Ann is a bright 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the firstborn in a family of six children and is a fourth-grade student. She dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can one day support vulnerable children in her community who often struggle to access healthcare services. Her father is a small-scale farmer who works hard to support his family. Ann has clubfoot in both feet, a condition that has significantly affected her mobility. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. She is unable to stand upright or walk long distances. Living in a hilly and rocky area has made everyday activities, including attending school, extremely challenging. To ensure that she does not miss classes, her father has often had to pay for motorcycle transport to take her to and from school despite the financial burden and the long distances involved. Ann experiences teasing from some of her peers, which has affected her confidence and social interactions. Ann is currently receiving treatment at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, and is scheduled to undergo serial casting followed by corrective surgery to address her condition. This treatment is expected to improve her mobility, restore her confidence, and allow her to walk, learn, and thrive like other children her age. On June 10th, Ann will undergo clubfoot repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Ann's treatment and care. After her recovery, she will be one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor and making a difference in the lives of children facing challenges similar to her own. “I would love to have feet just like my friends and other children,” Ann shared. “I want to recover fully, walk confidently, and live a normal life just like my friends,” she added.

Napris is a six-year-old student from Svay Rieng province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are garment factory workers. He stays with his grandmother while his parents are at work. He is in the second grade, and his favorite subject is math. Napris dreams of becoming a teacher when he grows up. He enjoys playing with other children in the neighborhood and likes eating prawns and chicken soup. Napris was born with left torticollis, a condition that causes a twisting of the neck due to a tight sternocleidomastoid muscle. While some children can improve with physical therapy alone, others may need surgery to lengthen the muscle. Because of this condition, Napris has difficulty turning his head and neck and often experiences shoulder pain. Over time, it has also caused postural problems. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Napris receive treatment. On February 3rd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to restore normal movement of his neck, relieve pain, and allow him to grow and focus on his studies like other children. Now, he needs help to fund this $572 procedure. Napris's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope my son will have a normal neck like other children and no longer have difficulty moving his head, so he can grow up healthy and enjoy his studies.”

Michelsa is a young student from Haiti. She is in the first grade and likes art and music. Michelsa lives with her mother, grandmother, and two siblings in a city on the west coast of Haiti. Her mother sews school uniforms for a living. Michelsa has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in Michelsa's heart is too narrow, making it difficult for blood to flow through it and leading to heart failure. Michelsa will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 11th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a balloon on the end of a catheter to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Michelsa's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Michelsa's family overseas. Michelsa's mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after this surgery, we can let my daughter run and play without worrying about her health."