Meet Magdaline, a one-year-old from Kenya. Magdaline has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in her skull. As a result, she cannot sit unaided. If she does not receive surgery, she is likely to develop brain damage and pass away. Magdaline's father is a laborer, while her mother is a housewife. They fully depend on the income that the father earns from the casual jobs he does from time to time. Unfortunately, they are unable to raise funds for Magdaline’s surgery. Magdaline’s mother is hopeful that her child will get help and be able to live a healthy life. She says, “I look forward to seeing my daughter growing up and living a healthy and normal life.” This is a hope we can fulfill. For $980, a surgical procedure can be performed that will drain the excess fluids from Magdaline's head, relieve her symptoms, and help her grow up normally. Let's do it!

Amon is a Kenyan high school student who, for months, has suffered from headaches, dizziness, and problems with coordination. Recently, Amon was diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous malformation, a brain condition that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Doctors at Kijabe hospital tell us that the most likely curative treatment for Amon's condition is a craniotomy. During the procedure, surgeons will temporarily remove part of Amon's skull, resect the abnormal vessels, and set his brain up to function normally. Amon is the fourth of five children. He lives with his parents and siblings in a small village in central Kenya. Amon’s father works as a driver at a coffee farm near their home town and his mother stays home to take care of the children. Amon says he admires his older cousin, and "hopes to be a policeman when he finishes school." This surgery will help make that possible.

Johnson is a 2-month-old baby boy who was born with esophageal atresia, a disorder of the digestive system which causes his esophagus (feeding tube) not to extend all the way to his stomach like it's supposed to. Instead, Johnson's esophagus opens into his windpipe. He can't eat without food particles ending up in his lungs and causing pneumonia. Johnson cannot live with this condition. Right now, he is feeding through a tube in his stomach. He needs tracheoesophageal fistula surgery to repair his esophagus and close it off from his trachea and lungs, enabling him to eat and breathe normally. A staff member at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center in Tanzania, where Johnson is hospitalized, says, "Johnson's mother, Anna, simply hopes that her infant son will live. He is 2 months old and fighting for his life. The father works as a mason and Anna is a housewife, so they don't have enough money for the surgery." ALMC is the only medical center in the region with a surgeon capable of performing the operation Johnson needs to survive. It will take $1000 to cover the cost of Johnson's treatment, which will be life-saving. Let's help Johnson get access to the medical care he needs to live.

Grace is 28 and pregnant with her fourth child. She and her husband are saving and preparing for the birth as best they can, but Grace is nervous. She told Lwala “I am worried that when the labor happens, it will happen too fast before I can make it to hospital.” Only 44% of births in Kenya are attended by a skilled health professional even though medical care can avoid and treat many of the risks associated with maternal mortality and morbidity. Lwala Community Alliance and their maternal health program want this to change. They provide maternal care and community education services for women like Grace. Grace is hoping, “to deliver a baby well without any problems.” The $215 can help with that. Grace will receive essential pre- and post-natal care and will be able to deliver her baby in a hospital. Let’s give Grace and her baby the gift of healthcare.

Foster and his mother traveled 100 miles to seek medical care for his left hand, which was badly burned in an accident. As a result of the injury, three of Foster’s fingers have contracted, a phenomenon that occurs when skin has been so severely damaged by second or third degree burns that it begins to pull tightly together and restrict movement in the affected area. If left untreated, Foster's condition will render his hand useless for the rest of his life. Foster was identified during an outreach project of Watsi’s Medical Partner, CURE International. The doctors who evaluated him say they are confident that with surgery, they can release his contractures and restore mobility to his fingers. They told Foster’s mother to bring him back to CURE’s main hospital, which she faithfully did. Now, a simple surgery is all that stands between Foster and a fully functional hand. $1000 will completely cover the cost of Foster’s medical care. His parents work on a small farm to support their family, but they never saw this accident coming. They live in a community where the average person makes $1.75 a day, so paying for Foster’s treatment themselves is absolutely impossible.

Sisay is a bright boy who should be starting the first grade, but is being held back by a congenital condition that makes it impossible for him to walk. Sisay was born with a serious case of club foot, a deformity that occurs when the tarsal bones in the feet fail to separate, and the ligaments in the feet are too short to allow for normal movement. As a result, Sisay’s feet are twisted inward in such a tight, stiff position that they cannot be placed flat on the ground for walking. Club foot is treatable with surgery, but Sisay’s parents are farmers for whom the $1000 price tag for the procedure is unimaginable. They want their son to go to school, make friends, and have a chance at a normal and productive life, but they are stopped in their tracks by the cost of the medical care required to make that happen for him. Sisay loves playing with his brothers, and doctors at CURE describe him as “a happy child” despite his condition. We hope to cover the cost of his care so he can live a healthy life.

Samuel is a little boy who his doctors describe as “a bit shy but full of life.” He lives with his parents and his grandmother in a small village. Samuel’s family has big dreams for him. None of them were able to study past primary school due to lack of finances, so they talk nonstop about one day seeing Samuel in a graduation gown. Samuel is just about at the age where he should be starting school, but an injury threatens to stand in his way. Three years ago, when he was less than a year old, Samuel dipped his hand in a pot of boiling water and suffered severe burns. Since then, Samuel has developed scar contractures, which have resulted in the dislocation of his finger joints. He is now unable to use his right hand. Without treatment, it will be difficult for Samuel to do everyday tasks, including write in school. The surgery Samuel needs to repair his hand costs $1,050. His parents work hard to provide their son with the basic things he needs to live a happy life, but it would take them years to make enough money to pay for this specialized treatment. We hope to raise the money needed to enable African Mission Healthcare Foundation to cover the cost of his care and allow Samuel to thrive.