Wideline is a 27 year old woman from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her sister and her sister's family. She has not been working because of her illness, but would like to return to school to study business once she is able. Wideline has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Wideline was born with two holes in her heart, one between the upper chambers and another between the lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. It is extremely rare for someone to live to Wideline's age with this untreated condition. Because the care that she needs is not available in Haiti, Wideline will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 1st, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use patches to close the holes so that blood can no longer leak through them. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $15,000 to help pay for surgery. Wideline's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and travel. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Wideline overseas. Wideline shared: "I am so excited to finally be able to live a more normal life!"

Ian is a 5-year-old boy from the valley of Elgeyo Marakwet county in Kenya. He is the second of three children. He loves playing football and helping his mother gather firewood and clean the house. His mother takes care of the house and family while his father tills land for planting. Ian's father is currently working in a village far away from their home in order to earn money to provide for the family. Ian recently came to the hospital in a lot of pain because he had fallen and hurt his right arm. X-rays revealed that his arm was broken near the elbow joint. He needs surgery in order to stabilize the broken bone. Since the arm was so swollen, Ian was admitted to the hospital; a splint was applied and the arm is elevated to reduce the swelling. Because Ian is very young, he needs surgery so that his arm will continue to grow properly. He is right-handed and currently does not have use of the arm or hand. Fortunately, on March 21st, surgeons at our partner African Mission Healthcare will perform surgery to help heal Ian's broken arm. He and his family need help raising $853 to fund Ian's surgery. Ian's mother shared, “My son is in so much pain, and I feel like transferring it to myself. I am worried because he is a right-handed person, and he has injured his right hand. I sincerely have no option and no funds to help my son. Please help him so that he may be able to go back to school.”

Farhio is a 47-year-old mother and widow from Somalia. She lost her husband two years ago. She is now the sole breadwinner to her family of four children, aged between 8 and 16. Farhio works as a street vendor selling tea by the roadside. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago and underwent chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation. She thought that the cancer had subsided, but, unfortunately, it returned. She went to a hospital in her home country of Somalia where doctors recommended she undergo surgery. She preferred to come to Kijabe Hospital after relatives who live in Nairobi referred her there. Farhio has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Farhio. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 3rd. After treatment, Farhio will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Farhio says, “I thought this disease had gone. Sadly, it came back. I need to treat it before it spreads.”