This year, for my birthday, I gave myself a gift: between surgical camps in Tanzania and Mauritius, I flew to Uganda to visit one of our former patients who, against all odds, defied every expectation to survive and thrive. Badru was just four years old when we first met him. He lived in a remote village, about five and a half hours northeast of Kampala, where life itself was a struggle. It was 2015, and our team was in Mwanza, Tanzania. We had arranged for Badru, his mother, an interpreter, and a chaperone to travel from Uganda and join us for a life-saving heart surgery. When he arrived, Badru could barely stand; he spent most of his day crouched to relieve the strain on his heart. His lips were blue, his fingers clubbed. His mother, a widow and subsistence farmer raising four other children, had left everything and everyone behind to make this journey, hoping it would save her son. Yet even with their dedication and long journey, the challenges weren’t over. Badru arrived with a fever, and we immediately started him on antibiotics. Blood typing revealed that he was O-negative. The hospital had no units of this rare blood type, nor did the regional blood bank. Desperate, we turned to the radio, broadcasting a region-wide appeal that yielded only two of the four units needed. As an O-negative donor myself, I knew I had to step up. Crossing the street to the blood bank, I offered my arm, ensuring a sterile needle with the help of a fellow volunteer. My pint would be for Badru.
Our surgeon, Sasha (aka Dr. Salvatore Agati), took a leap of faith and planned the surgery with three units and some platelets, setting it for Thursday. The clock was ticking, and we had almost exhausted every avenue to save him. I couldn’t shake the worry that my own high cholesterol might somehow affect his recovery—but we had no other choice. Badru’s time was running out. He had three to six months to live, if that. As I carried him into the OR, I made a quiet promise: if he survived, I would put him through school. We don’t often get to see, let alone hold, the lives our blood donations save. Maybe if more people did, the blood banks wouldn’t be so empty. Miraculously, the surgery was successful. The following year, Badru started school, and I kept my word, sending money for fees, uniforms, and the necessities he needed to grow and thrive.
Yet, more than Badru’s future haunted me—his mother’s circumstances weighed on my heart. She shared that she had been sexually assaulted in her village after she was widowed. With no one to protect her, she was painfully vulnerable. We spoke about this at length before she left to return to her village, no one could stop her from an attack, and we decided that while we couldn’t protect her from harm, we could help her mitigate the consequences. On her way home, she received a Norplant implant for contraception, giving her two years of peace of mind. I wanted to provide a source of income, something sustainable that would improve her family’s situation. Initially, I thought of purchasing a cow, but local friends advised against it—a cow could make her a target. Instead, we invested in three goats, a modest investment of $200 plus $60 for birth control.
Mama Badru raised the goats, bred them, and sold them for cattle, building her wealth slowly and carefully. Eventually, she acquired a plot of land and built a small house on it. For the past nine years, we kept in touch through an extraordinary pastor, Robert Nabulere, a compassionate man who kept me updated and made the arrangements for Badru. When I mentioned I wanted to visit, he and his wife, Rose, put everything on hold to accompany me and a friend, deep into Uganda. The journey was exhausting, but the reward was beyond measure. The pastor had prepared a surprise for me, welcoming me in addition to Badru, were two other boys whose hearts we had also mended, Prosper and James. All three ran up to hug me, their smiles filling my heart. The women in the village prepared a simple feast with the food they’d grown themselves: stewed bananas, groundnut sauce, beans, and rice. I brought the birthday cake the hotel in Kampala had given me to celebrate. We sat together in the shade, exchanging stories, laughing, marveling at the strength these children had regained. It was deeply moving for me. I don’t know that words can truly capture it.
As I looked around, I was reminded that life in this part of the world is in stark contrast to the comforts we know—no running water, no electricity, no social media or internet. Life begins at dawn and winds down by sunset. And though I felt the physical discomforts acutely, my heart was full. For a small investment of blood, surgery, and finances, Mama Badru’s ability to care for her family had multiplied tenfold. Thanksgiving reminds us of all we have and all we can give. Visiting Badru and his family renewed my gratitude for the journey I have been on and for all our work at Mending Kids. It is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest gestures—like a pint of blood, surgery, or a few goats—can have a profound, lasting impact. May we continue to invest in each other, knowing that the smallest gifts can make the greatest difference. - Isabelle Fox, Executive Director
Happy Thanksgiving, from our Mending Kids family to yours.
