Nine-month-old Myson "has two very devoted parents," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "But he currently lives in an orphanage in Haiti due to his illness so that they can help keep him as healthy and stable as possible." Myson has three older brothers and sisters who like to visit him and play with him whenever they can. Myson currently suffers from a congenital heart disease called ventricular septal defect. "A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart," HCA tells us. "Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. If not corrected with surgery, the condition would eventually be fatal." $1,500 will fund overseas transportation and preparation for Myson's heart surgery. Health City Cayman Islands has already subsidized $5,000 of the treatment cost. "I am so happy that Myson can have surgery and I am praying that everything will go well," his mother shares.

Meet Djouvensley, a 4-year-old boy from Haiti. “He is an only child and is very close to his mother, and shy around people he doesn’t know,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “He hasn’t started preschool yet, in part because of his cardiac condition, but his mother plans to enroll him as soon as he has healed from surgery.” “Djouvensley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, a birth defect in which both major arteries flow out of the same chamber of the heart, creating circulatory problem,” reports HCA. “This leaves him weak and at risk of death if not corrected.” It is important that Djouvensley’s condition is treated as soon as possible. The treatment for double outlet right ventricle is surgery. Upon looking at the heart to decide the best course of treatment, surgeons will proceed to connect the aorta to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle. This will fix the circulatory problem and ensure blood flows through Djouvensley’s heart correctly. An organization called International Children’s Heart Foundation is helping with the costs of the surgery. With their generous subsidy, Djouvensley only needs our help in raising $1,500 for the surgery. After the surgery, doctors anticipate that Djouvensley will no longer experience any cardiac symptoms. He will be able to live a normal life and do the things he enjoys without complication. “We are so thankful to everyone who is helping my son,” shares Djouvensley’s mother. “I can never thank you enough but God will reward you.”

Meet Santiago, a one-month-old son of two loving parents in Guatemala. "Santiago is the light of his parents' life," says our medical partners at Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). One month ago when Santiago was born, his mother was bedridden due to complications during birth. During this time, Santiago's mother experienced lactation failure and could not produce any breast milk. "Santiago went three days without consuming anything other than water," says WK. Unable to afford infant formula, Santiago's family did what they could to try and help his mother produce breast milk. "She visited local traditional healers and midwives, and took various herbal remedies to boost her breast milk. Although these remedies helped her produce some milk, it was far below what Santiago needs to grow, " explains WK. Without access to nutritious maternal milk, Santiago is at risk of dehydration and starvation, which will quickly begin to impact his development. If he does not receive enough calories, he may not survive his first months of life. "I am just so afraid that my son is going to die from starvation," says Santiago's mother, "I know we need help--without it he can't grow." $1,220 covers the cost of a 12-month program that will provide Santiago with infant formula to supplement his mother's breast milk in order to replenish his calories and nutrition. This funding will also provide his mother with intensive counseling on how to properly prepare and mix infant formula, as well has one-on-one health education to prepare her for transitioning Santiago's diet to solid food and watching out for other signs of illness.

“I would do anything I could to see my baby healthy again,” says the mother of Youdelande, a nine-month-old girl who lives with her parents and siblings in Haiti. Youdelande’s mother brought her to our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), seeking treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. CSF is a clear fluid that is produced in the chambers, or ventricles, of the brain. In an infant, too much CSF can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head and developmental issues. “Three months [after her birth], Youdelande became sick when suddenly her head started getting abnormally large,” explains PM. “A CT scan has been performed, and the results reveal that Youdelande has excess fluid in the brain, and she needs surgical Intervention to save her life.” Doctors recommend surgical placement of a shunt in Youdelande’s brain to drain the excess CSF. The shunt is connected to a tube that runs under the skin and empties into an abdominal cavity, where the excess CSF is resorbed by the body. Youdelande’s father, who grows food to feed the family, and her mother, who works as a wash lady, have not been able to raise money to pay for the surgery that Youdelande needs. With $1,260 in funding, Youdelande can undergo surgery to place the shunt, receive five days of hospital care, and 40 days of physiotherapy. “After the treatment,” shares PM, “Youdelande will grow up in good shape.” Let’s help fund surgery for Youdelande!