite food is bread, and he loves to sing along to music on the radio. Last year, Uganda went through an unusual harvest season, with a prolonged dry season followed by torrential downpour. The result was the widespread destruction of crops. Ivan’s family is one of many families who are feeling the strain of low crop yield and the associated malnutrition. Ivan has common symptoms of malnutrition, such as skin lesions, edema, and diarrhea. There is also an increased risk of stunting and cognitive impairment if he does not receive the nutrition needed. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, tells us that for $375 Ivan will receive IV fluids with therapeutic nutrition for 10 days, which is enough for Ivan to return to normal development and investigate for other causes of his symptoms. Ivan's mother will also receive nutritional education to give her the confidence she needs to provide her children with the nutrition they need on their budget and with the foods they have available. The treatment will help Ivan overcome these obstacles to development, and help him reach his full mental and physical potential. “I was worried about the hospital bills so I thank you very much," Ivan's mother shares. "May God bless you.”

Saruni is a one-month-old baby boy, born just this last January in Tanzania. His mother is a homemaker, and his father is a livestock keeper. Two of his siblings attend school, and his parents hope he will one day as well. At birth, Saruni was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot. Without intervention, he will be forced to walk on the sides of his feet. His gait and ability to walk will be impacted long-term. However, with clubfoot surgery, which will cost $1,160, Saruni will be able to run, play, and walk pain-free. This cost includes all post-operative care and medication. Saruni's mother states: “I hope that my baby’s feet can be straightened so that when he starts to walk he can walk like other children."

Grace is a four-month-old baby girl who lives with her parents and great-grandmother in a single-room house in Kenya. In October 2015, at only two weeks old, Grace underwent surgery to treat spina bifida, a birth defect characterized by the incomplete closure of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. “She was treated successfully and recovered from the surgery,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “Two months later, Grace’s parents noticed that her head was increasing in size much faster than the rest of her body,” AMHF continues. They returned to the hospital, where Grace was diagnosed with acquired hydrocephalus, an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. “Grace is at a risk of brain stem compression due to the increased pressure from the excessive fluid in her head,” AMHF explains. To drain the excess fluid, Grace needs a shunt placed in her brain to divert the fluid to her abdomen, where it can be resorbed by her body. Grace’s mother is a small-scale farmer, and her father is a tractor driver who works on a casual basis. “My husband’s small income is mostly spent on taking care of our grandmother,” shares Grace’s mother. “We are therefore not able to raise funds towards Grace’s surgery.” For $615, Grace will undergo surgery and spend five days in the hospital as she recovers. Funding also covers the costs of imaging, blood work, and medicine. “Grace’s surgery will help regulate her intracranial pressure and prevent brain stem compression that can result in death,” predicts AMHF. Let’s help fund surgery for baby Grace!