After over two decades of traveling to Central America to support interventional cardiologists on their journey to becoming self-sustaining, Dr. Michael Womack's cardiology mission in Managua has become a center of collaboration for an alliance of Central American colleagues. Returning to Nicaragua for the second time this year, and working with Nicaraguan interventionalists Dr. Mireya Araica and Dr. Christian Ramirez, as well as Panamanian Dr. Aldo Campos and Costa Rican Dr. Rafael Gutierrez, Dr. Womack and the team completed a record 15 complex lifesaving procedures, in just one week. They were also joined by first-time mission member Dr. Nestor Flores, a promising Nicaraguan pediatric cardiologist whose expertise and dedication were instrumental. However, the mission was almost derailed just as it began when the fluoroscopy system—a critical tool for capturing real-time moving images of the heart and blood vessels—malfunctioned. This halted a slate of complex cases that were scheduled and sent us back to the drawing board, jeopardizing our schedule and upsetting the patients and families who were hopeful to receive their procedures…but fate intervened. Philips Senior Solutions Specialist Dean Rindlishbach, who happened to be visiting the hospital, learned what had happened and immediately stepped in, quickly repairing the machine. Thanks to Dean's heroically timely support, we were able to quickly reset and mend as planned.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of every volunteer and partner for facing up to the challenges and making this mission a resounding success. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Abbott, Medshare, Bear Givers, Teleflex, BBraun, Merit Medical, Naomi and her Mending 1000 Heart Campaign, Terumo, Philips, Rivas Opstaele, Carmela de Brouwer, Robyn Ross, and Michael Nadlman. With every mission, we're reminded that it takes a village to mend hearts and that together, we're building a self-sustaining future for children in Central America. Thank you to all who make this work possible and thank you for keeping our kids in your thoughts and making their lives matter.
Together, we are mending kids!
After five years, we finally returned to Armenia in October. The mission was led by Dr. Andre Panossian, who resumed his mentorship of two local pediatric plastic surgeons, providing specialized facial reanimation surgery and reconstructions for children born with nerve paralysis or hemangiomas. Yerevan, a beautiful and bustling city with a history dating back to 800 BC, has recently seen the immigration of 100,000 exiled Russians and an equal number of ethnic Armenians displaced from Azerbaijan after losing the two-year battle for Artsakh (AKA Nagorno-Karabakh.) This influx has significantly impacted the city and its healthcare system, which provides free surgical care and hospitalization for all children from birth to age 18. Producing highly specialized surgeons is especially challenging for a nation of only 3 million people, making Dr. Panossian’s work all the more critical. During the pandemic, he used smart-glass technology to consult virtually and assist Armenian surgeons when travel was impossible.
Our first patient on this trip was Ani, an 11-year-old girl who practically leaped for joy when we told her she was a good candidate for reconstructive surgery. She skipped into the OR, and after recovery, she was grinning from ear to ear. As Azerbaijan refugees, her family is rebuilding their lives in Armenia, and it was heartwarming to provide her with this surgery and witness her self-esteem blossom overnight. Ani was just one of 11 patients that week—ranging from siblings born with cleft palates (the brother, an amazing Duduk* player), to a young girl burned as a baby, whose contractures were affecting her ability to move her neck. One traumatized patient had already endured seven unsuccessful surgeries to close her palate. Each patient brought a unique and heartbreaking story, but by the end of the week, it was a journey filled with hope. For the non-Armenian volunteers, it was also a week of history lessons, and for all the children, it was a week of life-changing care and renewed possibility. As we look ahead, we plan to expand our program in Armenia to include other medical specialties, ensuring that more children receive the specialized life-changing care they deserve. You can help us continue this critical work by supporting our future missions. Please consider contributing to our Armenia mission and be a part of bringing hope and healing to even more children in need. * a double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood.
together, we are mending kids!In case you missed itMending Kids was recently featured on Lacey Chabert’s Hallmark+ series Celebrations, which highlights inspiring individuals making a difference. In the episode “Carmela's Peruvian Fiesta,” our board member Carmela De Brouwer was recognized for her incredible work supporting Mending Kids and providing life-saving surgeries to children around the world. The episode captured Carmela’s deep commitment to service, particularly in her native Peru, with a heartwarming celebration filled with culture and joy. If you missed it, you can still stream the episode and join us in continuing to heal more children!
