Axel, who is a five year old kindergartener, lives with his parents in La Paz, Bolivia. His mother is studying engineering, while his father works in construction. Axel was born with a coronary fistula, a rare condition in which a hole exists between one of the arteries on the outside of the heart, and one of the chambers of the heart. Because of this condition, blood leaks through the hole, weakening Axel, because his heart does not receive sufficient blood flow. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is here to help Axel access the treatment that he needs. On September 12th, doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will sew the hole closed, so that blood can no longer leak through it. After surgery, Axel should be able to go on to live a strong and healthy life. Now Axel and his family need your help to fund this procedure, which will cost $1,500. Axel's mother said: "Our family is very happy to know that our son was chosen for surgery, and we are praying that everything will go well!"

Edvina is an elderly woman from Uganda. She did not attend school and shares there was no education at that time. She delivered nine children altogether, but only six are alive and are all married. She can no longer go to the fields for farming because of her old age and is taken care of by her children. She stays in a three-room mud house with three of her grandchildren. For five years, Edvina has had an abdominal hernia. She reports having a small swelling above her umbilicus, but her family thought that she had gastric ulcers. She was unable to eat comfortably. She visited a couple of hospitals without finding the right diagnosis and would be discharged on painkillers. Her son reports that she has now completely lost her appetite and feels uncomfortable most of the time. At Rushoroza Hospital, surgery has been recommended but her children cannot afford it. Fortunately, on September 15, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Edvina's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Edivina says, “I hope to get well through surgery so that I may live the remaining part of my life comfortable and peaceful.”

Lekere is a joyful 7-year-old from Kenya who is in the second grade. She is the firstborn in a family of five children. Lekere's favorite activities are playing with other kids and writing. Her father is a herder, and her mother is a homemaker. Lekere was born with clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Currently, Lekere tiptoes as she walks and often falls while walking, making it difficult for her to engage with her peers fully. Lekere has been undergoing serial casting for five weeks as part of her healing process. The purpose of serial casting is to soften the tissue to achieve better results after surgery. Lekere is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on November 28th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund Lekere's clubfoot repair surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk well, play with her peers at home and in school, and continue growing into a strong, healthy young girl. Lekere's mother said, "My joy is seeing my girl walking normally like other children."