Mercyline Nyakundi is a bright, energetic 11 year old Kenyan girl who lives with her mother and younger sister on their farm in rural western Kenya. “Mercy” deals with a rare form of spina bifida with a condition known as tethered cord syndrome. Mercy cannot walk on her own and her incontinence severely impacts on her life. She has been treated at three hospitals in Kenya and has undergone extensive physiotherapy. There has been little improvement and it is now clear that there are no health resources in Kenya that can adequately meet Mercy’s medical needs. The good news is that Mercy has been accepted at the Shriners Hospital for Children (Canada) in Montreal. She is scheduled for an MRI, an orthopaedic and neurological assessment with possible surgery taking place in early April 2017. The Shriners will finance all costs related to Mercy's medical treatment. Costs related to travel, insurance, domestic transport, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the family.

Mercy’s father Thomas Omwenga needs financial assistance. He is a marathon runner who works full time as a caretaker at McMaster University (Hamilton). Thomas is very connected with his family in Kenya. Mercy, her younger sister Silvia and her mother Margaret need to be in Canada for a period of six months beginning March 30, 2017. The anticipated cost is approximately $12,000 overall.