Sephora, a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome from Haiti, loves listening to music and drawing with crayons. She lives with her parents and three older siblings in a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. Sephora has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. Because of this condition, a hole exists between two blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Sephora needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive cardiac treatment on May 29th. First, the doctors will perform tests to determine if the hole near her heart can be safely closed or whether it is better to manage the condition with medication. If the tests show a good result, the surgeons will close the hole using a device attached to the end of a catheter. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is contributing $6,000 to pay for Sephora's surgery. Sephora's family also needs help with her $1,500 surgery prep costs. This cost covers all her labs, medicines, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. It also covers the cost of passports and social workers accompanying Sephora's family overseas. Sephora's mother said, "I am very happy to know that my daughter finally has the chance to have her heart fixed!"

Linn's Baby is a four-day-old girl who lives with her parents and three older sisters in a village in Thailand. She is so young, that she is not yet named. Her parents are day laborers. Linn's Baby was born with multiple health challenges including Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. In addition, her mother noticed that she wasn't passing stool, and when the doctors examined her, they discovered that she also has a condition known as imperforate anus. What this means is that Linn's Baby was born without an opening, which is a birth condition that occurs while the fetus is still developing in the womb. To address her condition, Linn's Baby will undergo surgery on August 4th at Mae Sot General Hospital, to place a colostomy, that will allow her to pass stool until she grows bigger and stronger, and better able to tolerate additional surgeries. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs of this procedure. Her mother said: "I cannot watch my daughter suffer from these conditions. I think she is crying because she wants breastmilk. She is my first baby born with such conditions. My other daughters are all healthy. I feel very sad for her.”

Meet Charity, a resilient businesswoman, and mother of two children. Her educational journey was cut short when she reached class four of secondary school due to the untimely demise of her parents, leaving her without any support. Due to misunderstandings with her husband, they separated, prompting her to venture into her own business. Through sheer determination and hard work, she managed to build a two-room permanent house and provide education for her children. Her daughter is currently attending university, while her son completed secondary school up to class six. To sustain herself and her family, Charity buys and sells secondhand clothes. Three years ago, Charity noticed a small swelling on her neck. Her brother, who was in South Africa, brought her some medicine, which temporarily made the swelling disappear. After two years, the swelling returned, albeit painlessly. However, recently, she has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including neck pain while swallowing and obstruction in her airway. The strain on her neck becomes evident when she carries heavy loads on her head or bends down to pack bedsheets for the market. Upon medical evaluation, Charity was diagnosed with a nodular goiter. To prevent her symptoms from worsening, she requires a thyroidectomy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is extending a helping hand to Charity for her treatment. The scheduled thyroidectomy will take place on August 2nd at our partner's care center, where skilled surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The total cost of this procedure is $333, and Charity and her family need assistance in raising the funds. Your generous contribution will make a significant impact on Charity's life, helping her overcome this health challenge and continue providing for her family. Charity says, “I have hope that I will live a normal life once again after surgery. I will continue with my business for my family's well-being.”