AIC Kapsowar Hospital

Angela is a 32-year-old woman from Kenya. She is a single mother to four children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Her husband left to marry another woman, and Angela works hard to provide for her children. She was fetching firewood to sell to hotels and homes but became too ill to carry out this work. She also worked in a hotel as a cleaner, but the income was insufficient for their needs. Now, after taking her children to school, Angela stays in the area to carry water and wash clothes for residents. She also receives some financial support from her family. Angela shared that life has been challenging, but she is thankful to be alive and raising support for her treatment needs. Angela first met our medical partner's surgical team during a medical camp they hosted in her hometown a few months ago. During that visit, she was diagnosed with a non-toxic multinodular goiter. Angela’s symptoms began a few years back, including experiencing swelling on her neck and difficulty eating, swallowing, and breathing. She cannot sleep at night and becomes fatigued quickly. Angela needs to undergo surgery to heal and prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Angela receive treatment. On March 16th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH’s care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $936 to fund Angela’s surgery. Angela said: “Life is so hard, and sometimes I want to give up, but when I remember my children, I encourage myself to keep going only for their sake. When I get treated, I can work hard and provide for them without difficulty. Kindly help me.”

Fabriana is a very happy 14-month-old baby girl from the highlands of Kenya, where her parents are small-scale farmers. She lives with them, her older sibling, and her grandparents in a semi-permanent house where her parents plant vegetables for sale. Fabriana has an umbilical protrusion that causes her pain, especially after she eats. Her family brought her to a clinic that prescribed her medication, but her condition worsened. Fabriana stopped eating regularly and has not been as playful as before. Her worried mother brought her to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for further diagnosis. Surgeons there will perform surgery on March 27th to alleviate her symptoms. Now, African Mission Healthcare is asking for $737 to help support this treatment. Fabriana’s mother said,”I am so uncomfortable when my baby cries with pain because of the hernia. Lately, she has not been eating well, and her weight has gone down. Kindly help her so that she may grow in a good way.”

Ian is a 5-year-old boy from the valley of Elgeyo Marakwet county in Kenya. He is the second of three children. He loves playing football and helping his mother gather firewood and clean the house. His mother takes care of the house and family while his father tills land for planting. Ian's father is currently working in a village far away from their home in order to earn money to provide for the family. Ian recently came to the hospital in a lot of pain because he had fallen and hurt his right arm. X-rays revealed that his arm was broken near the elbow joint. He needs surgery in order to stabilize the broken bone. Since the arm was so swollen, Ian was admitted to the hospital; a splint was applied and the arm is elevated to reduce the swelling. Because Ian is very young, he needs surgery so that his arm will continue to grow properly. He is right-handed and currently does not have use of the arm or hand. Fortunately, on March 21st, surgeons at our partner African Mission Healthcare will perform surgery to help heal Ian's broken arm. He and his family need help raising $853 to fund Ian's surgery. Ian's mother shared, “My son is in so much pain, and I feel like transferring it to myself. I am worried because he is a right-handed person, and he has injured his right hand. I sincerely have no option and no funds to help my son. Please help him so that he may be able to go back to school.”

Peter, who is 45 years old, lives with his wife and five young children in Pokot county in Kenya. Peter was a successful dairy farmer until drought and famine decimated his herd of cows, rendering it impossible for him to earn sufficient money to provide for his family. Currently, he works as a small scale potato farmer, while his wife is a homemaker, caring for their children. Not too long ago, Peter was involved in a road traffic accident, while heading to the farm. He lost control of his motorbike, and fractured his tibia. In order to heal, Peter needs surgery on his leg, a procedure that he cannot afford with his limited earnings from the farm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On March 28th, Peter will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. After this procedure, Peter will no longer be in pain, and once he has fully recovered, he will be able to return to work and to provide for his family. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,145 to fund his surgery and medical care. Peter says: "I am the only person who works to provide for my family. My wife looks after the children at home as they are still young and need more attention. I feel bad when I cannot help them. Kindly help me so that they may not suffer."

