Chrismaila is a six-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She lives in a mountain town with her parents and older brother. Her father works in construction, and her mother farms and takes care of the children. Chrismaila was born with Down syndrome and a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular canal defect. A hole exists in the center of her heart, affecting all four chambers and allowing blood to leak between them. This prevents her body from obtaining enough oxygen and leaves her weak and unable to gain weight properly. Chrismaila needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On November 12th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will use patches to close the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing $7,000 to pay for the surgery. Chrismaila's family also needs help to fund costs related to the 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 Chrismaila's family overseas. Chrismaila's mother shared, "Our family is praying that after this surgery, our daughter will be able to gain weight and have more strength and energy."

Francis is a 49-year-old married man with 4 children from Malawi. He orders raw cassava from farms and sells it in town. However, due to his health, he is unable to work. Eleven years ago, Francis noticed a swelling in a sensitive part of his body. The swelling would be intense and cause pain and discomfort, affecting his ability to work and perform daily tasks. He was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia is a condition where tissue, such as part of the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the protruding intestine and can be life-threatening. Surgery is the only recommended treatment. Fortunately, on July 1st, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Francis's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Francis shared, "I am afraid of losing my life; the swelling terrifies me; I need your support to help me get better again, for me to resume my business and continue supporting my family."

For sixteen years, 50-year-old Zione has suffered from uncomfortable gynecological symptoms that have affected her quality of life and overall health. "The pain is too much for me," Zione said. "So I don't sleep and don't have the peace of mind I used to have before." Her worsening condition has required her family to miss work to care for her, impacting the family's already modest earnings. For years, she sought a diagnosis and treatment but was unable to get the help she needed. Recently, Zione was reviewed at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center and was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy. Zione and her husband’s combined income, from her work as a small-scale farmer and his work as a welder, is not enough to cover the cost of her surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Zione's surgery on October 2nd. After the treatment, Zione will finally have relief after years of pain, missed sleep, unsuccessful treatments, and interruptions to her life and work.