Enelo lives in a small town in southwestern Haiti with his mother and father; he is their first child. Shortly after birth, he was diagnosed with two holes in his heart: atrial septal defect, between the two upper chambers; and ventricular septal defect, between the two lower chambers. During surgery, doctors will use patches to close both of these holes so that his heart can pump blood normally.

Simon is a child from Kenya. He is the only child in the family. Simon was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Simon is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 4. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $676 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Upendo is a child from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of ten children. Upendo has bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Upendo traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 5. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Upendo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk normally. Upendo says, “We tried to treat our daughter but due to financial challenges we were unable to complete it. Please help our daughter.”

Zar Ni is a baby girl from Burma. She lives with her family in Myawaddy, Karen State. After birth, Zar Ni developed jaundice. Two days after they arrived home, her mother noticed that she was experiencing troubling symptoms. A doctor examined Zar Ni and sent her for an ultrasound. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. Doctors want Zar Ni to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Zar Ni's CT scan and care, scheduled for October 9. “I worry about my daughter. I want my daughter to get well soon. I want my daughter to be as healthy as her siblings and I want to send her to school to become an educated person one day,” says Zar Ni’s mother.

Born in Kenya, 10-month-old Brason began exhibiting rapid head growth when he was only a few months old. Brason has come with his mother to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), to be treated for hydrocephalus. In babies with hydrocephalus, fluid accumulates in the brain as a result of infection, trauma, genetic defect, or abnormal development of the brain or spinal cord. The effects of hydrocephalus are serious. “The increased intracranial pressure inside the skull may cause progressive enlargement of the head and potentially cause mental disability and tunnel vision,” explains AMHF. “If not treated, there will be continued obstruction of the cerebral spinal fluid flow, leading to brain damage.” Treatment for hydrocephalus involves insertion of a shunt to drain the excess fluid from the brain and transport it to the abdomen, where it can be resorbed by the body. “A shunt was inserted [into Brason's head] at a local clinic some miles from his place of residence,” AMHF tells us. “Even then, his head circumference continued increasing, and therefore, a shunt revision is required to help ease the pain the little champ is going through.” Brason’s mother earns money as a casual laborer doing farm work and laundry, but she cannot afford the additional procedure that her son needs. “I worry about how I can raise funds to enhance his treatment,” she shares. For $600, Brason will undergo shunt revision surgery. Funding also covers the costs of five days of hospital care, imaging, blood tests, and medicine. Brason’s mother is contributing $20 to help cover additional costs associated with his care. “Brason’s treatment will reduce the increased intra-cranial pressure on the brain, which could lead to death,” says AMHF. Brason’s mother looks forward to a successful operation for her son. “I am glad to have found a place where Brason can get treated,” she says.

"11-year-old Veronicah was born at home with a cystic mass on her back. To her mother it never occurred to be anything of concern. When Veronica, the third born in a family of four children, attained the age of four years, she walked with a little limp that caught the attention of many around her," says our medical partner in Kenya, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Friends advised her parents to seek for specialized treatment which they did, and later on advised to get a scan for her back. It took years but Veronica’s parents’ still could not raise the entire amount needed for the scan," AMHF continues. "Lucky enough, they were allowed a scan with the little they had raised from a hospital near their home. The scan was revealed that they would require more finances for Veronicah to have a surgery." The mass is a condition called spina bifida, and Veronicah is at a risk of getting infections on her exposed nerves. She is also at a risk of lower limbs paralysis. For $805, Veronicah will receive a spina bifida closure procedure. "Veronicah’s treatment will keep her from the risk of infections, and further loss of muscle function on her legs," AMHF says. “Lack of knowledge and finances is a terrible thing. I am afraid that my daughter will become disabled- that thought alone scares me but I am hopeful that she will be well,” says Veronicah’s mother. “Some schoolmates mimic my walking, but I know I will walk well one day," Veronicah adds.