Benson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya. His mother shared that she first noticed a problem with his foot when he was almost two years old. At the time, she hoped he would eventually outgrow it and begin walking better, but the condition persisted. Determined to find help for her son, she took Benson to hospital. Benson has Equinus deformity, a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) is limited. This causes him to walk on his toes instead of placing his entire foot on the ground. The condition developed as a result of cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with. Over the last few years, Benson has attended physiotherapy sessions, surgery and has been fitted with corrective splints to realign his foot, but each time, the procedures did not achieve the expected results. His mother got increasingly worried about his health and future, until a friend informed her about specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. Benson is presently admitted at AIC CURE Hospital in preparation of his corrective surgery. The procedure represents a significant opportunity to improve his quality of life, as his condition has limited many of the activities and opportunities he would otherwise enjoy. He often experiences pain in his leg, especially during cold weather, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably. Benson's surgery has been scheduled for June 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 for the treatment that will provide Benson greater mobility, reduced pain, and the chance to pursue his dreams with renewed confidence and independence. He says: "I am looking forward to a quick healing so that I can continue with my regular life."

Wadley is a seven-year-old boy who lives with his parents and older brother in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His parents are both vendors. Wadley does not currently go to school due to his illness. He likes watching cartoons and listening to music. Wadley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle. A major artery connects to his heart at an abnormal location, preventing blood from circulating properly through his heart and body. This condition causes weakness and exhaustion and can lead to heart failure if untreated. Wadley needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 26th, he will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will detach the artery from his heart and reconnect it at the appropriate position. Another organization is paying for the surgery. But Wadley’s family also needs help to fund the costs of care before and after surgery. 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 Wadley's family overseas. Wadley’s mother shares, “Our family has been praying for this surgery to be possible for many years, and our prayers are finally being answered!”

Mateo is a toddler from Bolivia. He is his parents' first child. He lives with his mom, who is a homemaker, and his dad, who works distributing soda. When he was born prematurely at 30 weeks, Mateo had to be in an incubator where doctors detected his heart condition. Mateo has a cardiac condition called tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a combination of four heart conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Mateo does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 6th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow more normally. Mateo'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. Mateo's mother shared, "I'm grateful my child is going to receive his surgery so he can grow and be a healthy boy."

Pinieli is a five-month-old baby boy, and the fifth born child in his family. His parents rely on seasonal farming for the family's daily sustenance. Pinieli has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. His parents were worried when they noticed the unusual positioning of his foot at birth, especially as they were unfamiliar with the condition. If not treated early, the condition will cause difficulty in his mobility. Fortunately, Pinieli's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on April 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Pinieli's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have a high chance of walking normally and living an active, healthy life. Pinieli's mother says, "We were worried at first, but now we believe that with the right treatment, he will walk like other children."

Ana is a one-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who sells vegetables, her dad, who is a locksmith, and her twin sister. When Ana was born, her mom noticed that she couldn't gain weight, and she was always tired. Doctors soon discovered her heart condition and informed her mother that she needed surgery. Ana has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Ana was also born with a cleft lip and palate. After heart surgery, doctors can then proceed to repair her cleft. On May 6th, Ana 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 in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Ana'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. Ana's mother shared, "I pray this surgery goes well so my little daughter can feel better and have a happy life."

Yohannes is a cheerful and active young boy from Ethiopia. He loves visiting new places, playing with other children, and asking his mother many questions. He also enjoys watching cartoons and spending time with his friends. His father works as a taxi driver, while his mother is a homemaker who cares for the family. Yohannes's mother first noticed something unusual shortly after his birth. Doctors diagnosed him with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Yohannes is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 25th at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Yohannes’ mother: “I am very happy to come to BKMCM. I received good service, and I hope my baby will be in good condition after the surgery.”

