Meet Mekeya, a two-year-old girl from Ethiopia. "Mekeya was born without an anal opening," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "She could not pass stool normally and had to pass stool through her vagina with great difficulty." Upon her diagnosis, Mekeya received a colostomy, which has worked somewhat as a temporary solution. However, she needs an anorectoplasty to fully correct the problem and allow her to pass stool normally. The surgery will cost $1500, and Mekeya's parents cannot afford the cost. "Mekeya's parents are farmers. They have spent all their money on health care diligently seeking for a cure for their daughter," says AMHF. "However, despite all their efforts Mekeya is not yet well. They are deeply worried that Mekeya is in real danger and they are completely unable to pay for this life saving surgery." After treatment, Mekeya is expected to make a full recovery. "Mekeya will be able to pass stool normally," says AMHF. "She will have a chance of growing up healthy and normally."

Meet Arebu, a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. Arebu has Hirschsprung disease -- a condition characterized by missing nerve cells in the large intestine. This essentially paralyzes part of the colon, which makes it very difficult to pass stool. “After suffering for several months at home, Arebu's family went to a hospital and a colostomy (a temporary stool passage hole in his tummy) was done for temporarily relieving the condition," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Arebu has been passing stool per colostomy but Arebu and his family are suffering from issues related to the colostomy. Arebu's family can not even send him to school while he is passing stool via a colostomy.” As a farmer, Arebu’s father does not make enough income to pay for his hospital bills. “The medical care that Arebu has received so far was free treatment at government hospitals and funded by different NGO’s,” notes AMHF. But we can help--for $1,500, we can fund a treatment that will remove the affected part of Arebu’s colon and help restore its functionality. “We expect after surgery, Arebu will be able to pass stool normally," shares AMHF. "Arebu will have a chance of attending school and getting a better life in future."

"In April 2014, Htwe began to feel fatigued and developed a cough," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Since then she has struggled to sleep horizontally, and has egg shaped mass on her neck that makes it difficult for her to breathe." Htwe is a hard working, 52-year-old mother from Burma. She is the sole caretaker of her five children, and also cares for her niece. One of her children is currently undergoing cardiac treatment. Htwe has developed a cluster of benign masses on her neck that interfere with her ability to sleep and breathe. $1500 will fund the removal of her masses, which have been diagnosed as benign. “Treatment will make her a better mother and provider to her children," shares BBP. "Without the stress of her condition she will be happier and can think about the future with less stress and worry.” "My kids need me. What will my kids and niece do without me? I need to get treatment for them,” Htwe adds.