This little bundle is newborn Swares. Swares and his family live in Kenya, where his father is a casual laborer and his mother stays home to care for their two children. Swares was born with occipital encephalocele, a birth defect occurring when bones in the skull do not develop properly. This has resulted in a mass of tissue forming on his head. Left untreated, Swares will likely develop hydrocephalus, a swelling in the brain that will impair his brain development. Surgery to repair the encephalocele costs more than Swares' parents have been able to raise. Throughout this time, that his mother describes as an uphill battle, she remains optimistic, and says, “I pray and hope that we’ll get support for my son's treatment soon.” Treatment for Swares condition costs $1,500, which includes the cost of surgery and other medical costs related to the procedure. The surgery will allow Swares to heal and grant him the opportunity to grow into a healthy boy. Let's help Swares defy the limitations of this condition!

Rangi is a 9-year-old girl from Nepal with rheumatic heart disease. She suffers from shortness of breath and heart palpitations, especially when walking or doing any other kind of activity. She needs surgery to correct her condition and enable her to live a normal, healthy life. Rangi lives with her parents, two brothers, and two sisters. She is very bright and was admitted into a good school just a few months ago, but had to stop attending because of her poor health. Her family farms for a living, but they do not make nearly enough money to pay for the medical care Rangi needs. Rangi loves to play with her friends when she is feeling well enough and can’t wait to get treatment so she can go back to living a normal life. Let’s make it happen for her!

Dudhakala is a 15-year-old girl from Nepal who needs surgery to treat rheumatic heart disease. For the last year, she’s battled worsening symptoms of her condition, including shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and severe tremors that prevent her from walking, playing, or living any kind of a normal life. If given the opportunity to have this surgery, Dudhakala’s whole life will change. Dudhakala has lived with her grandmother since she was 5 years old because her parents are not involved in her life. She loves school, studying Nepali stories, and playing [Kabaddi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GniFV8PtVhM) with her friends during her free time, but she’s had to limit her activity lately because of her worsening condition. Last month, Dudhakala stopped going to school because she is no longer able to make the 10 minute walk from her home. Her grandmother does the best she can to provide for Dudhakala, but she does not have nearly enough money to cover the cost of her treatment. Despite the challenges thrown her way, Dudhakala remains positive and hopeful about her future. She told her doctors that when she grows up she wants to become a teacher and take care of her grandmother. Let’s make sure a treatable heart condition doesn’t stand in the way of her ability to do it!