Benson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya. His mother shared that she first noticed a problem with his foot when he was almost two years old. At the time, she hoped he would eventually outgrow it and begin walking better, but the condition persisted. Determined to find help for her son, she took Benson to hospital. Benson has Equinus deformity, a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) is limited. This causes him to walk on his toes instead of placing his entire foot on the ground. The condition developed as a result of cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with. Over the last few years, Benson has attended physiotherapy sessions, surgery and has been fitted with corrective splints to realign his foot, but each time, the procedures did not achieve the expected results. His mother got increasingly worried about his health and future, until a friend informed her about specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. Benson is presently admitted at AIC CURE Hospital in preparation of his corrective surgery. The procedure represents a significant opportunity to improve his quality of life, as his condition has limited many of the activities and opportunities he would otherwise enjoy. He often experiences pain in his leg, especially during cold weather, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably. Benson's surgery has been scheduled for June 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 for the treatment that will provide Benson greater mobility, reduced pain, and the chance to pursue his dreams with renewed confidence and independence. He says: "I am looking forward to a quick healing so that I can continue with my regular life."

Rith is an 18-year-old high school student from Takeo Province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and two younger siblings. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother works in a footwear factory. He is currently in 9th grade and hopes to become an army officer in the future. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. Three months ago, Rith was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his right arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury — damage to the nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. As a result, he experiences shoulder droop, pain, numbness and is unable to lift his right arm, making it difficult to perform daily activities and basic self-care. Fortunately, on May 7th, Rith will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. His family can contribute $75, but they need help raising an additional $662 to fund his procedure and care. The surgery will allow him to regain movement and independence in his daily life. Rith said, “I hope the surgery will reduce my pain and help me regain movement in my hand and shoulder so I can return to my normal daily activities.”

Franklin is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. He lives in a rural agricultural area with his parents, who are both farmers, and six older siblings. He enjoys going to school and playing soccer. Franklin has a heart condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart was severely damaged by an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and now cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Franklin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On March 23rd, he will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if they are unable to do so, they will remove it instead and implant an artificial replacement. While another charity, Mitral Foundation, is funding Franklin's surgery, his family will also need help with the costs associated with his surgical preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will also support securing travel documents for the family and paying travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Franklin's family overseas. Franklin's mother shared, "We are so thankful to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our son!"