ReachAnother Foundation

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ReachAnother Foundation

ReachAnother Foundation helps save babies with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Ethiopia.

08/27/2026

Surgery can save a child’s life. But what happens next?

Can they go to school? Move around independently? Stay healthy as they grow?

For a child with spina bifida or hydrocephalus, surgery is often just the beginning. Families may need help with physiotherapy, bladder care, follow-up appointments, equipment, and the day-to-day challenges of caring for a child with a complex condition.

That is why our work goes beyond the operating room. We are strengthening hospital teams, training healthcare workers and parents, expanding aftercare, and building systems that give children a better chance not only to survive, but to grow, learn, participate, and live with dignity.

08/21/2026

We are proud to share another milestone in our commitment to building sustainable pediatric neurosurgical capacity in Ethiopia.💚

Reachanother Foundation was honored to partner with Dr. Jacob Leopard from Emory Children’s Hospital to provide hands-on training in ETV/CPC and microscopic neurosurgery for neurosurgeons from six hospitals across Ethiopia.

The one-week training took place at Zewditu Pediatric Neurosurgery Center and St. Peter Hospital, bringing together neurosurgeons to operate on children, discuss surgical techniques, exchange experiences, and strengthen their skills in using state-of-the-art neurosurgical equipment.

This is what sustainable healthcare development looks like: building local expertise, strengthening teams, and creating the capacity to provide specialized care locally for years to come.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Jacob Leopard for your time, expertise, and service to children in Ethiopia.

Together, we are not just treating children today. We are building a stronger pediatric neurosurgery system for tomorrow.

08/17/2026

At just 15 days old, Melona underwent surgery to repair myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida.

Now three years old, Melona walks independently, loves playing with other children, and is getting ready for kindergarten. She continues to receive regular care through a multidisciplinary spina bifida and hydrocephalus clinic, where her family receives the education and support needed to help her stay healthy.

Her story shows what timely treatment and ongoing follow-up can mean for a child and her family.💙

08/13/2026

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the ReachAnother Foundation for providing us with the exceptional Mayfield head clamp...Today, I operated on a child with a brain tumor and used it for the first time. I was truly amazed by its outstanding stability, precision, and ease of use. It is an exceptional piece of equipment that significantly enhances both surgical safety and efficiency, particularly in delicate pediatric neurosurgical procedures.”
- Dr. Alemu Gemeda, Zewditu Memorial Hospital

He also shared that after working in four different hospitals and using several Mayfield head clamps, “none of them compare to the one we now have at Zewditu Memorial Hospital.”

We are grateful to Dr. Alemu for sharing his experience and to the supporters who make specialized equipment like this available to pediatric neurosurgical teams in Ethiopia.

08/07/2026

🚲 Bicycles, families, and a day of impact!

ReachAnother Foundation was proud to partner with Rotary Club Of Addis Ababa Central Mella for Ethiopia's first Spina Bifida Awareness Bicycle Rally at Peacock Park in Addis Ababa. More than 70 participants came together to raise awareness about preventing spina bifida through folic acid while celebrating inclusion and community.

One of the most memorable moments was watching children living with spina bifida help lead the rally, with other children joining the ride in adapted bicycle carts so everyone could take part. Thank you to our Rotary partners and to Egre Menged እግረ መንገድ for generously donating 20 bicycles that helped make this event possible.

💙 What was your highlight if you joined, or have you ever participated in a community event that made a lasting impact?

07/31/2026

Prevention. Treatment. Aftercare.

From April through June, these numbers tell the story of ReachAnother’s continuum of care in Ethiopia: mothers reached with prevention, children receiving surgery, and families returning for follow-up through multidisciplinary clinics.❤️

07/26/2026

Catch up with our latest update! 🌍💙

The past few months have been full of meaningful progress in Ethiopia. From strengthening neurosurgical care through training and new equipment, to supporting families through aftercare, advancing birth defect prevention, and celebrating the incredible generosity of our community, every step brings us closer to a future where more children can grow and thrive.

Read the newsletter on our website and see what we've been working on together here: https://loom.ly/2H_P2tk

07/23/2026

🚴‍♀️🌟 Addis friends, this Saturday, grab your bike and come ride with us!

ReachAnother is proud to sponsor this joyful community ride for healthy mothers, healthy children, and spina bifida awareness during Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Month. 💙

There will be music, dance, friendship, and a kite-flying celebration with children affected by spina bifida. See the flyer for details!

07/15/2026

💙 Meet Mubarak.

At four years old, Mubarak is full of life. He loves to play with his friends, is thriving in kindergarten, and is enjoying the childhood every child deserves. But his journey began differently.

Born with spina bifida, Mubarak was referred for specialized care just days after birth. After successful surgery, he continued receiving regular follow-up care from the multidisciplinary spina bifida and hydrocephalus team at St. Peter Specialized Hospital. When he later developed hydrocephalus, he received a VP shunt, giving him the treatment he needed to continue growing and developing.

Today, thanks to timely neurosurgical care, ongoing rehabilitation, and the dedication of his family, Mubarak is reaching milestones that once seemed uncertain.

Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Stories like Mubarak's remind us why access to specialized care and long-term follow-up matter so much. Thank you to everyone who helps make these stories possible. 💙

07/09/2026

A few years ago, ReachAnother supported a study on what families actually pay out of pocket when their child needs spina bifida or hydrocephalus surgery.💰

What we found was hard but important: 49% of households faced catastrophic health spending because of surgery-related expenses, transportation, food while at the hospital, and lost income for caregivers.

This is one reason we push so hard on two things: prevention, and bringing quality care closer to home so families don’t have to travel far, miss work, and spend days waiting for appointments.🏥

Address

1900 NE 3rd Street Suite 106/307
Bend, OR
97701

Website

http://reachanother.org/

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