Musa is a jovial and sociable 14-year-old boy from Narok County in Kenya. He is the last born in a family of seven, and is currently a Grade 7 student. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a small-scale farmer to provide for their family. Like many boys his age, Musa enjoys being active, but his biggest dream is to become an athlete in the future. However, Musa’s journey has not been easy. He was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition where the feet are twisted out of shape, which makes walking and running difficult. Because of this condition, Musa has often struggled with mobility, which has limited his ability to run and participate in sports like other children. Despite these challenges, Musa has not given up on his dreams. Musa is not new to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. He previously underwent surgery on his right foot, which is now corrected, greatly improving his mobility. Musa now needs corrective surgery on his left foot. Although resources are limited, Musa’s parents remain hopeful and supportive as their son continues his treatment journey. Musa was admitted to the hospital, and is currently undergoing serial casting in preparation for surgery on his left foot. Musa is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th at AIC CURE Hopsital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Musa's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, run freely, and continue with his studies without hindrance. Most importantly, it will bring him closer to chasing his dream of becoming an athlete and, perhaps one day, representing Kenya in international athletic events. Musa says: “I really looking forward to standing upright, walking well, and achieving my dream of becoming an athlete in the future."

Joshua is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania, the youngest of three children in his family. His parents rely on farming and livestock keeping for their livelihood, working hard each day to provide for their children. Joshua has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. The condition has affected Joshua's mobility and could limit his future independence if left untreated. Despite the challenges, his parents never lost hope. They believed that their son could be treated and patiently waited until he was old enough to begin care. When Joshua turned one year old, they started seeking treatment and traveled to a hospital where a corrective cast was placed. Fortunately, they met one of the former patients of our medical partner's care center, Kafika Hospital, who referred them for treatment support. Joshua requires multiple castings, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) for five years to ensure lasting correction and prevent recurrence of the condition. Joshua is scheduled to begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Joshua's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his mobility will significantly improve. Joshua’s father said, “We have always believed that Joshua can be treated. Our dream is to see him walk, run, and grow up without limitations.”

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!”

Dina is an 18-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Cham Province with his parents, who are rice farmers. He is the second of four siblings. His older brother is a construction worker, his sister works in a garment factory, and his youngest brother is just three years old. In his free time, he helps his family with farming work in the fields. Dina was born with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip and cleft palate. He underwent surgery for his cleft lip and palate, but there is still a gap in his gums that affects his eating, speaking, and the symmetry of his face. Dina needs surgery to close the gap. Fortunately, Dina visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further treatment. There, surgeons will perform an alveolar bone graft procedure on June 19th. This procedure will help close the gap and support proper eruption of the permanent teeth in the upper jaw. This will improve his ability to chew food more effectively, enhance speech clarity, and support better dental alignment. It will also improve facial appearance and help boost his self-confidence in social interactions and daily life. His family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $615 more to fund his procedure and care. Dina said, “I hope that with treatment, I will be able to improve my teeth and bite properly, speak more clearly, and smile with confidence without feeling shy about my appearance.”

Three-month-old Janna lives with her parents and older brother in Bolivia. Janna's mother is a homemaker, while her father works as a technician fixing cellphones. When she was born, Janna had very little appetite and was unable to gain weight, so her parents brought her to the hospital, where doctors discovered her heart condition. Janna has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On July 1st, Janna will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During the operation, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Janna's heart so that blood will no longer leak through it. Janna's family needs your help to fund the costs of her cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Janna's mother said, "I pray my little daughter has a healthy heart. She is so brave, and I want to be brave for her as well."

Neema is a two-month-old girl from Tanzania, the second-born child in her family. She lives with both her parents, who rely on farming to provide for their household. Her parents are grateful for their daughter and dream of seeing her grow into a healthy, active, and independent young girl. Neema has clubfoot on right foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual and this causes difficulty with mobility. To correct her foot and give her the best chance of a healthier future, Neema requires treatment through a series of manipulations and casts, followed by a tenotomy procedure. Afterward, she will need to wear a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) until the age of five to help maintain the correction and prevent the condition from recurring. Fortunately, Neema's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where doctors will begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to run, play with other children her age, and participate fully in daily activities. Neema's mother says, "I hope she will be able to play and participate in activities with other children, without me having to worry how she will be able to walk and run."