Meet noisy little Verneza from Kenya. At just one year old she already has a lot to say! Her father is a casual laborer, while her mother takes care of her and her two older siblings. Verneza was born with a gap in her spinal vertebrae, called spina bifida. If not treated, Verneza is likely to develop deformities in her back as she grows up. She also has an open mass on her back which is at risk of becoming infected. Verneza's father says, “All I pray for is for my daughter to be treated so that she can live a healthy and normal life.” Unfortunately, the family are barely making ends meet, and cannot afford surgical care for Verneza. Verneza needs $980 for an operation to close the gap in her vertebrae. This will help prevent infection and reduce the chances of her developing an abnormally shaped back as she grows up. Your donation will protect her from the risk of infection and give the the chance to grow up healthy. Let's make that possible for her!

Alfa is an active and spirited 14-year-old teen from Tanzania. He is the youngest of six, but no less inspired. Having completed the seventh grade, this guy is super excited to move on to his secondary education where he can continue taking his favorite science classes and play soccer! Alfa is limited to playing sports in short spurts and has pain and difficulty walking due to his right bowed leg (genu varus). This deformity additionally puts him at risk for developing early osteoarthritis if left untreated. With proper surgery, the alignment in Alfa’s leg can be corrected, relieving him of the pain and pressure to his joints. Alfa’s father is a pastor and his mother is a house wife who works hard to sell vegetables from their garden at the local market. Their combined income, however, is not enough to cover the $555 needed for his treatment. Alfa says, “My dream is to one day be a gospel singer. With a straight, pain free leg, I will be able to dance!” With our help, Alfa can dance his way into a pain-free, mobile life.

George is a six-week-old boy from Kenya. He was born with tethered cord syndrome, a condition in which the spinal cord is held taut at the bottom. As a result, he has a curved spine and skin abnormalities. If left untreated, George is likely to have bladder and bowel incontinence, back pain, and limited mobility. George is an only child. His mother is a single parent, and she depends on her parents for support. George's grandparents are small scale farmers and have not been able to raise funds for his surgical care. “All I want for my son is for him to get well soon,” George's mother says. With tethered cord release surgery, George's spinal cord will be able to move freely within the spinal column. Let’s welcome George into the world by giving him the opportunity to live a healthy, full life!

“I wish I could go to school like my friends" said Leah. "I want to learn how to read and write.” Say hello to Leah, a shy but friendly eight-year-old girl from Tanzania who loves to play hide and seek. Leah has varus of the left foot, also known as clubfoot. Because of the pain it causes, Leah has difficulty walking. If not treated, Leah will most likely develop early osteoarthritis with continued severe foot pain. Leah is the second youngest in a family of six children. Her parents are small-scale farmers, growing potatoes, beans, and maize, using the produce for income and personal consumption. In addition to providing for their immediate family, Leah’s parents care for relatives’ children, stretching their income very thin. For $715, Leah will receive a corrective surgery that will allow her to walk properly and keep her out of danger of developing early osteoarthritis. Let’s help Leah walk to school pain free and live a healthy life!

Simel is a five-year-old boy who lives in Kenya with his family. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Simel recently fell and fractured his right femur, or thigh bone, so he can't walk on his own and is in need of constant care. If the fracture goes untreated, Simel will be more susceptible to infection and other permanent complications. "I had started school before I fell. I want to get well and go back to school," says Simel. Doctors say a bone graft will help Simel's leg heal and help him do just that. The family used to own cattle but lost them in a drought. Simel's father passed away when he was a baby, and so Simel's mother relies on support from her in-laws. Simel's uncles have contributed $250, but this won't completely cover the cost of the bone graft as well as the medication and hospital stay which will be necessary for Simel's recovery. With $900 we can put Simel's family at ease and help this boy get the complete care which he needs for a happy, healthy life. Let's make it happen.

Say hello to six-day old Faith. She lives in Kenya and is her parents' first child. Faith's dad is a driver and her mom is a homemaker. Faith was born with a gap in her spine called spina bifida. If not treated, Faith is likely to develop a tethered cord, which leads to abnormal curvature of the spine. She also has an open mass on her back which is at risk of becoming infected. Faith’s father says, “It is so painful to see my firstborn child go through such a stressful condition. My wish is for her get treatment as soon as possible.” Faith needs $980 for an operation to close the cap in her vertebrae. This will help prevent infection and reduce the chances of her developing an abnormally-shaped back as she continues to develop. Let's take care of Faith and fund her operation.

Prashant is a newborn baby boy from Nepal. He is the first child in the family and his grandfather was excited to have a grandchild. His dad is the eldest in the family and works in India to support the family of six. His family also has a small plot of land that they cultivate. Prashant has omphalitis, an infection of the umbilical stump when he was born. His grandmother tried to treat the infection with honey and a local herb but the infection has since spread to his abdomen and scrotum. Prashant needs a wound debridement, dressing and antibiotics to properly treat the wound and infection. For $215 we can provide this for him, save his life, and allow him to be able to grow up as a normal, healthy child.