Wishes is a 5-year-old who hails from a village in Lilongwe District. She is the last born in a family of 3 children and is a bright young student in primary school. Wishes’ parents depend on small-scale farming where they grow maize and groundnuts for their family to eat and for commercial purposes to support the family. Since she was born, Wishes has been experiencing a painful abdomen, vomiting, frequent diarrhea, and feeling weak. Her mother has been taking her to Nkhoma Hospital where she was advised to come back to meet a surgeon for assessment. Wishes was diagnosed with a periumbilical hernia, and she was scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. However, her parents cannot afford the surgery although they hope to have their daughter undergo surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Wishes’s life as she feels abdominal pain and cannot go to school when this happens, therefore, affecting her school performance. If the condition is left untreated, it may lead to strangulation which can be life-threatening. Wishes is scheduled for hernia repair surgery on February 13th. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $421 to fund surgery. After surgery, Wishes will be relived of pain and she will be able to attend school without any hindrances from the condition. Wishes’ mother says, “Thank you for this opportunity that has brought new hope to my daughter.”

Chrispine is a four-year-old boy from Malawi. He has two other siblings, one twin brother and one sister. His mother Everes, had two sets of twins, but tragically lost one of the girls shortly after birth. Christpine's mother sells vegetables and her husband is a farm worker. Chrispine likes playing and enjoys all kinds of food. Chrispine was born with bilateral inguinal hernia, which are lumps on both sides of the lower abdomen resulting from a weakness of the abdominal wall. His mother has been awaiting for an opportunity for surgery at a nearby hospital, but recently Chrispine has been experiencing a lot of pain. The condition has also affected his mother's ability to work, which has caused an income reduction for the family. A former beneficiary of the surgery support program at our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre, advised the family to seek help there. The diagnosis of bilateral inguinal hernia was confirmed and the need for a surgical intervention emphasized. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Chrispine receive treatment. On March 19th, surgeons at PIH will perform a hernia repair surgery, after which Chrispine is expected to make a full recovery. Now, Chrispine's family needs help to fund this $575 procedure. Chrispine's mother says, “I am grateful for the entire support given to my son and I am finally looking forward to surgery that will bring the long-awaited healing.”

Sok Len and his family come from Prey Veng province. His father manufactures water barrels and his mother is a homemaker. Sok Len has one 6-year-old older brother in grade one. At home, he likes to help his mother with the groceries and play with toy cars. His favorite meal is his mother's soup. Sok Len was born with macrodactyly of the left great and second toes on his left foot. Macrodactyly is a condition where toes or fingers are abnormally large due to the overgrowth of bone and soft tissue. His parents are worried that as he grows, he may have difficulty walking, wearing shoes, and being teased by other kids when he starts school. Because his family could not afford private care, a clinic referred them to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for diagnosis and treatment. Doctors at CSC have determined that two of his toes need to be amputated to avoid further disfigurement. Surgery has been scheduled for January 29th. Now, his parents need assistance with the cost of the $479 which will support the cost of surgery, medications, hospitalization, and physical therapy post-operatively. His mother said: "I hope his toe does not keep growing, and he will be able to keep up with other children when he starts school."