Lara Walters

I want to introduce you to someone very special to me. His name is Musa - he is the youngest of the children I sponsor. ♥ My boys ♥ Musa is just 6 years old and lost both of his parents before he had even celebrated his first birthday. His elderly grandmother remains but due to extreme poverty, she was unable to provide for this beautiful soul. Musa would like to grow up to be a soldier so that he can one day help other people. His favourite colour is green; he is a smart boy and he loves playing football. Musa lives at the orphanage that I am trying to fundraise for. They have a space suitable for 15 children but care for 56 children. Yes, it's overcrowded - that's the point of the fundraiser. They are looking to expand and build a home that won't have to turn away children in need. This home is amazing - they provide nutritious meals, beds (but we need more!) shower and toilet facilities, medical care - several of the residents suffer from cerebral palsy and cover the childrens school fees and supplies. If you can't donate, please share this fundraiser with your friends, family and churches - that would be greatly appreciated.

❤️Wonderful News - $16,200 Raised! ❤️ We are incredibly grateful to share that three generous donors have contributed directly to Empowered Child Ministries: $9,500 $6,500 $200 That is an amazing total of $16,200 received outside GoFundMe! As these were direct donations, they will not appear in the total displayed on this page, but every dollar is helping bring the children closer to having the safe and spacious home they desperately need. To our three donors, Tracey & our anonymous patrons: thank you for your extraordinary generosity and for believing in this mission. Your kindness is giving more than just money, you are giving hope to 56 children for a better future.

My name is Lara, from Queensland, Australia and I am raising funds on behalf of Bazira and Empowered Child Ministries (ECM), formerly Abigail Children Ministry, in Uganda. Empowered Child Ministries provides a home, care and hope to 56 vulnerable and orphaned children, including children living with special needs and disabilities. I invite you to meet some of our children and follow us on: Facebook Click Here! Instagram: Click Here! For these children, ECM is much more than somewhere to sleep. Bazira and his team work every day to provide them with food, safe shelter, education, school fees, healthcare and other necessities. Children with special needs are also supported with additional care, including physiotherapy and assistance with their individual needs. Their work extends beyond the children in their home. ECM also reaches out to vulnerable people in the surrounding community, including elderly people and widows who have little or no support. But right now they are now facing a serious problem. 56 children are living in a home designed for around 15. The children are loved and cared for, but the current property simply cannot accommodate them safely long-term. EMC urgently needs room to grow or faces the heartbreaking reality turning vulnerable children away. We want to prevent that by any means possible. Our goal is to raise enough money to purchase approximately three acres of land, giving Empowered Child Ministries the space needed to establish a larger, safer and more sustainable children’s home. The land would provide the foundation for a long-term home where the children can have adequate sleeping and living space, facilities appropriate for children with disabilities, room to play and learn, and space for the ministry to become increasingly self-sufficient. This isn’t simply about buying land. It’s about giving 56 children somewhere they can safely call home — and making sure there is room for the next child who needs help. Every donation, no matter the size, brings that goal closer. If you aren’t able to donate, sharing this fundraiser is enormously valuable. The more people who hear the children’s story, the greater our chance of giving ECM the space it desperately needs. Thank you for helping Bazira and Empowered Child Ministries continue providing these children with safety, education, healthcare, dignity and a future. Together, we can give them room to grow and the childhood they deserve.

I’m reaching out to ask for your help for someone incredibly brave — my friend “B”. I met B during one of the most difficult seasons of my life, when we were both participating in a clinical trial for severe, treatment-resistant depression. Like many in that program, we had already tried everything — medications, therapy, TMS, ECT — all in the hope of finding some relief from our crippling depression. The trial involved a highly invasive procedure: a lengthy brain surgery, while awake, to implant a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) device. This device, powered by a pacemaker implanted in the chest, was designed to send electrical signals to the brain in hopes of improving symptoms. Sadly, the treatment did not work as hoped and was scrapped. Those photos are of me after my surgery. Three holes in my head and one in my chest. B went through this exact procedure, and it was gruelling. But for B, the outcome has been far worse... Not only did the device do little to alleviate the terrible depression, it also added pain and burden where it should have given her relief. B has developed an extremely rare complication called “bowstringing” — a condition where dense scar tissue forms around the wires connecting the device from her chest, up her neck, and into her brain. This scar tissue tightens over time, pulling painfully on the implanted hardware and causing constant, daily pain. This complication is so rare that: It occurs in only 0.6–2% of cases. It is barely documented in medical literature!! Many neurosurgeons are unfamiliar with how to even properly treat it! What makes this even more difficult is that simply removing the device is not enough. The scar tissue itself must be surgically released in multiple places to stop the painful “pulling” effect. Without this, the pain can continue even after removal. B is now facing the challenge of: Finding a surgeon experienced enough to understand and treat this rare condition (this means multiple specialist appointments) Covering the cost of complex corrective surgeries Managing ongoing pain while trying to advocate for her own care What is worse is that B is unable to work due to other medical conditions and tries to survive on just a disability pension. We are hoping to raise $25,000 to help her cover: Specialist consultations Surgical costs to remove the DBS device and release the scar tissue Travel costs as her surgery is likely to be interstate (Melbourne) Associated medical expenses and recovery support This device was meant to help her. To improve the quality of her life. Instead, it has left her with daily pain and navigating an incredibly complex medical situation that very few people — even in the medical field — fully understand. Despite all of this, B continues to show remarkable strength, determination, and grace. She is still being treated for her overwhelming depression. Courageously, she has agreed to participate in the newest treatment options despite having been let down so badly before. If you’re able to give, no matter how small, it would mean the world. And if you can’t donate, simply sharing this page can make a huge difference. Thank you for taking the time to read B’s story and for any support you can offer. She is a remarkable woman, and it breaks my heart to see her have to try to carry this burden all on her own. Your thoughts and prayers are welcomed.