Esuphat is an 11-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She was born into a large family of eleven children. Her father has two wives, and Esuphat lives with her mother alongside her brother and sister. Her family belongs to a pastoral community where livestock keeping is the main source of income. Esuphat's father is well known in the area for raising and grazing cattle, sheep, and goats to support his large household. Esuphat has clubfoot on both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, which may make it difficult for her to walk properly as she grows. Without treatment, it will be a challenge for her to wear shoes, participate in daily activities, and eventually walk the long distances often required to attend school. Doctors have recommended treatment through a series of gentle manipulations and casts, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) until the age of five. On June 19th, Esuphat will start clubfoot treatment, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Esuphat's care. After treatment, the position of her feet will be corrected, giving her the best chance of walking comfortably, wearing regular shoes, and living an active and independent life. Esuphat's mother says, "I want what is best for my daughter, and for now her treatment is the first priority."

Aitana is a young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom and her dad, who have a small convenience store. Aitana has a twin sister and an older brother; they live in the northern part of Bolivia. Where they live, there are no cardiologists. So, when her mom noticed that her heart was beating too fast, she took her to a different area where she found out she had a heart condition and needed surgery. Aitana has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, Aitana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Aitana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Aitana's mother shared, "We were looking forward to this day, I trust everything will go well, I pray for that."

Ashley is a four-year-old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and one younger sister in an agricultural village in central Haiti. Her parents both work as farmers and raise animals. Ashley likes listening to music on the radio and singing in church. Ashley has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Ashley will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole in her heart, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for the surgery. Ashley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Ashley's family overseas. Ashley's mother said: "We will be so happy when we can stop worrying so much about our daughter's health!"

Zoe is a seven-year-old student who lives in central Haiti with her parents and younger brother. Her mother supports the family as a vendor. Zoe is in the second grade and likes arts and crafts. Zoe was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak through the hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen. This leaves her weak and short of breath and puts her at risk of heart failure in the future. Zoe needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 24th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is paying for the surgery, but Zoe’s family also needs help with the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Zoe's family overseas. Zoe’s mother shares, “Our family is so happy that Zoe was finally chosen for surgery; we have been waiting since she was a very small child!”

Brighton is a one-month-old baby boy, the first born child in his family from Tanzania. Brighton's birth brought immense joy and hope to his parents. His mother works as a primary school teacher, while his father is a small-scale businessman, both committed to providing a bright future for their son. Shortly after birth, Brighton was diagnosed with clubfoot on both feet, a condition where feet to bend inward, affecting normal positioning. Although the diagnosis was concerning, his parents remained hopeful and determined to seek early treatment to ensure their son grows up healthy and active. Fortunately, Brighton's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. There, doctors will begin clubfoot treatment on April 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Brighton's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have a strong chance of growing up with the ability to walk, run, and participate fully in life without limitations. Brighton's mother says, "Our wish is to see him grow up, walk and play like other children."

Fatin is a nine-year-old student from Cambodia. She is a hardworking Grade 4 student from Kompong Cham Province who enjoys studying mathematics. She lives with her mother, who is a rice farmer, and her two siblings. Her father passed away five years ago. Her oldest sister is a university student, and her older brother is in the 9th grade. In her free time, she helps her mother with daily work and completes her homework. She dreams of becoming a nurse in the future and enjoys eating chicken soup. Fatin was born with polydactyly of both feet. This means that she has extra toes on both feet. This condition makes it difficult for her to wear shoes comfortably and has caused her to be teased by other children, affecting her confidence. Fortunately, on April 21st, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra toe. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will be able to wear shoes comfortably, walk more easily, and feel more confident in her daily life. Fatin's sister said, “After the surgery, I hope that my sister will no longer have difficulty wearing shoes and will feel more confident.”

Fozan is a beautiful four-year-old boy with a bright smile from Ethiopia. He loves playing football, solving puzzles, and singing children’s songs. He also enjoys spending time playing with his older brother. Fozan is the second child in his family. His mother is a housewife, and his father works as a taxi driver. The family lives in a rented house and works hard to provide for their children. The condition came to the family’s attention when Fozan’s aunt took her own baby to a clinic for a procedure. During the visit, the doctor discovered that her baby had an undescended testicle and explained the condition to the family. After learning about this, Fozan’s aunt informed her brother. When Fozan’s father checked his son, he noticed that one side of Fozan’s scrotum appeared empty and immediately took him to a clinic. The doctor explained that surgery was needed at an early age, which made the family feel anxious and worried about the condition, and the doctor referred them to another hospital for further evaluation and treatment. At the referral Hospital, doctors confirmed the need for surgery. Fozan was placed on a waiting list, and the family waited anxiously for three months. Later, when Fozan’s father returned to check on the waiting list, the hospital staff informed him that they had tried to contact the family but could not reach them by phone. They also told him that Fozan had been referred to Bethany Kids for treatment. Soon after, Fozan and his father visited our facility, where Fozan was carefully examined. Fozan was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Fozan has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Fozan will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 13th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Fozan’s father conveyed his gratitude, stating, "I am truly delighted with the service and hope the surgery will be successful. I am excited, especially when the doctor told me that my child's surgery will be performed laparoscopically."