Kerson is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his father, who is a construction worker, and his mother, who is a waitress. He enjoys making art with crayons and singing. Kerson has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Kerson needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 2nd, he will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is funding his surgery; however, Kerson'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 Kerson's family overseas. Kerson's mother shared, "Our family will be so happy and relieved once we know our son is safe!"

George is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya who enjoys playing and learning new things. His mother is a casual worker who earns a small and irregular income from activities such as selling fruits. Her income is often barely enough to meet the family’s basic needs. George was born unable to perceive sound, which has made it difficult for him to make friends and participate in school. He has learned to lip read to communicate, but the limitations have left him feeling isolated in the classroom when the teacher addresses him but he cannot understand what is being asked of him. Doctors have recommended that George be fitted with hearing aids. They would give him an opportunity to improve his ability to access sound and communication, participate more meaningfully in school, interact with his peers, and communicate more easily with his mother and those around him. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. George is scheduled to be fitted with hearing aids on October 2nd, and he and his family need your help raising $1,171 in order to fund the devices. Hearing aids could help restore George's confidence and give him renewed hope for his education and future. "The hope of one day hearing my son call me ‘Mom’ has been restored,” George’s mother shared.

Rodas is a four-year-old boy who lives in Ethiopia with his parents and younger brother. His father is a hardworking doctor who works hard to provide for his family and help sick people, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. About one year ago, Rodas began to experience the symptoms of tonsillitis, which makes it difficult for him to breathe normally, and sleep well. His parents first noticed that he was snoring heavily, and often breathed through this mouth instead of his nose. The continued lack of sleep has been difficult for Rodas and his family, as he is often tired and emotional. Because Rodas's tonsillitis is failing to resolve on its own, doctors are recommending surgery to remove his tonsils. Without surgery, his symptoms will persist and possibly intensify. Doctors are also worried that the constant sleep deprivation will affect Rodas's growth and quality of life, and that the mouth breathing will affect the development of his jaw and face. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Rodas, which is scheduled to take place on September 20th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Rodas of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. His parents say, "We hope that Rodas can finally sleep soundly through the night, without loud snoring or trouble breathing. We also hope that he can enjoy a healthy, happy childhood."