Georgeline is a baby from Kenya. She was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Georgeline is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Georgeline's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 26. This procedure will hopefully spare Georgeline from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory.

“I would love to get well and go back to work,” shares Walter, a 50-year-old widower from Kenya who fractured his left upper and lower leg in a motorcycle accident last fall. “Before the accident, Walter had been a casual laborer, moving from one homestead to another in search of casual labor for sustenance,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Since the accident, he has been unable to work on people’s farms due to his painful leg. With no income and no contact with his two daughters, Walter has had to rely on friends for financial support. “He has no place to call home, he owns nothing, and relies on [a friend] for his upkeep.” Walter needs surgery—open reduction and internal fixation—to reposition and set the broken bones of his upper and lower left leg and enable proper healing. Without treatment, “the pain will persist and there [is a risk of a] bone infection in Walter's leg,” explains AMHF. $1,410 pays for the surgery that Walter needs. Funding also covers the cost of seven days of hospital care, including imaging, blood tests, pain medicine and antibiotics, and physical therapy. “It is expected that after the treatment, Walter will have easy mobility and will be relieved of the pain,” says AMHF. “He will be able to work and earn a living.” Walter looks forward to a successful operation. “I will improve my life and help others as I have been assisted,” he said.

This adorable young girl is Khariya, a one-year-old from Somalia. Khariya's mother works as a homemaker, and her father works odd jobs to support their three children. Khariya was born with hydrocephalus - a buildup of fluid in the skull that causes brain inflammation."She has not been able to reach her milestones like other children her age," says our medical partner, Edna Adan Hospital (EAH). Khariya's family travelled to our medical partner from their hometown in hopes of finding treatment. Fortunately, for $640, EAH can treat Khariya's hydrocephalus and help to ensure that she develops and reaches milestones normally. The surgery will also result in a decreased head size. Khariya's family is hopeful that the surgery will be a success -- let's help make it happen!

This is Venence. He's two-years-old, lives in Tanzania, and is the first-born child to his father and mother. Venence's dad is an electrician and his mother is a homemaker. Recently Venence burned himself with a pot of hot water while trying to reach a window in his home. "He was rushed to the hospital and his wounds were treated," AMHF tells us. "After a long time the wounds healed, but he developed wrist, elbow and axilla contractures. He now struggles to use his arm." Clinicians have recommended a skin graft and contracture release surgery for Venence. The total cost, $870, is not something his family can cover at this time; this weighs heavily on them. “We just want Venence to be able to use his arm again," Venence's father says. Having two functional arms will allow him to be independent." Let's fund Venence's surgery, get him fully functional, and get him over this difficult period of time.