Rodah is a 62 year old farmer. She and her husband, who is disabled, have three children who are all married. Rodah plants vegetables for sale, and gets some foodstuff from her children, who live far from home. She also has dairy cows, whose milk is used for home consumption, as well as for earning money. During an altercation with a family member, Rodah suffered a fracture of the lower part of her humerus bone in her right arm. She went to a local hospital, where the fracture was confirmed by an X-ray. Her right arm was splinted, and put into a sling. The fracture is painful, and Rodah is unable to use her right hand. If the fracture isn't treated appropriately, her hand may not heal properly. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On April 3rd, Rodah will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. After the surgery, Rodah will no longer be in pain, and she will regain the use of her hand. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Rodah says: "My hand really hurts. I can't do anything now, and most things at home are paralyzed as I was the only one working. I am kindly asking for help so that I can get back to my usual way of living."

Denis is a 22-year-old motorbike driver - the third born in a family of six. His parents separated and now he lives with his mother. He shared that he dropped out of school in grade seven because his parents were not in a position to provide for all of them. His other siblings have been adopted by family members. Denis is single and is hoping to marry when he has a stable income. Currently, he is employed riding a motorbike as a taxi and his daily income is not always guaranteed. Denis needs to undergo surgery so that he can continue doing his normal activities and also reach his desired life of having a stable income and a family. When Denis visiting our medical partner's hospital, he was walking with a crutch and could not put any weight on his left leg. He had an x-ray film that showed a complete fracture of his left femur. His condition causes him pain and he is unable to continue with his work. Denis' family is not in a position to pay the medical fees, and his treatment will be a big financial burden to them. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 13, Denis will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Denis needs to undergo surgery so that he can continue doing his normal activities and also reach his desired life of having a stable income and a family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1145 to fund this procedure. Denis says, "It has been hard to carry out my normal duties. I really look forward to getting well so that I can fully depend on myself as before.”

Obadiah is a 26-year-old man from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family of three children. His mother passed away seven years ago due to cancer. Obadiah lives with his father and works as a casual laborer to support his father, who is in his old age. However, since Obadiah’s injury, it has been painful for him to work, and they have had a relative come and stay with them. Obadiah needs surgery to heal and is requesting assistance with his medical costs. Obadiah fell and sustained a fracture to his arm last year. At the time, he went to a hospital, received a splint, and underwent a plate fixation procedure. He has continued to experience persistent pain for the last year and cannot use his hand. Obadiah recently received an X-ray, which revealed that the fracture has not united and one of the screws has moved out of place so that the plate is no longer holding the fracture correctly. To finally heal, Obadiah must undergo a three-part procedure to align his bone and return it to a normal position. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 25th, Obadiah will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Upon recovery, Obadiah’s fracture will be healed, he will no longer be in pain, and he will be able to work. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Obadiah shared: “I feel so sad when I depend on people to provide everything for me. I am sadder when I remember that my father is alone without a helper. I am so hopeful that one-day things will get back to normal, and I will be able to work and earn something. Kindly help me so that my father may no longer suffer.”

Priscillah, who is 61 years old, is a mother of six and a grandmother of three living in the arid region of Baringo County, Kenya. Despite being a retired ECD teacher, Priscillah does not have a pension because she was employed on contract. She and her husband work as millet and mango farmers in order to earn an income. A month ago, Priscillah visited the doctor, complaining about a neck mass that she first noticed 20 years ago. Recently, Priscillah began to experience troubling symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, and breathlessness. Her neighbor convinced her to be evaluated and after lab tests and an ultrasound were done, Priscillah was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. As it was toxic, she was immediately placed on medications to prepare her for surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Priscillah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 4th at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland, which should ensure that she will be able to live a healthy and more comfortable life. Priscillah and her family need your help to raise $936 to cover the cost of this procedure. Priscillah happily said: "I never knew I would ever undergo surgery; I was ready to live with the condition until my death. Thank you for giving me this chance."

