5-year old Elise, from Cameroon, had her life changed by the power of surgical care and the kindness of strangers when she met Mending Kids. Her story is a testament to what can be achieved when people come together with a common goal: to mend children in need. Elise's journey began when her father reached out to Mending Kids. She was suffering from a spinal malformation that was untreatable in her country, and her family had exhausted all other options. With the help of our dedicated team and thanks to our kaleidoscope of monthly donors, Elise was approved for surgery at Shriners Children’s Hospital. Elise's journey was full of obstacles, including being denied a visa twice. However, through our tireless efforts, which included appeals to congressional representatives, and a volunteer flying to her hometown of Yaounde to escort her, Elise was finally able to travel to Los Angeles and then onto Portland for her life-changing surgery at Shriners Medical Center. [READ MORE] The results have been remarkable. Elise instantly grew two inches taller and is on her way to an impressive four-inch increase! Her mother's testimony speaks to the profound impact this has had on her family's life: "Honestly speaking, this is a dream come true...I remember severally she will always ask me 'mummy when will my back be straight?' My response was never mind one day your back will be straight. And behold, her back is straight." After 4 months, Elise’s host family, Bob and Kate, flew back with her to reunite with her family in Cameroon. But her journey is far from over. Elise will need to return to the US every 6 to 9 months for the next 6 years for the procedures necessary to ensure straight growth of her spine.
The life-changing impact of surgical care is undeniable, and thanks to our kaleidoscope of monthly donors we’re able to restore futures. A monthly commitment creates the safety net that allows us to provide vital surgeries to children like Elise, who have no other options. Join our community of changemakers, dedicated to transforming lives. We are thrilled to announce that Mending Kids has reached a major milestone in our 18 year history. We have just mended our 5000th child! We couldn't have achieved this feat without the dedication of our small staff, the selflessness of our volunteer medical teams and non-medical volunteers, and the generous support of our board of directors, donors, and partners around the world. We also want to take a moment to reflect on the immeasurable impact that our work has had beyond the 5000 children whose lives we have transformed. Over nearly two decades, Mending Kids surgical teams have engaged in transfers of knowledge with medical professionals around the world, building self-sufficiency and supporting the communities that we serve. Growing up in a shanty town in Paraguay after being abandoned by her own mother, Liz's future looked bleak. Her grandmother, who spoke only Guarani (an indigenous dialect from Paraguay), knew that Liz's health was rapidly deteriorating and that she needed medical attention. Despite not having the funds for bus fare to get to the hospital in Asuncion, Liz's grandmother set off with her on foot. Along the way, they met kind strangers who helped them get to the hospital just in time for Liz to collapse at the doorstep. She was in heart failure and needed a new heart. Against all odds, a donor emerged and Liz was given a second chance at life. Liz became the first recipient of a heart transplant in a Paraguayan public hospital. Following successful surgery, Liz didn't have suitable housing for her recovery. Luckily, she spent six months living with her cardiologist, a woman who became her advocate and champion. Eventually, Liz was placed in public housing and continued towards recovery. Eleven years later, Liz is a thriving young woman about to graduate from high school with plans to study medicine and give back. Liz’s story is a reminder of the transformative impact that love and support can have on a child’s life. Mending Kids played a very small role in her journey to health, when we collaborated with Surgeons of Hope to provide critically needed medical supplies. Still, we want to honor those who helped her become the young woman she is today. We would also like to spotlight all the mothers and mother-figures who champion children to adulthood. We are proud of the impact we’ve made in the lives of so many, but we know there is so much more to be done. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of children. Together, we can give them the opportunity to wish their parent a Happy Mother’s Day. Together, we can mend 5000 more.
Maybe you missed our Imagine Gala and want to do your part, or maybe you attended and were inspired by all the generosity and mending. Either way, we have an incredible last-minute opportunity that we want to share with you! The Cusumano Family has generously donated a VIP experience with four Clippers courtside seats for the last home game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 8th, 2023.
This exclusive package is priceless, and we're accepting bids until 5pm on Friday, March 24th. But the best part? Every dollar raised will go towards providing life-changing surgeries to children in need. Not only will you and three friends be living it up in the ultimate basketball fan's dream seats, but you'll also make a difference in the lives of children who need it most. Don’t wait – place your bid now, help support our mission at Mending Kids, and enter for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Imagine Gala: the Gift of the Future, commemorating the 18th year of Mending Kids. As an organization with the mission of providing life-saving surgical care to children, giving them the opportunity to celebrate more birthdays is a clear indicator of success, hence this year's Gala birthday theme. We were thrilled to see 250 guests come together this past Saturday, dressed to the nines, and ready to party like it was their own birthday!
And boy, did we have a blast honoring Dr. Robert Cho and Shriners Children's Southern California with the Mend Award, and Chris Cortazzo, who received the Love Award. Romina Ublillús, our brave recipient of the Hope Award, was unable to attend in-person, but not to worry, she will be presented with the award when our team heads to Iquitos, Peru to mend children during our annual general surgery and dental mission. The highlight of the night was none other than rock legend, Gene Simmons, who gave an impromptu speech and generously donated to help us reach our upcoming milestone of mending 5000 children. He also offered up his signed Axe Guitar at the live auction, and threw in front-row seats and VIP backstage passes to a KISS concert and a personal dog walk to the highest bidder. We are still pinching ourselves! Another heartfelt thank you to every one of you who made this year’s Imagine Gala a success! The countdown for the event of the season is on! Imagine Gala: The Gift of the Future is less than a month away, and it's going to be the birthday bash of a lifetime. Why? Because this year marks our 18th year of mending. Every year, we raise funds to provide critical surgical care for children in need, giving them futures and birthdays that will last a lifetime. If you're local to Los Angeles, remember to buy your tickets before March 3rd, as ticket prices will increase. Join us for a night filled with hope, love, and mending. We're honored to recognize our Peruvian patient, Romina Ublillús, who's traveling all the way from Lima to share her journey with us. We'll be celebrating her strength and resilience as we present her with the Hope Award.
