Growing up as a young girl in Kenya, I watched Operation Smile on television as doctors and nurses performed cleft lip and palate surgeries. I saw how much of a difference they made in children’s lives, giving them a smile, restoring confidence, and truly changing their futures. Watching this inspired my dream of one day becoming part of that work.

Today, I am a nurse anesthesia student with the opportunity to return to Kenya with Kenya Relief, alongside my dream school, Columbia University, to help provide anesthesia and surgical care. This experience is truly a full-circle moment, returning not as the little girl watching from a screen, but as part of the medical team serving vulnerable communities.

As a full-time student, I am not currently working and am unable to fully fund this trip on my own. I am asking for support from donors to help make this mission possible. Your support will help me care for those most in need while fulfilling a dream that began many years ago. Thank you so much for your support