Meet three-year-old Paulo! He loves to be active and play games, but his club foot makes that difficult for him. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, writes, “Paulo limps when he walks because of the congenital deformity of his left foot. If not treated, Paulo will have an increased chance of developing early osteoarthritis.” With $1,160, Paulo will undergo a combination of casting and surgery to re-align his foot and ankle joint. “We very much want Paulo to be able to walk properly like his siblings. He will then be able to walk long distance to school and do other activities without problems,” says Paulo’s mother. Let’s help make this a reality for Paulo!

Meet Stephania, a three-year-old who can light up any room with her big brown eyes. She lives in Tanzania with her parents, older sister, and her favorite teddy bear which she carries around everywhere and even sleeps with—they're inseparable! Her parents work hard to care for their family, especially for their youngest daughter. Her mother says, "It was a bit difficult for my husband to accept Stephania because he badly wanted to have a baby boy after getting a baby girl," but she explains that "as time went by he has come to love her so much." Stephania has Hirschsprung's disease, a condition that causes her to have constant stomachaches and makes passing stool without the help of bowel irrigation impossible. Her mother, a hotel waitress, and her father, a sales clerk at an electronics store, have spent their savings taking Stephania to the hospital for years. Now, they are unable to afford her surgery. An abdominoperineal pull through and colostomy closure will cost $1,200 and allow Stephania to eat freely and have healthy bowel movements. Her mother says, "all we need is for our baby to be healthy, as happy as her sister, and be able to go to school.” Let's help Stephania get treatment so she can wear a big smile on her first day of school!

This is Lydia, a seven-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her younger sibling and two parents, who work hard to support their family. Lydia has a serious brain tumor. It places pressure onto her skull and has led to reduced vision and an inability to walk. Her doctors say the tumor will likely be fatal if left untreated. Lydia’s father says, “I can’t imagine what my daughter is going through. I pray that she will get treatment soon and be able to live a healthy life.” For $1,500, we can fund a craniotomy, a surgery which will relieve Lydia’s intra-cranial pressure and significantly decrease her risk of death. Lydia’s father says that he “prays we will able to get her the support she needs for this surgery.” Let’s answer this hopeful father’s prayers and give his daughter back her health!

Abraham is 20-years-old and has been living with rheumatic heart disease his entire life. Ever since he was born in Thailand, Abraham has been constantly fatigued and at a loss for breath. He frequently experiences palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, and he faints when he stands up too quickly. Abraham is one of seven children and his siblings constantly worry about his wellbeing, but none of them can afford to help Abraham with his medical bills. Recently, Abraham had to leave his job as a construction worker because his dizziness was too severe for him to carry out his duties. For $1500, Abraham will receive mitral valve repair. This surgery will allow Abraham to recover and lead an independent life, free from the worry of fainting or monthly checkups at the clinic. Although he will not be able to return to construction, Abraham says "as long as I have my health I will be happy."

Wilna is a seven-year-old girl living in Haiti. She was born with a cleft lip, which prevents her from eating normally and has resulted in malnourishment. Wilna is supported by a large and loving family -- her mother, father, and four siblings all hope for her to get healthy soon. However, her parents' only means of support is a small vegetable farm at home. They can not afford the surgery, and Wilna’s mother is worried for her daughter. Wilna has not been going to school because of her cleft lip. She says she is scared because she is often laughed at. Her father can not wait to see her return to school. $960 will pay for a plastic surgery procedure to repair Wilna’s cleft lip and allow her to eat normally. Let's chip in so Wilna can live a normal life, starting with school!

Say hello to Kettelene from Haiti! Kettelene is eight years old and lives in the countryside with her mother and six siblings. She's an optimistic girl who loves her family and going to school. More recently, though, going to school has become less fun, as the other students are starting to notice her cleft lip. Her mother says that the other kids call her “crab lady” and that she struggles socially. Kettelene’s mother works in a market and does not make enough money to support her family of seven while also paying for the specialized medical care her daughter needs. She has managed to get Kettelene to a hospital but cannot afford the surgery. If we can raise $960, doctors at our institutional partner, Project Medishare, will perform surgery to fix Kettelene’s cleft lip. Let's help Kettelene have the happy childhood and bright future she deserves.

This little guy is Brian. His father passed away shortly after his birth, leaving his mother, a small-scale farmer, to support their family of seven on her own. Brian is braving a condition called hydrocephalus, the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles. This causes his head to enlarge because of increased intracranial pressure. If Brian does not receive treatment, he is likely to face brain damage and delayed milestones that no child or family wants to miss. For Brian's mother, the cost of a shunt incision surgery, $980, is beyond her reach, so your support will mean a lot to her. “It is my hope and desire to have my son treated as soon as possible. I’ll appreciate any support that comes for his surgery,” Brian's mom says. Together, we can help Brian get the surgery he needs so he can celebrate all his baby milestones and lead a healthy life.