Mohammed is a 3-year-old boy living in Kenya. He is the older of two siblings, who are raised by their single mother. Mohammed enjoys singing and is always cheerful. Mohammed has clubfoot on both feet. This causes his feet to turn inward instead of pointing straight. Despite doctors' attempts to correct this condition through the use of casts on his feet immediately after birth, there has been no improvement. Consequently, Mohammed can't walk, stand, or wear shoes like other children because his feet are too twisted. Fortunately, Mohammed traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 18th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mohammed's procedure. After treatment, he will be able to walk and play like other children. “I look forward to seeing my son standing upright and walking normally like other children.” Mohammed’s mother said.

Valentino is a preschooler from Bolivia who lives with his mother and four older brothers. He loves to watch cartoons and enjoys his mother's s cooking. However, it is difficult for him to gain weight. Valentino has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 16th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 for this procedure. Valentino's mother says, "Our family will be so much happier and less stressed once we know that our son is normal and healthy."

Innocent is an outgoing and hardworking lady, who is 49 years old. She and her husband and three school age children live in Uganda. Because Innocent was orphaned, she didn't have the opportunity to pursue her education beyond primary school. Today she farms, primarily to produce food crops for the family's consumption, while selling any surplus to help generate some income. Her husband is a builder, who is also engaged in farming. One year ago, Innocent began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, heart palpitations with high blood pressure, and fatigue on walking even a short distance. Due to limited finances, she tried using local herbs and traditional cutting, with the hope that she would improve, but nothing has worked to alleviate her symptoms. A friend with whom she shared her concerns referred Innocent to the hospital in Nyakibale, where tests and scans were performed. Innocent was diagnosed with bilateral goiter, which impacts the thyroid gland's production of hormones critical to Innocent's metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Innocent receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 28th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Innocent and her family need your help to raise the money. Innocent says: “I believe with your support I will be able to be operated on and will finally be relieved from all these symptoms I’ve been having.”