We'll also be presenting the Love Award to Chris Cortazzo, and the Mend Award to Dr. Robert Cho and Shriners Children's Southern California, for their dedication to our cause. Your attendance and support will mean that more children in Guatemala, Peru, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Armenia, Mauritius, and the United States will have more birthdays in the very near future. You can be a part of their journey. Together, we're Mending Kids! Get ready to celebrate our 18th year and raise a glass, because Mending Kids’ Imagine Gala: The Gift of the Future is happening in just a few short weeks! We couldn't be more excited to reconnect with our Mending Kids family and honor Dr. Robert Cho & Shriners Children's Southern California for making a huge difference in the lives of our children. Dr. Robert Cho is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and chief of staff at Shriners Children’s Southern California, whose innovative approach to care and commitment to individualized treatment has helped countless children. Through our longstanding partnership, over 40 kids worldwide have had their lives transformed. We are also so proud to honor Mending Kids patron, Chris Cortazzo, and former patient, Romina Ublillús. We're talking about some serious superheroes! We need your help to make this event a success, so please grab your family and friends and let's make a difference together! By purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, you're not only treating yourself to a night of fun and celebration, you're also saving lives, providing our kids with more birthdays, and helping us to reach our goal of mending our 5000th child in 2023! What are you waiting for? Imagine Gala: The Gift of the Future is going to be an unforgettable evening, and we can't wait to see you there!
We are beyond excited about our upcoming Imagine Gala on March 18th, where we will be celebrating and honoring Chris Cortazzo with the Love Award. As a Malibu native and real estate icon, Chris has been a good friend to Mending Kids and we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on his support. In addition to our 18th year and honoring Chris, we will be presenting the Mend Award to Dr. Robert Cho and Shriners Children’s Southern California for their longstanding and life-saving partnership with Mending Kids. Last but not least, in recognition of her resilience and inspiration, our former patient from Peru, Romina Ublillús, will receive the Hope Award.
Join us in celebration of our Mending Kids heroes, and help us raise funds to reach our goal of mending our 5000th child in 2023. This is a special opportunity to show your support for the important work we do, and to be a part of something truly meaningful. We hope to see you on March 18th as we come together to celebrate these inspiring individuals and their contributions to the Mending Kids community. We are thrilled to announce that Mending Kids will be celebrating its 18th year at the Imagine Gala: The Gift of the Future, on March 18, 2023, at the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue. This will be a special birthday themed party to commemorate all we’ve accomplished in our mission to provide surgical care to children in need. We are proud to honor realtor, Chris Cortazzo, our longstanding partners, Dr. Robert Cho & Shriners Medical Center, Pasadena, and former patient, Romina Ublillus. These individuals have made a significant impact on the lives of our children, and we are grateful for their support. Due to the limited seating, we encourage you to reserve your spot at the event before March 3, 2023. We have a special treat in store for you, as Amy's Culinary Adventure will be serving up delicious food that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. Funds raised at the Gala will help us reach our 5000th mended child this year, and we can't do it without your support. Your attendance, and generous contributions, will make a life-saving difference for children in need of critical surgical care.
You can now purchase tickets, donate, pay tribute, or become a sponsor. Join us in celebrating 18 years! Together, we are Mending Kids! We will be back at the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue to celebrate our 18th year of Mending Kids. For our most important fundraiser of the year, we will recognize our amazing heroes and honorees: Chris Cortazzo, Dr. Robert Cho & Shriners Medical Center - Pasadena, and Romina Ubillús, all in the name of providing critical surgical care for sick children.
Save the date & let’s get this party started! With your support, we will reach our 5000th child in 2023. Dear friends, As 2022 comes to an end, and we reflect on the innumerable acts of kindness and support we’ve been shown in our pursuit of saving lives, we want to express our sincere gratitude to all of you. Thanks to your support, we deployed 10 medical missions and provided critical surgical care to 207 children. As you make new year’s resolutions and set goals for 2023, consider that monthly giving has the most stabilizing impact on our mission to mend more children. For the cost of a cup of coffee, we can provide antibiotics to prevent rheumatic heart disease, or cover the bus fare to get a congenital heart condition diagnosed in time. Instead of a one-time gift, please consider a manageable monthly gift instead. Your commitment will provide the safety net our vulnerable kids so desperately need. For as little as the cost of a cup of coffee, a child could wake up to a healthy future. In Mending Kids’ history to date, over 4800 children from 68 countries (including the U.S.) have had their futures transformed. Your support will help us reach our 5000th child in 2023.
Thank you for keeping our kids in your thoughts and for making their lives matter. We wish you great health and prosperity in the new year to come. Together, we are mending kids. Isabelle Fox Executive Director |