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!"

Samwel is a 15-year-old student. He is the second-to-last child in a family of seven children. He resides in the Mpanda region and had to discontinue his education during his primary school years due to the remote location of his school, which made it impossible for him to travel long distances because of his birth condition. His parents, who are farmers, work daily to provide food for the family and generate additional income by selling their surplus harvest. To supplement the family’s income, his mother also engages in a side business of selling charcoal. Despite his parents’ efforts to seek treatment for his condition, limited financial resources prevented them from affording treatment at hospitals capable of providing the specialised care he needed. Consequently, Samwel had to adapt to his situation. He assists his family with farm work, although he tends to tire quickly. Remarkably, he has even discovered a way to derive enjoyment from playing football and other sports with his friends. In July 2022, our medical partner's care centre had the opportunity to meet Samwel and his parents during one of the outreach visits. They were deeply moved by how he had found ways to enjoy his life despite living with a condition that could have limited him in numerous ways. Samwel has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Samwel's family now traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 15. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Samwel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk comfortably and play sports even better. Samwel says, “I feel like this is a blessing. I once thought I was meant to live with this condition for life. I hope this treatment will enable me to work harder and enjoy sports better.”

Allen is a 53-year-old mother of nine. She lost her husband in 2015. Upon his passing, she received a small plot of land and managed to create a three-room mud house in order to shelter her family. While Allen did not attend school as a child, she can read and write her name. She became a small-scale farmer to provide for her family. Her children range in age from 11 years old to 35. Since 2020, Allen has been experiencing swollen knees, with consistent pain radiating toward her lower abdomen. More recently, her lower abdominal pains became persistent. She decided to visit a nearby healthcare provider, where she was informed that was developing uterine complications. She was sent home with medicine that did not help her pain at all. She resorted to using herbs but those did not help either, she shared. She often becomes very weak while walking, and can only walk slowly for short distances. She can no longer sleep comfortably and has had to stop farming due to the pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), diagnosed Allen with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. On April 14th, she will undergo surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Allen can resume her daily activities free of pain. AMH is requesting $319 to fund the procedure. Allen says, “I have hope of living a normal and comfortable life once again through surgery. I want to continue with farming after my recovery.”