Joyline is a 14-year-old student at a primary school in Kenya, where she lives with her parents and two younger siblings. Her parents are small-scale farmers who plant potatoes and beans, mainly for home consumption, with some sold for an income. They live in a home without electricity, using firewood as their source of heat, while getting their water from a nearby river. Joyline reported that she started feeling pain in her leg in November of last year. Her parents brought her to two different facilities, where the only treatment provided was pain medication. Walking has become difficult to the point she had to stop going to school and is unable to walk on her own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On May 9th, Joyline will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. The treatment will repair her fractured femur, and enable her to live a pain-free life. Now, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Joyline says: "I feel so much pain, and the worst of it all is that I cannot walk. I am so uncomfortable when I see my mother helping me do things that I could do on my own. Kindly help me so that I may be able to go back to school and study well, as this is my final year in primary school."

Hillary is a cool, caring 39-year-old man from Kenya. He is a middle child and lives at home with his parents and younger brother. Hillary experiences epilepsy and cannot talk or work due to his condition. His elderly parents are retired, and his brother practices small-scale farming and works labor jobs in the neighborhood to help earn a living for his family. Hillary recently fell from his bed and injured his arm and hand. He visited a nearby government facility and was diagnosed with a displaced fracture in his left humerus and received a splint. As Hillary is still experiencing pain, swelling, and discomfort in his arm, his family brought him to our medical partner's care center. Upon review, the doctor advised that Hillary needs surgery since the fracture is too displaced to heal with a splint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 16th, Hillary will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Hillary's brother says, "My brother has had a lot of challenges in his life, and when I see him crying with pain, I feel hurt. I am so hopeful that he will get treatment and that he will live comfortably once again. Kindly help him."

10 year old Dennis is the third child in a family of four children, all of whom study at a local primary school. Dennis' father - who is from Uganda - and his mother - who is from Kenya - separated several years ago. Now Dennis and his siblings live with their mother in Marakwet West, Kenya, where Dennis' mother is a casual laborer, working on local farms. On weekends and holidays, Dennis and his siblings assist their mother in her work, so as to earn additional money for the family. While helping a neighbor cut animal feed into small pieces, Dennis' hand was injured by a chaff cutter. When Dennis was brought to the hospital, it was determined that several of the fingers on his right hand had been damaged. Two of the fingers had to be amputated right away, while the third finger subsequently developed gangrene, and also needed to be amputated. While Dennis has recovered from his injuries, the wound on his hand has never healed completely. The surgeon advised the family that Dennis requires skin grafting, in order to replace the skin that he lost when his hand was injured, and to ensure the total healing of the wound. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help. They are requesting $1,089 to fund Dennis' skin grafting procedure, which is scheduled for May 19th, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. This procedure will enable Dennis to fully recover, so that he can return to school, and resume the life of a 10 year old boy. Dennis's mother said: "It is so sad that my son has lost his fingers, but I am grateful to God that he is still alive. I am looking forward to seeing him get well so that he may continue with his education and become successful in life. Kindly help him so that he may recover well."

Todolem is a 73-year-old pastoralist - he breeds and takes care of a herd of cows, in order to support his large family. As they live in a semi-arid region of the country, which has been experiencing a shortage of rain, the family moves around a lot in search of water and pasture land for the animals. Todolem injured his arm three months ago when he fell while herding his cattle. He shared that he thought it was not a serious injury, so he went to an herbalist near his home, where he was given some medication. The injury did not improve, and while visiting a neighbor who had recently broken his leg, Todolem learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, surgeons at AIC Kapsowar Hospital can help. After being examined at the hospital, Todolem was scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, on May 16th. The surgery will enable Todolem to work again. Now, African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Todolem says: "My family has suffered since I injured my arm. They have lacked a lot of things, and I feel so bad when I see them suffer in my presence. I am humbly requesting assistance so that I may continue with my role as a family provider."