Meet Esther, “a shy three-year-old girl” from Kenya. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “Esther is the second born in a family of two children and lives with her aged grandparents since her father abandoned them.” Esther has an anorectal malformation—a birth defect in which the anus and rectum do not develop properly. In other words, Esther lacks an anal opening, and thus cannot pass stool normally. She uses an artificial abdominal opening to pass stool—one that “is prone to infection and other complications.” AMHF continues, “If surgery is not done, Esther will never be able to pass stool normally and might develop severe infection.” For $1,260, we can fund a two-stage anorectal malformation surgery—involving both an anorectoplasty and colostomy. After the final procedure, in which a new anal opening will be created, Esther will be able to “relieve herself normally,” shares AMHF. “She will no longer be prone to infections and will be able to interact freely with other children.” Esther's grandmother expresses, “It has been sad to see Esther not interacting with her peers as much as she would like to because of her condition.” Let's help fund this treatment so that Esther can regain her health and live a normal childhood!

"Lexima is a motorbike taxi driver and father of four children," says our medical partner in Haiti, Project Medishare (PM). "He is 27 years old and used to go to school a couple years ago." Lexima stopped working and began caring for his children full-time with his wife. Recently, in the evening, Lexima was waiting for passengers in his motorbike when he was unexpectedly assaulted. "An unidentified person hit him on his head with a piece of steel bar," says PM. "He lost consciousness after that, but when he came to the hospital he received primary care and he is doing better now." Despite receiving initial care that evening, Lexima still lives with mandibular fracture. "This prevents him from speaking and eating well," says PM. He also feels a lot of pain in his jaw. He needs surgery to repair the fracture and fix his jaw. This repair will cost $1500. "Lexima is not making enough money to raise his children nor to pay for the surgery to fix his jaw," PM shares. Once treated, Lexima will be able to speak and eat without pain. Let's help make it happen!

"Fernando is a shy but very intelligent boy," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "He knows how to read and is starting to do math by himself." Five-year-old Fernando has a congenital heart disease called ventricular septal defect. "Fernando was born with a hole between the two ventricles (lower chambers) of his heart," says HCA. "Because of this hole, blood can flow back to his body without first obtaining oxygen from the lungs, leading to fatigue and heart failure." "He has not yet started kindergarten because of his illness," HCA continues. "But his family is eager to send him to school after his surgery. He would also like to learn how to speak English!" Health City Cayman Islands has contributed $7500 toward surgery that will close the hole in his heart, and $1500 will cover the remaining costs, which includes overseas transportation from Haiti. "We tried many, many hospitals who all told us it wasn't possible for him to have surgery," Fernando's mother shares. "But we kept praying and our prayers were answered!"

“This precious little baby is a joy in our lives and we pray that he will survive and live to become a hardworking, successful, and independent man,” shares Zakaria’s mother. Meet Zakaria, a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. Zakaria is the first-born and the only child to his parents, who work as a homemaker and a livestock keeper. After birth, Zakaria’s mother noticed that her son’s head was slowly increasing in size and a large area of the head was unusually soft. Zakaria was also experiencing a fever, vomiting, and low hemoglobin levels. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid builds up in the brain. Zakaria was immediately treated for his symptoms but now needs treatment for his hydrocephalus. This condition can cause loss of vision, brain damage, and even death if not treated. Zakaria needs a shunt incision, a surgery requiring more money than his parents have. “Zakaria’s head circumference will stop increasing and so will the intracranial pressure, preventing him from losing his vision and other bigger health complications,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, referring to the expected results of this surgery. Let’s raise $690 and support Zakaria and his parents during this time of need!