Rachel is an active and social 12-year-old girl from Kenya. Despite her challenges, she remains hopeful and optimistic about her future. Rachel is currently in Grade 7, but has paused her studies due to her medical condition. Two days after Rachel was born, her mother noticed that Rachel's head was enlarging and that her eyes appeared sunken. Rachel was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Rachel underwent shunt insertion surgery to drain the excess fluid, but the shunt failed within days. Rachel and her mother then journeyed 130 kilometers to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. There, Rachel underwent a successful shunt revision surgery, and her mother’s joy was beyond words. They returned home, and life improved significantly. Unfortunately, hydrocephalus shunts can become blocked over time, making revision surgeries necessary. Rachel has had two more surgeries at three and seven years of age. She now requires another shunt revision surgery, so that she can resume her daily activities like other children her age. Without surgery, Rachel will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $719 to cover the cost of surgery for Rachel that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 13th and will drain the excess fluid from Rachel's brain. Rachel shares, "I am in pain, I haven't been able to go to school. I want to get better so that I can continue learning. I look forward to leaving the hospital feeling better so that I can go home, play with my siblings, and attend school."

Daniel is a six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and riding bicycles. During her pregnancy, Daniel’s father left the family, and his mother faced many challenges while raising him alone. With support from family members, Daniel continued to grow and receive care during the first year of his life from his aunt. Daniel's uncle noticed that there was something different about Daniel, and took him to a clinic for assessment. After examining Daniel and explaining the condition, the doctor helped the family understand that it was a manageable and treatable condition. Daniel’s mother then focused on raising him while waiting for an opportunity for surgery. Daniel was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Daniel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Daniel's mom said, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity. We are truly happy as this is not a small thing for our family. I sincerely hope Daniel will be doing well after the surgery.”

Lekiberu is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is active, sociable, and loves being around people. He enjoys watching other children, learning spelling, and playing with his sister. He is very attached to people and loves spending time with others. Lekiberu lives with his parents, aunt, and sister in a rented house. His mother sells vegetables to support the family, while his father works as a daily laborer in construction. Lekiberu was born prematurely at seven months because his mother was seriously ill during pregnancy due to a blood-related condition. When Lekiberu turned four years old, he started losing his appetite. His mother first visited a pharmacy, where the pharmacist advised her to take him to a private hospital. At the hospital, the doctor examined Lekiberu, explained his condition, and prescribed supplements. His family became anxious, frustrated, and heartbroken because they could not afford surgery at a private hospital. After returning home, Lekiberu’s mother asked relatives for advice about his condition. They suggested taking him to our facility, BethanyKids. At first, she could not believe the service was real because of their difficult financial situation. However, they later visited, where Lekiberu was examined, and his condition was confirmed. Lekiberu was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Lekiberu has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. The medical team also discovered that he had low iron levels and was underweight, so his surgery was postponed for two months while he received treatment and nutritional support. Now, Lekiberu’s hemoglobin and iron levels are in good condition, and his health has improved. His mother shared, “My spirit also became better and relieved after coming to BethanyKids.” Lekiberu will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 29th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Lekiberu’s mother expressed her gratitude, saying, “I have no words to express my feelings. People may not understand the situation we went through, but God knows everything. God bless you all, and glory to God. I know you sacrificed so much for Lekiberu, and I thank God for using you to support and help our family.”