Judith is a 20-year-old expectant mother from Uganda. She is married, but is currently away from her husband while she takes care of her sick mother. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, describes Judith as a “cheerful young mother who hopes to go back to her husband after her mother gets better.” The Kellermann Foundation continues, “Judith likes making new friends and sings in a choir at her local church. In her free time, she likes to make mats, which she sells to earn money and uses in her own home for bedding.” Unfortunately, scans of Judith’s stomach have shown that her baby is folding its hand against its face and is in breech presentation: the baby is positioned to exit the pelvis feet or buttocks first as opposed to the usual head-first presentation. This malpresentation puts both Judith and her child’s lives at risk and her doctors say she will need a caesarean section to ensure a safe delivery. Judith’s treatment will cost $303, but because she has been spending most of her time with her ill mother, she has not been able to make enough mats to afford it. She is also working hard to provide food for her family, and is thus in very great need of financial support. “I look forward to holding and carrying my own baby. I would love to help my child go to school and become better off than I am,” Judith shares. “I want to thank everyone, the doctors and the good Samaritans, who are supporting our health care. May God bless you abundantly.”

Meet 19-year-old Po Po. She lives with her three sister and parents in Burma. To help keep the household running finanically, Po Po picks rice with her mom and dad. An encephalocele is a rare type of neural tube defect that occurs when an infant's neural tube fails to close all the way. It results in swelling that can affect the brain if left untreated. "When Po Po was born the encephalocele was present on her nose but it was only the size of a finger nail," Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. "Over the years, the encephalocele has grown. She has regularly experienced bouts of pain and fever that began and centered around her nose." "Over the last two years the mass has caused her left eye to constantly water, BBP writes. "She said her condition often affects her work. Whenever she looks down either to read or she is bent down when she is out in the field it cases her pain around her face and dizziness. In these situations she has to cease working and return home without pay." But by raising $1500 we can help. Po Po will receive reparative surgery to remove the mass. "Once Po Po receives treatment hopefully she will no longer suffer from pain around her nose, and in her eyes." "I want to be a single, independent lady, says Po Po. "I really enjoying sewing, so I would really like to be a seamstress and have my own business!" Let's make sure she gets there.