Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

Phalen is a happy 9-year-old 3rd grader who lives with his parents and 3 brothers. His mom stays at home to care for the children, and his father is a police officer. Phalen loves math and basketball. At home, he enjoys playing with his brothers and eating Cambodian fish soup. In the future, he would like to be a police officer, just like his dad. Since the age of three, Phalen has been experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing that has become worse over the last month. Frequent illness has caused him to miss school, and he is not eating as much as he used to due to discomfort. Phalen was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will help by performing a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Phalen, which is scheduled to take place on July 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Phalen of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Phalen's parents are able to contribute $100, and they need help with $265 to fully fund the procedure. He shared, "I hope I can go back to school soon and feel better. I also want to sleep well at night."

Dessonlove is a nine month old infant boy from Haiti. He is the youngest child in a large family. Dessonlove has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain, and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Dessonlove has been experiencing a persistent growth in the circumference of his head. Without treatment, Dessonlove will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Dessonlove, at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where hydrocephalus care and treatment are currently available. This critical procedure is scheduled to take place on March 30th, when surgeons will drain the excess fluid from Dessonlove's brain to reduce intracranial pressure, and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Dessonlove should develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Dessonlove's family is hopeful and looking forward to their child being able to grow and thrive with this care.