Meet Salmin, an adored newborn baby from Tanzania and the youngest in his family of four children. His father is a soldier and must spend most of his time away from home, and his mother is a teacher. Salmin was born with clubfoot on his right foot and hyperextension on his left knee. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Salmin’s parents want to ensure he receives the best care to grow up to live a healthy and fulfilling life. When they learned about our medical partner’s care center, they brought him in for assessment and treatment. Salmin will first receive non-surgical care that involves gentle manipulation and casting of his right foot. Over the course of several weeks, Salmin’s foot angle will gradually improve; then, he will undergo tenotomy surgery on May 16th. After treatment, Salmin will be able to walk easily as he grows and reaches the walking stage. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $935 to fund Salmin’s surgery. Salmin’s mother said: “I have been constantly worried since I got news of my son’s condition. I am hopeful that with the right treatment, he will be fine.”

Jeremy is a two-year-old toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who run a small grocery kiosk in Port-au-Prince. He is their only child. Jeremy was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD). VSD is a cardiac condition where there is a small hole in the wall that separates the heart's lower chambers. Due to this hole, oxygen-rich blood mixes with oxygen-poor blood, causing weakness and shortness of breath. On June 12th, Jeremy will undergo cardiac surgery in the Dominican Republic. During this procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Jeremy's heart so that his blood can't leak through it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is contributing $8000 to pay for surgery. However, Jeremy's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transport. Jeremy's family is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and preoperative and postoperative appointments. This sum will also support passport obtainment and the social workers from HCA who will accompany Jeremy's family overseas. Jeremy's mother said: "Our family is very excited to know that our son has been chosen for surgery. We're all praying for him."

Daniel is a handsome 4-year-old boy. He is the third born in a family of three children. His father does not work because he has been sick, while the mother is a hawker of fruits, and her income is the sole income to sustain their family. Daniel is in pre-school and they hope he can feel better soon. Daniel’s mother has been struggling with him for three years, taking him to different hospitals without much relief. He has been having chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis with symptoms like pain, fever, difficulty breathing and eating, sometimes coughing and vomiting with swollen tonsils. This has even affected his schooling. The mother decided to bring him to Nazareth Hospital where the Ear Nose Throat Surgeon ordered an Adenotonsillectomy to remove the tonsils and adenoids. Due to the socio-economic status of Daniel's family, they cannot meet the cost of this critical treatment. If not treated, Daniel will continue to have the pains and other symptoms and may develop complications like tonsillar abscess, middle ear infection, or rheumatic fever. “I am the sole breadwinner from my little income. At the same time, I feel bad to see my child suffering. I plead for help so that he can be treated and be well to grow up normally,” shared Daniel's mother.