Kesnel is a 14-year-old student from Haiti. He is the youngest in a family of six; his father works in construction, and his mother is a vendor. Before his health issues, Kesnel enjoyed playing soccer with friends and studying at school. Kesnel has been diagnosed with a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the valves in his heart does not open and close properly due to an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and as a result, his heart cannot adequately circulate blood through his body. Kesnel needs to travel to the Dominican Republic for treatment. On March 23rd, Kesnel will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will first attempt to repair the valve so that it functions more normally; if they are unable to do so, they will instead remove it and implant an artificial replacement. While another organization, Mitral Foundation, is funding Kesnel's surgical procedure, his family will also need help to fund his pre-operative costs. 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 Kesnel's family overseas. Looking to the future, Kesnel says: "I am excited to have a healthy heart so I can go back to school and play soccer with my friends!"

For 54-year-old Kingsley, farming has always been an important part of his life. It is how he feeds his family, pays for daily needs, and provides for his wife and four children in Malawi. Every planting season has depended on the strength of his hands. But earlier this year, one unexpected moment changed everything. Kingsley was traveling in February when he was involved in a road traffic accident. Among the injuries he sustained, the most severe was his fractured right arm. He was admitted to hospital and began what he thought would be a short journey to recovery. Instead, it became months of moving from one health facility to another, searching for treatment that never seemed to come. Each hospital visit brought another referral, another delay, or another disappointment. His family spent what little they had on transport, consultations, and the cost of simply trying to find help. As the months passed, his arm failed to heal, and the frustration began to weigh heavily on him. It was Kingsley's eldest daughter, who works as a nurse, who finally encouraged him to seek care at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. There, an X-ray revealed that the broken bone had failed to heal. Doctors explained that he now requires Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery. During this procedure, the broken bone will be realigned and secured with metal plates and screws to encourage proper healing. Leaving the fracture untreated could result in permanent weakness, loss of function, chronic pain, and difficulty performing even simple daily activities. For a farmer whose livelihood depends on physical strength, surgery treatment will offer the best chance of regaining the use of his arm and returning to the work that supports his family. Hearing that surgery was finally possible filled Kingsley with relief, but it also came with another obstacle. After months of hospital visits and travel expenses, the family's savings had been exhausted. The treatment he had waited so long for was now beyond his financial reach. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare can help. Kingsley is scheduled for surgery on July 9th. He and his family need help raising $525 to fully fund the procedure. The surgery should allow the wound to finally heal so that he can return to his work of farming to support his family and live a more comfortable life. Kingsley shared, "I have waited a long time for someone to tell me there was still hope for my arm. I believe this surgery is my chance to work again, provide for my family, and live without the frustration I have carried since the accident. I am grateful that the donor program has given me hope when I thought I had run out of options."

Kataleya is a sweet 13-year-old girl from Bolivia. Kataleya lives in the northern part of the country with her mother, who is a homemaker; her dad, who works in agriculture; and her younger sister. Kataleya was taken to the doctor with complaints of headaches, and it was during this visit that doctors heard a murmur and discovered her heart problem. Kataleya has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On May 20th, Kataleya will undergo heart 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 so that blood can no longer leak through it. Kataleya's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Kataleya's mother shared, "I'm grateful that my daughter is receiving her surgery. They told me the heart murmur was going to close with time, but recently we found out it didn't. I pray she will have a good surgery, and she can feel much better so she can exercise as she wishes."