We are excited to announce that Mending Kids will be featured on Lacey Chabert’s new Hallmark+ series Celebrations, where deserving individuals, families, and community heroes are surprised with unforgettable celebrations. The series highlights extraordinary stories of people making a lasting impact in their communities, and we couldn’t be more proud to have one of our very own Board Members, Carmela De Brouwer, shining brightly. Streaming on demand, don't miss the episode titled “Carmela's Peruvian Fiesta” celebrating Carmela, who has championed Mending Kids and helped us to provide life-saving surgical care to children worldwide. In this episode, Lacey Chabert and the Celebrations team honor Carmela's commitment to charitable causes. Carmela’s heart for service, especially in her native Peru, has touched the lives of hundreds of children and families. The surprise is packed with joy, cultural flair, and heartfelt moments you won’t want to miss! As we celebrate Carmela's dedication, we invite you to join us in continuing our mission to heal more kids.
This week, Mending Kids made a special mission to El Salvador with the support of Edwards Lifesciences Foundation and Drs. Jenny Zablah and Gareth Morgan from the Children’s Hospital Colorado. Together, we trained local cardiologists and frontline doctors on performing atrial septostomy—a life-saving procedure critical for newborns suffering from Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). We also invited two Guatemalan cardiologists who serve children in hospitals far from their capital, where they previously had no options to help newborns with TGA. Many of these babies wouldn’t survive the long journey to receive care. What’s remarkable about this procedure is that it’s done bedside in the NICU, without the need for a cath lab or general anesthesia. While not a cure for TGA, it buys the child time to receive life-saving surgical care. Including Guatemalan doctors was part of our effort to expand the footprint of this knowledge exchange beyond El Salvador. Recently, Edwards redesigned the specialized balloon required for the procedure, making this training possible. We will expand this program to two more countries in the next few months, ensuring that even more lives can be saved. This investment in the future is evergreen—the impact will continue for years to come. Thank you to Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Dr. Zablah, Dr. Morgan, and all the dedicated doctors working to bring hope, love, and mending to these communities. together, we are Mending Kids!
We came, We hiked, We spent time together! This past Saturday, we came together for our annual Hike 2 Mend, and it was a day filled with energy, hope, and community spirit! Thanks to the incredible support of all our hikers, volunteers, and sponsors, we enjoyed a beautiful morning outdoors while raising awareness for the obstacles parents take to provide their children life-saving surgical care. The enthusiasm and generosity displayed were inspiring. Whether you trekked alongside us, donated, or helped spread the word, thank you for making this event a success. We look forward to many more adventures together! Special Thanks to
Dear Friends, Join us, THIS SATURDAY - September 21st when we come together at Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyon in Agoura Hills, CA to hike, connect, and raise awareness for the obstacles parents go through to bring their children to life-saving surgical care. Every step you take on this hike is a step toward providing hope and healing to a child in need. Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2024 |
 |  |
Come to Hike 2 Mend and meet former volunteers and hear firsthand. If you’d like to learn more or are ready to volunteer, click here.
 |
Dear Friends,
We’re just 8 days away from our much-anticipated annual Hike 2 Mend event! On Saturday, September 21st we’ll come together at Cheeseboro Canyon Park in Agoura Hills, CA to hike, connect, and raise awareness for the obstacles parents take to bring their children to life-saving care.
Whether you’ve already signed up or are still thinking about it, this is your friendly reminder to join us for an unforgettable morning of adventure and purpose! Every step you take on this hike is a step toward providing hope and healing to a child in need.
We’re just 8 days away from our much-anticipated annual Hike 2 Mend event! On Saturday, September 21st we’ll come together at Cheeseboro Canyon Park in Agoura Hills, CA to hike, connect, and raise awareness for the obstacles parents take to bring their children to life-saving care.
Whether you’ve already signed up or are still thinking about it, this is your friendly reminder to join us for an unforgettable morning of adventure and purpose! Every step you take on this hike is a step toward providing hope and healing to a child in need.
Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2024
Time: 8:00am-11:00am
Location: 5792 Chesebro Rd., Agoura Hills, CA, 91301
Registration: Free and family-friendly. Pets are welcome!
Even if you can’t make it in person, you can still support Hike 2 Mend by donating or sponsoring a hiker. Every contribution helps bring us closer to our goal of transforming lives.
We can’t wait to see you on the trail!
We can’t wait to see you on the trail!
 |
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
| |
In addition to Hike 2 Mend, we’re also gearing up for our upcoming medical missions — and we’re looking for non-medical volunteers to help us make these missions a success. This is a life-changing experience, during which you will have the opportunity to help comfort patients and their families, and explore a different culture.
