Meet eight-year-old Komuhangi, a third grade student who lives in Uganda with her single mother. She loves flowers, and her favorite subject in school is English. She dreams of one day becoming a nurse so that she can help people. Komuhangi has an umbilical hernia--causing a loop of her intestines to abnormally protrude in her abdomen. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains, "After birth, Komuhangi's umbilical cord took long to heal. The belly button was bigger than normal but her mother thought it was ok." A year ago, Komuhangi began experiencing on and off again abdominal pain. Sometimes the pain was so severe that she was even unable to eat her meals. Komuhangi also developed painless umbilical swelling. Komuhangi’s condition puts her at risk of further health complications. "If not treated, Komuhangi is at a high risk of getting intestinal obstruction." Komuhangi’s mother works as a store assistant at the hospital and "is unable to fund her daughter's surgery because her salary is their sole source of income and it cannot cover all their needs." For $220, doctors will perform surgery to treat her umbilical hernia. This operation will reposition the displaced loop of Komuhangi's intestine and repair the damaged section of her abdominal wall. By closing off the site of the defect, Komuhangi will be pain-free and without risk of obstruction. AMHF states that after her recovery, “Komuhangi will be able to concentrate on her studies and hopefully achieve her dreams." "Thank you for the help," Komuhangi says. "I wish I could see you and give you flowers."

Tracy is an 18-month-old baby girl from Uganda, where she lives with both of her parents. A year ago, Tracy’s father developed a disability that prevents him from working, leaving the family dependent on her mother’s income as a subsistence farmer. “Tracy has acute malnutrition, diarrhea, and has not yet fully developed,” our medical partner, the Kellermann Foundation, tells us. Poor nutrition has pushed back Tracy’s development during a crucial time in her life--at 18 months, she has not yet started to walk as most healthy children do. If untreated, malnutrition will continue to diminish Tracy’s immune system, making her susceptible to illness. She will also continue to miss mental and physical developmental milestones. With her father out of work and her mother supporting the whole family, Tracy’s family cannot save to afford the treatment. For $375, Tracy will receive treatment for acute malnutrition. Doctors and nutritionists will work together to provide Tracy the appropriate antibiotics to help cure her infection and diarrhea. She will also be provided with micronutrient support and food supplements to help her meet her nutritional needs. With our support and the help of the doctors and nutritionists, Tracy will begin to hit major developmental milestones at the same rate as other children. She will also benefit from having a stronger immune system, improved energy, and better focus--giving her the opportunity to to reach her full potential. Tracy’s parents are eager to see their baby begin to thrive. “Seeing my child healthy again will be like I have just been born,” her mother shares. “I lost my other baby and am so praying for Tracy to recover.”

The only child of his family, two-year-old Charles lives with his mother in Kenya. As a single parent, Charles’ mother works hard to support him by washing clothes for families in their community. Due to a neurological condition called hydrocephalus, Charles faces the possibility of experiencing developmental delays, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) reports. Hydrocephalus results when part of the brain becomes blocked and causes fluid to build up. When this occurs, the brain swells and the head increases in size. AMHF explains that Charles’ condition leads to frequent headaches and irritability. According to AMHF, Charles first showed signs of hydrocephalus at seven months old. Unsure what to do, Charles’ mother eventually sought medical help and was informed that surgical intervention was necessary to allow Charles to lead a healthy childhood. With $600, Charles will receive surgery to treat his hydrocephalus and provide him the opportunity to grow normally. Using a widely practiced shunt procedure, the excess fluid in Charles’ brain will be drained out. In addition to surgery, the total cost of this operation includes five days of intensive hospital care as well as all of the necessary laboratory tests to closely monitor Charles’ recovery. AMHF states, “Charles’ surgery will help eliminate the pressure impact on his brain, and allow him live quality life.” “I feel helpless when I hear my two-year-old son crying and screaming ‘Mama, Mama’ holding his head. His pain because of his headache resonates in my mind. Please help him get treated,” shares Charles’ mother.