Mary is a 53-year-old who has been a widow since 2010 raising her two kids with challenges. Her older son has autism and requires full time attention. Her last-born daughter recently graduated from college and does not have a source of income yet. Mary lives in her ancestral home. She has not been able to pay her monthly insurance medical premiums so does not have coverage and has been relying on her relatives to support her medical bills. Mary feels in pain and uncomfortable. She has been having stomach pains for the last six months. She went to a local government hospital in central Kenya and was treated for amoeba and stomach pains. She was relieved for a short while, but the pains recurred. Almost a month later the pain increased and was accompanied by vomiting. She opted to visit Kijabe Hospital, where she was reviewed and the pain was controlled. She was requested to do a colonoscopy and other tests to get a detailed diagnosis. Since she was feeling better after the review, she did not follow up on the plan due to financial constraints. However, six months later the symptoms recurred and she came back in January. Her tests and a biopsy revealed cancer in the colon that needs urgent attention as it is life threatening. Mary has now been scheduled for a right hemicolectomy procedure. One side of the infected colon (large intestine) will be removed to avoid metastasis. Sadly, she is financially constrained. Her friends at home have requested time, two months, to be able to find the required amount for the surgery. This is a long period considering the case is cancerous. She appeals for support so she can undergo treatment now. Our medical partner is requesting $1,074 to fund her surgery and help her fight the cancer. Mary says, “I have been in pain for over six months now. I thought it would be relieved, but the diagnosis is now shockingly cancer. I need this surgery to stop the disease.”

Carlos is a two-year-old boy from Bolivia. His father works in construction and his mother sells decorative balloons. Carlos has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. This condition involves a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood passes through this hole without obtaining oxygen from the lungs, making him weak and unable to gain weight properly. On April 24th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch. Another donor is helping support a part of the cost of the surgery, but our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance still needs $1,500 to fund medical tests, their hospital stay, and medications. Carlos' mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after surgery, our son will recover his appetite and start growing!"

Pisey is a 10-year-old girl from Cambodia. Pisey lives with her parents and younger brother in Takeo province. Her mother is a housewife, while her father works as a welder. Pisey is currently in fifth grade and her favorite subjects are Khmer and mathematics. When she grows up, she wants to become a lawyer. At home, she likes to eat boiled eggs with rice and enjoys watching animations on TV. Pisey was born with a hereditary multiple exostosis, a rare genetic condition that causes benign bone tumors to grow near the growth plates of her long bones. This is a condition that runs in families, as her grandmother has similar lesions on her bones. These bone growths can cause problems when they pressure nearby nerves, limit movement, or cause friction by rubbing against other bones or tissues. Pisey experiences pain in her left upper limb during the night, leading to sleep disturbances. She has difficulty in school because she doesn't sleep well due to the pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 1st, Pisey will undergo surgery to remove the tumors on her arm. This will help address the pain and allow her to use her arm better. Pisey's family is able to contribute $100 but needs your help to raise $626 more to fund this procedure. Pisey's mother shared, "After surgery, Pisey hopes to use her arm without pain and to be able to attend school regularly."