Aliyah is a 6-year-old girl who lives in a small community about 20 minutes from the clinic here in Cazale. I first met her when she was only 16 months old. Her mother brought her in because her weight was very low. We enrolled her in the Mamba Medika program, and after some time, she gained enough weight to be discharged.

Not long after, though, her mother returned. Aliyah’s weight had started dropping again. She didn’t show any serious symptoms at that point, but her health still seemed fragile. When she turned five, she came back to the clinic again—this time with moderate malnutrition. I enrolled her in the PNS (outpatient) program, and her mother brought her faithfully to every monthly appointment.

Each visit, her mom would express her worry that Aliyah’s weight still wasn’t going up the way it should. I kept encouraging her, explaining which foods and juices might help with weight gain, and we worked together to support her daughter. After a few months, her weight became more stable, and she was able to be discharged again.

But a few months later, she was back. Her mother explained that something just wasn’t right. This time, Aliyah’s condition was more serious. No matter what we did, she wasn’t gaining weight. One day, her mom mentioned that Aliyah’s stomach looked strange—one side was more swollen than the other.

When I examined her, I saw that she was breathing quickly, and her heart rate was high. We ran some lab tests and found out that Aliyah had a heart condition. We referred her to the hospital right away for more advanced care. But her mother didn’t have the money needed to get her the treatment she needed. That’s when we made the decision to take full responsibility for her care—covering all the costs and making sure she could be seen by specialists, even if they were far away.

After several steps and lots of patience, we were finally able to secure her an appointment. It was a big relief for all of us. Aliyah spent several days in the hospital where she was seen by doctors and given a treatment plan.

Now, Aliyah is doing much better. She’s taking her medication and comes for her check-ups as scheduled. She is a very sweet and loving little girl.

My biggest hope is that God will continue to work in her life. I pray she grows stronger, continues her education, and one day understands that it was God who helped her heal—and that she chooses to walk with Him.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. Because of you, children like Aliyah are able to get the care they need, even when things get complicated. We’re very grateful.