Keisha is a 5-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She is the first child of her parents. Keisha has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid which surrounds the brain - accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. The accumulation of fluid has caused Keisha’s head to expand beyond a normal range. Without treatment, Keisha will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Keisha is scheduled for surgery to put a flexible plastic tube called a shunt in her brain to redirect the cerebrospinal fluid into another part of her body. Draining the excess fluid from Keisha’s brain will reduce the pressure and greatly improve the quality of her life. With proper treatment, Keisha will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Keisha is scheduled for surgery on December 8th at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in the country where this care is currently available. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery. Her family is grateful Keisha is able to have surgery to prevent long-term damage to her brain.

Gebra is a 10-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest in his family of three children. His parents are farmers. They depend on their yield for the family's sustenance and sell water at a retail store for additional income. While this supplementary income helps with some expenses, they still face challenges in affording a balanced diet and, occasionally, face challenges in providing school supplies. Gebra developed a mass on the right side of his chest when he was just one month old. Although his parents sought medical attention for him when he was a baby, the doctors advised them to wait until he was older for surgery. When Gebra turned seven, they took him to the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, that facility was not equipped for surgeries, and due to financial constraints, Gebra's family had to wait for three years. They then sought treatment at another hospital, where one of our partner doctors referred them to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, for assistance with the surgery cost. The mass on Gebra's chest has continued to grow, limiting his range of motion in his right shoulder. Gebra will undergo surgery to remove the mass on February 6th. Now, Gebra's family needs help to raise $724 to fund this procedure. Gebra's mother said: "I hope my son gets the treatment that will help with the mass on his chest because, as he grows, it makes him feel uncomfortable being around people."

Georgia is a tall, outspoken, confident, and understanding woman. She is a loving mother of two children. Georgia grew up in a large extended family with ten siblings, including five brothers and four sisters, all married. While growing up, Georgia had a dream of becoming a teacher. However, after completing grade 6, she could not proceed with further studies because her parents lacked the financial means to support her education. Currently, she runs a small business selling chips along the roadside in the evening and engages in farming during the day. Her husband is in the boda boda (motorcycle taxi) business, and they reside in a two-room rental house near Nyakibale Hospital. Georgia is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via a cesarean section so they can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Georgia undergo a C-Section on December 19th. This procedure will cost $252, and Georgia needs your support. Georgia says, “I will be grateful to have my delivery under your support because I worry mostly about how I will pay for it. I hope for a healthy baby and a better delivery outcome.”