Upcoming Missions:
Upcoming Missions:
- Nicaragua - Cardiac (Oct 20-25, 2024)
- Mauritius - Cardiac (Nov 11-15, 2024)
- Cambodia - Orthopedic (Nov 18-23, 2024)
 |
Today, in Mending Kids' “Meet Our Board” series, we're thrilled to spotlight one of our longest-serving board members, Dorothy Lucey. A part of our organization since its inception in 1993 and a dedicated board member since 2005, Dorothy's unwavering commitment has been instrumental in our growth and success for nearly two decades.
Dorothy is best known for her illustrious career as an entertainment reporter, co-hosting the popular morning news show Good Day L.A. for 17 years. A George Washington University graduate with a degree in political science, Dorothy's career has spanned roles at ABC-TV, NBC Sports, and various shows like Attitudes on Lifetime Television and How'd They Do That? on CBS. Beyond her professional achievements, Dorothy is deeply committed to her community and uses her platform to advocate for charitable work.
Dorothy is best known for her illustrious career as an entertainment reporter, co-hosting the popular morning news show Good Day L.A. for 17 years. A George Washington University graduate with a degree in political science, Dorothy's career has spanned roles at ABC-TV, NBC Sports, and various shows like Attitudes on Lifetime Television and How'd They Do That? on CBS. Beyond her professional achievements, Dorothy is deeply committed to her community and uses her platform to advocate for charitable work.
 |
Dorothy and her family hosted Sandra, a young girl from El Salvador suffering from Poland Syndrome, who needed reconstructive surgery to correct her hand deformity. Today, Sandra has a daughter of her own, and she and Dorothy still keep in regular contact—a testament to the lasting impact of Dorothy’s kindness.
 |
Dorothy’s passion and dedication have been crucial to Mending Kids' development. She has participated in six missions, including Ethiopia (twice), Cambodia, Panama, El Salvador, and Peru, where she was joined by her son, Nash. In Peru, Nash served as a translator, creating memories he’ll cherish forever.
As our longest-standing ambassador and beloved social media butterfly, Dorothy has played a key role in our outreach and growth. We are incredibly grateful for her continued leadership, compassion, and support as we strive to change the lives of children in need.
As our longest-standing ambassador and beloved social media butterfly, Dorothy has played a key role in our outreach and growth. We are incredibly grateful for her continued leadership, compassion, and support as we strive to change the lives of children in need.
GET TO KNOW DOROTHY:
How many years have you been involved with Mending Kids & how many years have you been a board member?
Forever
Have been on any missions? If so, which one stands out? If you have not, which one would you like to take part in?
Ethiopia was my first, & second, I brought my son with me too. Been there twice. Also I’ve been to Cambodia, Panama, Peru & El Salvador.
How did you become involved with Mending Kids?
Friends invited me for coffee, showed me photos of some kids & said if we don’t help them they will die.. That was all I needed to become involved.
What's the most impactful part of being involved with Mending Kids for you?
Seeing a child wake up from surgery.
What is your idea of happiness?
Playing with kids on a mission.
What are some things on your bucket list?
More missions.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, past present or future who would they be?
Jesus, Bono & my mom.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Ehhh…
Which talent would you most like to have?
To bring hope & joy (& lollipops) to kids in need
Forever
Have been on any missions? If so, which one stands out? If you have not, which one would you like to take part in?
Ethiopia was my first, & second, I brought my son with me too. Been there twice. Also I’ve been to Cambodia, Panama, Peru & El Salvador.
How did you become involved with Mending Kids?
Friends invited me for coffee, showed me photos of some kids & said if we don’t help them they will die.. That was all I needed to become involved.
What's the most impactful part of being involved with Mending Kids for you?
Seeing a child wake up from surgery.
What is your idea of happiness?
Playing with kids on a mission.
What are some things on your bucket list?
More missions.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, past present or future who would they be?
Jesus, Bono & my mom.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Ehhh…
Which talent would you most like to have?
To bring hope & joy (& lollipops) to kids in need
Join us, along with Dorothy, at our upcoming Hike 2 Mend for
a chance to hike and draw awareness for health equity!
 |
 |
As everyone heads back to school, we would like to shine a light on one of our former patients, Badru.
At the time he came to our attention, through an email request from the Go Campaign in the spring of 2015, he was a four-year-old boy from rural Uganda suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot – a heart condition marked by four congenital heart defects. Screened in a rural health clinic by a visiting cardiologist, the little boy with blue lips and clubbing fingertips spent most of his days crouching in a squatting position with little energy to do much else. The prospects of him making it to his fifth or even sixth birthday were slim. The challenge was that we had no surgical outreach to Uganda, and he was too complex for us to send to India through our Individual Surgical Care program. We did however have a scheduled cardiac mission in Northern Tanzania in the summer, a few months away. If our surgeon would agree to treat him and the Hospital would allow us to mend a foreign patient, we might be able to help.
