Rose is a 35-year-old woman from Haiti. She lives with her mother in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Before becoming too sick, she worked at a clothing manufacturer. Rose has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation, where one of the four valves of her heart was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever she suffered earlier in life. As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body and is beginning to fail. Rose will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On June 20th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove Rose's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000 to pay for surgery. Rose's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports obtaining travel documents for the social workers who will accompany Rose's family overseas. Rose shares, "I am excited to get this surgery done so that I can focus on my future instead of on my heart problem."

Bukhari is a seven-month-old baby boy from Kenya, the youngest of three children. His father works as a casual laborer, mainly at construction sites, while his mother is a homemaker. Bukhari was born at home with a noticeable swelling on the lower part of his back. His parents initially hoped it would lessen over time, but as the weeks went by without any change, their concern grew. After a month, they took him to a nearby hospital, where he was examined and then referred to a treatment facility in Nairobi. Determined to help their son, Bukhari’s parents returned home and began raising funds to cover their journey to the recommended facility. During this time, a family friend advised them to seek help at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). After tireless efforts, the family was able to gather enough funds to bring Bukhari to BKKH for a thorough examination. Bukhari was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine doesn't properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, he faces serious risks, including potential paralysis of his lower limbs, infection, and developmental challenges. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Bukhari receive treatment. On August 5th, surgeons at BKKH will perform a spina bifida closure surgery to alleviate complications associated with the condition, allowing healthy growth and development. Now, Bukhari’s family needs help to fund this $856 procedure. Bukhari’s father says, "From the moment he was born, we have been worried about his health. We are hopeful that he receives the treatment he needs and recovers quickly."

Diana is a student from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, a law student, in a neighborhood of La Paz. She is at the top of her class in school and is reading at a very high level for her age. She likes to read and play with her friends from school. Diana has a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. A major blood vessel connected to her heart is too narrow; this causes blood to back up into the heart, causing heart failure. On September 18th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will inflate a balloon inside her aorta to stretch it to a more normal size so that blood can flow through it more freely. Diana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Diana's mother shared, "Our family is so happy to know that after this procedure, our daughter will be able to be healthy!"