"Abdirizak is his mother's first baby," our partner, Edna Adan Hospital (EAH), tells us. "She is a home maker and his father does odd jobs." Abdirizak has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the skull, and spina bifida, in which the spinal cord is not fully formed and developed. Because of the spina bifida, Abdirizak has paralysis in his legs. “Unfortunately the paralysis is not reversible and Abdirizak will be paralyzed his entire life,” EAH explains, “But removing the lesion will decrease his risk of dying from sepsis through an infection in the lesion." "His mother is looking forward to the lesion being removed from Abdirizak's back," his doctors add. Abdirizak’s mother has received educational information about his condition and has been given access to a disability outreach program that will help her provide care for her son. “She has also been commenced on folic acid to decrease the likelihood of having children being born with spina bifida in the future.” For $1,118, we can fund Abdirizak's treatment to remove his lesion and reduce his chances of infection.

Little Jaymar was born with a condition that prevents him from passing stool normally. This rare malformation has made it impossible for him to live a normal life. It affects his health, education, and social interactions, to the point where this eight-year-old and his family are hoping for any solution. Jaymar lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is a farmer who works hard to support their family, but the surgery Jaymar needs to live a healthy life costs more than 10 times what the family lives on per month. For $985, we can help Jaymar receive a colostomy closure that will completely cure his condition. Jaymar says he is very excited that after the operation, he will be like the other children when he returns to school. "We are so grateful that there’s an organization like you that helps us, because we can’t really afford the surgery," his parents say. "We will not forget this for the rest of our lives."

Ganga Kumari is seven and loves to dance! She lives in Nepal with her mother and six siblings. She is currently in first grade and proudly reports that English is her best subject. Her mother is a farmer and herds animals, while her father works in India to earn more for the family. When Ganga Kumari was one and a half years old, she fell on a hot pot of oil and sustained severe burns on her back and thighs. To prevent lifelong disfigurement, Ganga Kumari needs plastic surgery that will cost $1,415. Let's help Ganga Kumari to pursue her education without the stigma and limited mobility that she currently faces.