Saruni is a 10-year-old girl from Tanzania. She comes from a large culturally polygamous family with over twenty siblings. Her father is a cattle breeder and farmer who does not earn much from the livelihood. Due to this, Saruni was forced to drop out of school two years ago because her school fees could not be paid. She started working when she was very young as a house manager in people's houses. She has grown to be a very responsible girl. In early 2022, while Saruni was preparing tea for the employer, she tripped over while carrying a pot with hot tea, burning her left arm. She was taken to a military hospital for treatment where she received treatment for her wounds that took months for them to heal. Burn scar contractures have now developed, tightening the skin around her burn. Now she finds it difficult to straighten her arm or carry a load that requires two capable hands. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Saruni receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to treat the damaged skin around her elbow. This will increase the extension of her elbow and will reduce the pain she feels when she tries to use her arm. Her father can’t afford to pay for the treatment and he is asking for help to fund this $639 procedure. Saruni says, “I am happy that I am going to get treatment and my arm will be better.”

Omega is a five-year-old boy. He lives with his parents and two siblings, and enjoys playing with them. As the last born, he is spoiled and loved so much by his mother. They live in Hai, a small town in the Kilimanjaro Region. The parents are cattle breeders, who breed cattle for meat and milk. The cattle breeding business has been hard in the past few months because of drought. The green pastures and rivers they used to depend on to feed their cattle are now dry. Cattle are not producing enough milk, and the meat they produce is not preferred by most of the consumers around their area. In 2019, while Omega was playing with his brother, he got into an accident and fell into a pot of boiling tea. After the open wound healed, his right arm could not extend fully, making it hard for him to fully use his arm. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Omega receive treatment. On February 28th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him use his arm freely. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Omega’s mother says, “I hope this treatment will give him a room of new possibilities in the future because his hand will limit him so much in his life.”

Christian is a two year old toddler, living with his parents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is a happy and playful child, who particularly enjoys listening to music. Christian has a cardiac condition called severe coarctation of the aorta. As a result of this condition, there is a narrowing in the major blood vessel leading from his heart, which causes his heart to strain too hard to push blood through it. The care he needs is not available anywhere in the country, so Christian needs to travel to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 4th, he will undergo open heart surgery, during which doctors will rebuild his aorta, restoring it to a more normal size. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $16,000 to pay for this procedure. However, Christian's family also needs help to fund the $1,500 to cover the costs of pre-surgery prep, lab tests, medicines, and follow up appointments. This money will also pay for passport obtainment, and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Christian's family overseas. Christian's mother said: "Our family is hopeful that everything will go well with our son's surgery, and that he will have a safe and smooth recovery."