top of page

The lives we've touched 

At the Foundation for Special Surgery, every patient’s story is one of courage, trust, and the chance for a second beginning. As a nonprofit organization, our mission is to ensure that patients facing serious and often life-threatening conditions have access to the life-saving surgical care they urgently need.

On this page, patients and families share their journeys—from fear and uncertainty to healing and hope. Their stories reflect not only extraordinary medical expertise, but also the power of compassion and generosity. Because of philanthropic support, these patients received critical care that changed—and in many cases saved—their lives.

We are honored to share their voices. Each story is a reminder that together, we make life-saving care possible.

meningocele patient .HEIC
burn patient.jpg
burn patient 2 .jpg

At just four years old, this little boy had already lived his entire life in danger. Born in a remote mining town in Ghana with part of his brain developing outside his skull, every day carried risk—risk of injury, infection, and a future cut short before it could truly begin. For his family, the fear was constant, and access to the specialized care he needed felt impossibly far away. When a local foundation found him and referred him to us, our team immediately understood the urgency. After careful consultation and meticulous planning, we prepared for an extraordinarily complex surgery—one that would protect his brain and reconstruct his skull. In the United States, this surgery would cost close to $100,000. For this child, it was provided at no cost, made possible entirely through the generosity of our supporters and the selfless dedication of volunteer medical professionals. The surgery was successful—but the days that followed were filled with anxious waiting. He remained in the hospital for three days as our team watched closely, especially concerned about the risk of seizures after such an invasive procedure. Every small movement, every breath, mattered. And then, slowly, hope replaced fear. He recovered without complications. We continued to check on him for months, never stopping our watch. Each follow-up visit brought more smiles, more strength, more life. Today, he is doing well—running, playing, and living like any other child his age. Because of compassionate donors and committed volunteers, a child once defined by medical impossibility is now defined by possibility, joy, and a future full of promise. This is what your support makes possible. Your generosity turns fear into hope, and impossibility into life-changing care for children who have nowhere else to turn. Give today, attend the Sankofa Gala, or become a partner in our mission—and help us deliver healing, dignity, and a future to the next child waiting for a miracle.

bottom of page