Heading to the Know More Orphans conference in Birmingham today to speak about how sponsoring a child through Compassion International sometimes prevents orphans. According to one estimate, 4 out of 5 orphans are orphaned by poverty, not the death of mom and dad.
When parents are unable to meet a child’s physical needs, sometimes the only option in sight is to give that child to someone else who can.
Fatao is a great example. I can’t say he would have been orphaned without medical treatment from Compassion – given over to an adoptive family so that he could live. But if mom is earning $2 each day, how else is she to provide the $23,000 surgery to repair a hole in her son’s heart and save his life?
Because her child is registered in Compassion International’s child sponsorship program, he is receiving the surgery. It is paid for by Compassion’s Medical Assistance Fund. Donating money toward Fatao’s surgery keeps that fund replenished. Giving more than is needed to cover Fatao’s surgery will grow the fund.
Compassion is documenting every step of Fatao’s journey from Burkina Fasso to India for surgery. Follow it at compassion.com/heart or using Twitter hashtag #Fatao.
We’re up to over $17,000 raised so far! Thank you!
I am so happy to see the new total! How awesome. I do cry every time I think of that little guy getting on a plane without his mama, though. I know that God is big enough to care for Fatao and see him through all the parts of this journey, and I am praying that He will send along plenty of surrogate mamas to love on Fatao until he returns home.
Thanks for the update and the video.
I’m seriously not cynical about this or trying to poke holes or anything, I’m just curious and I know you’ll answer honestly.
Are these couple of kids the only ones out of all those that Compassion supports who need medical interventions? Or are these chosen from among all of those served by the MAF due to the high costs of their interventions? Or for some other reason (like the MAF is running low and can’t meet this need without a funding drive)? I guess my question is: are these representative children of those served by the MAF? Or are they the only ones? It just doesn’t seem like there are that many of them, considering the numbers of kids that Compassion serves.
Just curious and thought you’d know!
It’s my fault that this hasn’t been clearer in the messaging on my own blog, Melissa. Thanks for giving the chance to clarify.
Fatao’s surgery is being paid for by the Medical Assistance Fund. No matter what. I miswrote earlier (yesterday) when I said we were raising money for his surgery. That was my understanding but that’s not correct. What we’re doing is replenishing the fund and hopefully adding to it, using Fatao’s story as an example of the good that fund does.
Perhaps I can get you numbers on how many kids are aided by this fund annually? This is way outside of what I do for Compassion. My wee expertise is child sponsorship. The various funds Compassion manages (Disaster Relief, Medical, etc), I’m not as familiar with. I know what they do and how those funds are raised but beyond that I’m not much use to you. But I can ask if you’re interested.
No, no, I figured it was something like that. I know Compassion to be a company that is very mindful of being good stewards of the money given them and forthright about how money is spent. It just seemed odd to me that so few were in need, given the many they serve!
Thanks!
I just wanted to affirm that Shaun is spot on with how money is applied to and from the Medical Fund. Thanks for clarifying Shaun, and great question Melissa!
Quick update before my plane takes off.
Fatao’s surgery has now been scheduled. Tonight at 8PM EST.
PRAY!
Hey, I attended the conference today. I was so moved, inspired, convicted, motivated… Thank You! Can’t wait to get started. I would love to show my friends and family the video of the Compassion child that sent a message to his sponsor family. Is that online anywhere? Also, I noticed they were filming the whole event. Will that be available online? (I’ve been singing “I want somebody to love” all day…thanks a lot!) I’ll think about orphans every time I hear it now