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."

Brian is a teenager from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of seven children. He stopped going to school last year in March after he fell ill and currently stays at home mostly in pain. His mother is a subsistence farmer and his father works on construction sites to provide for the family. The family does not have a medical insurance coverage and cannot raise the required amount of money to pay for Brian's treatment. Brian has a painful swelling in a sensitive area which impacts his movement and his ability to engage in any physical activities. He has been to different hospitals without any improvement. Earlier this year, Brian was brought to BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital where he underwent tests and has been scheduled for an urgent surgery. Brian was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Brian has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and future fertility problems. Brian will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 22nd. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Brian says, “I want the pain to go away so that I can go back to school.”

Damaris is a tea picker from Kenya. She is 32 years old, the mother of four children, and separated from her husband. Damaris never went to school due to financial constraints of her family. Now, two of her children are in secondary school and two are in primary school. The money she earns is used to pay for her children's school fees and to buy food for her children. Damaris inherited a small piece of land from her parents where she grows maize, sukuma wiki (similar to kale or collard greens), and beans for home consumption. A lump began growing on Damaris's neck in 2004. She has never received any medical treatment due to a lack of money. The mass has grown larger, and now impinges on her nerve, causing occasional numbness in her right arm and hand. While in church recently, Damaris learned that a visiting physician/general surgeon was offering free consultation. Damaris sought an examination. An ultrasound was done, and it was determined that Damaris had a large cystic mass which the doctor recommended should be removed. Surgeons through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can provide the services Damaris needs. She traveled to AMH's care center Maua Hospital and on February 13th, surgeons will remove the mass. Following the surgery, there should be a release of pressure and the numbness and pain caused by the mass should be relieved. Damaris is not able to pay the hospital bill and appeals for support. She is seeking help to raise $529 to fund this surgery. Damaris says, "I kindly request for your support."