After getting the hospital to agree to allow us to do the surgery, Badru was placed on the patient roster for the cardiac mission that would take place at the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, that June. The logistics to get Badru from Northern Uganda to us began in earnest and involved a village of do-gooders and pastor Robert Nabulere, of the aptly named Miracle Center to make it happen.
At the time he came to our attention, through an email request from the Go Campaign in the spring of 2015, he was a four-year-old boy from rural Uganda suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot – a heart condition marked by four congenital heart defects. Screened in a rural health clinic by a visiting cardiologist, the little boy with blue lips and clubbing fingertips spent most of his days crouching in a squatting position with little energy to do much else. The prospects of him making it to his fifth or even sixth birthday were slim. The challenge was that we had no surgical outreach to Uganda, and he was too complex for us to send to India through our Individual Surgical Care program. We did however have a scheduled cardiac mission in Northern Tanzania in the summer, a few months away. If our surgeon would agree to treat him and the Hospital would allow us to mend a foreign patient, we might be able to help.
After getting the hospital to agree to allow us to do the surgery, Badru was placed on the patient roster for the cardiac mission that would take place at the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, that June. The logistics to get Badru from Northern Uganda to us began in earnest and involved a village of do-gooders and pastor Robert Nabulere, of the aptly named Miracle Center to make it happen.
 |
Badru’s mother, a widowed subsistence farmer with 5 other children, only spoke a Ugandan dialect, so a translator nurse (Eve) and a male chaperone (Peter) were recruited to travel with Badru. It took a 12-hour bus ride across Uganda to the shores of Lake Victoria, an overnight ferry to Tanzania, another 2-hour bus ride to Mwanza, and a taxi to the hospital to get Badru to us, all timed with the arrival of the Mending Kids team on the same day, the mission’s surgical scheduling were to happen.
Alarmingly, Badru arrived with a fever, which meant he could not be scheduled for surgery until his infection was under control. He was put on a course of antibiotics that would take 24 hours to have effect. While we were doing his bloodwork, it was revealed that he had O- blood, and 4 units were required for the surgery. Panic set in when the blood bank came up empty. So we reached out to the local airways who agreed to broadcast a public service announcement seeking blood for him. Mwanza donors came through but only yielded 2 units. Our surgeon adjusted his needs and said that if we could get one more unit of blood and use plasma, he could still operate.
Alarmingly, Badru arrived with a fever, which meant he could not be scheduled for surgery until his infection was under control. He was put on a course of antibiotics that would take 24 hours to have effect. While we were doing his bloodwork, it was revealed that he had O- blood, and 4 units were required for the surgery. Panic set in when the blood bank came up empty. So we reached out to the local airways who agreed to broadcast a public service announcement seeking blood for him. Mwanza donors came through but only yielded 2 units. Our surgeon adjusted his needs and said that if we could get one more unit of blood and use plasma, he could still operate.
 |
As luck would have it, I am also O-. There was no question in my mind as to what needed to be done and I walked over to the blood bank to donate the unit needed. My main concern was my high cholesterol and how this could impact Badru. With a one-day window left to operate, Dr. Salvatore Agati and his excellent ancillary team proceeded with the surgery. I promised myself that if he survived, I would fund his education.
After a two-week stay in the hospital, Badru and his entourage made the long trek home, where he rejoined his five brothers and sisters. Worried about his welfare and his mother’s lack of support, I purchased 3 goats for her to help the family.
After a two-week stay in the hospital, Badru and his entourage made the long trek home, where he rejoined his five brothers and sisters. Worried about his welfare and his mother’s lack of support, I purchased 3 goats for her to help the family.
 |
In 2016, Badru began attending a good regional school some distance from his village. Since then, his mother turned her three goats into a herd, which allowed her to purchase cattle. This allowed her to purchase land and build a house for her family. One community, one pint of blood, one surgery, one life, and one universe that comes with it. A veritable snowball effect is the result of hope, love, and mending.
Badru is now 12, with good grades, and looks forward to school this term. And I still have high cholesterol.
- Isabelle Fox,
Executive Director
Badru is now 12, with good grades, and looks forward to school this term. And I still have high cholesterol.
- Isabelle Fox,
Executive Director
save the date - 09.21.2024
 |
