Alismendy is an adorable five-year-old preschooler from Haiti. He loves to play with toy cars and paint. Alismendy lives with his mother and father in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His father works and his mother is the primary caregiver for the family. Alismendy has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, where a hole exists between two large blood vessels near his heart. This causes blood to leak through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. The surgery that Alismendy needs is not available within Haiti, so he will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 4th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a device attached to the tip of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life New York, is contributing $5,000 to support his surgery. Alismendy's family also needs help to fund the costs to prepare him for surgery and provide follow-up care. The $1,500 bill covers laboratory tests, medicines, check-ups, and follow-up visits. It also supports obtaining a passport for him and the social workers from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Alismendy's family overseas. Alismendy's mother says, "Our family has been hoping for this surgery ever since our son was diagnosed three years ago. We are so glad that the time has finally arrived."

Sarah is the third born in a family of four and in third grade. Her mother is a homemaker, and her father is a herder. Sarah comes from a humble background and hails from a community where disability is viewed as a curse. She was born with a condition known as left clubfoot deformity, which has seriously affected her mobility because she walks on tiptoe, often falls, cannot put on her left shoe and suffers from low self-esteem. Sarah is in the hospital undergoing serial casting to prepare her left foot for surgery. The treatment will make it possible for her to wear shoes and walk comfortably and confidently. Her pain will be relieved, and she will be able to continue with her education with her peers. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to fund Sarah's surgery. Her grandmother said, “I am looking forward to seeing my granddaughter walking normally like other children.”

Millicent is a 49-year-old businesswoman from Kenya. She came to the hospital accompanied by her daughter. Millicent resides in Nyathuna in Kiambu County. She is married and a mother of 3 children. Apart from her kids, Millicent takes care of 4 other children who were left orphaned by her sister when she died. Millicent manages a small business where she sells green groceries near her home. Her husband has been sick, which makes the family very financially vulnerable. For seven years, Millicent has been experiencing heavy bleeding and other symptoms. She has been to many health facilities and has taken medicines many times with no solution. Eventually, she went to visit our medical partner's care center Nazareth Hospital for a gynecology review. Now she has been diagnosed with multiple fibroids. If not treated, Millicent will continue to suffer as the fibroids grow. She may have complications like anemia, and they may become cancerous. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $755 to fund Millicent's surgery. On November 22nd, she is scheduled to undergo treatment and once recovered, Millicent can resume her daily activities free of pain. "For the last seven years, life has been tough for me, with my problem and the family looking up to me for their needs. I am pleading for help so that I can regain my normal life and be able to take care of my family," said Millicent.