AIC Kijabe Hospital

Talia is a sweet and soft-spoken 11-year-old student from Kenya. Her father is a construction worker, and her mother is a homemaker. Despite health challenges, Talia is a determined girl who works hard in school and dreams of becoming a pilot one day. When Talia was very young, her parents noticed delays in her development. She needed therapy to learn how to walk and did not begin speaking until she was three years old. Around that time, she was diagnosed with hearing loss, but her parents could not afford hearing aids. Without them, school has been difficult for Talia, and she has begun to fall behind her classmates. This has made her dream of becoming a pilot feel increasingly out of reach. Her hearing loss also affects her speech, making her hesitant to express herself for fear that others might laugh at her. About three months ago, Talia and her family visited our partner’s medical care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors recommend hearing aids for Talia. Our partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Talia’s hearing aids, which will be fitted on April 28th. This amount will cover the purchase, programming, and fitting of the hearing aids. With these hearing aids, Talia will finally be able to hear, to learn, and to thrive. Now, Talia's family needs your support to have a fair chance at a brighter future. Talia shared, “When I try to speak, and the words don’t come out right, other children laugh at me. It makes me feel very sad.”

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”

Rodgers is a 30-year-old construction worker from Kenya. He was the sole provider for his family, but had to stop work due to his health condition. Rodgers was working when he noticed his left leg had begun to swell for no apparent reason. At first, he hoped the swelling would subside on its own, but instead it worsened each day. Soon, his right leg also became swollen. Both legs developed painful wounds, and as the infection progressed, Rodgers found it increasingly difficult to walk or continue working. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rodgers receive treatment to heal the infection in his legs. On August 4th, surgeons will perform a debridement to help his wounds heal and reduce his pain. AMH is requesting $505 to fund his surgery. This treatment will give Rodgers hope as he begins the long journey toward recovery and rebuilding his life with his family. Rodgers said, "The pain has been overwhelming, and I can no longer provide for my family as I used to. I am praying for healing and the chance to rebuild my life."

Angalo is a 19-year-old man from Kenya. Angalo's father is a casual labourer and the family's sole breadwinner, while his mother is a housewife and cares for her seven children. Angalo dreams of becoming a doctor. Four years ago, Angalo began experiencing severe pain in his right leg, stretching from the knee down. At first, he visited the school nurse, who gave him medication to relieve the pain. Although the medication provided temporary relief, the pain persisted. A short time later, he noticed a wound on his right leg that was discharging pus. They took him to a nearby hospital, but despite several visits, doctors were unable to determine the cause of his condition. As the pain worsened and the wound continued to drain pus, further scans were done. The results revealed that a portion of his tibia had become damaged, and the infection had progressed. Although he was treated with medication, the infection continued to worsen over time. He has endured repeated hospital visits while trying to keep up with his education. He is now preparing to sit for his final secondary school examinations this year, but his condition has made school life extremely difficult. Walking long distances is painful, and he has also faced discrimination from some of his peers. Angala was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors conducted further assessments and recommended a sequestrectomy to remove the infected, dead bone. This procedure offers him the best chance of eliminating the infection, relieving his pain, and restoring his mobility. Fortunately, on August 7th, Angalo will undergo repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,400 to fund Angalo's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate his symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. Angalo shared, "The pain has made school very difficult, but I have never stopped believing in my dream. Your support will give me the chance to heal, finish my education, and one day serve others as a doctor."

James is a 44-year-old man from Kenya. James has endured a long treatment journey since he was involved in an accident three years ago. James was heading home when he struck by a car. The driver, who was reportedly intoxicated, fled the scene. James sustained severe injuries and lost consciousness. His neighbors and friends rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he began what would become a long and difficult journey of treatment. Since the accident, James has been in and out of hospitals, receiving treatment whenever he could afford it. Over time, the cost of repeated clinic visits and medical care became too much for him, and he decided to seek help from a nearby small health facility, run by a children's home. For almost a year, the clinic cared for James, and dressed his wounds at no cost. However, as James’ visits became more frequent, the facility could no longer continue treating him for free and eventually asked him to contribute toward his care. With no reliable source of income or financial support, James could not continue his treatment. About a month ago, James went to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, seeking support for treatment. Upon examination, he was found to have a severe infection that had significantly damaged his right leg. Unfortunately, the infection had become so extensive that he had to get an amputation below the knee, to prevent the infection from causing further harm. James has been recovering steadily, still under continued medical care. He now needs to undergo a debridement procedure to remove the remaining infected dead tissue and promote healthy healing. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping James receive treatment. On August 11th, surgeons will perform a debridement procedure at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Now, James needs help to fund this $505 procedure. “I have gone through so much since the accident. Your support will mean so much to me and continue to give me hope, as I continue my journey to healing,” James shared.

Joel is a 35-year-old man from Kenya. Joel worked at a posho mill, where he helped prepare the machine used to grind maize. While cleaning the machine in preparation for work, the machine suddenly started, severely injuring his right hand and causing extensive damage to his palm. He was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital, where he received first aid. However, the bleeding did not stop, and he had to seek further medical attention at another hospital. There, doctors performed several scans and discovered that the grinding machine had caused extensive damage to his palm. He received repeated wound dressings, but the pain continued. As the weeks passed, Joel struggled to cope with the injury. The pain became severe, especially at night, making it difficult for him to sleep. Because of the injury to his right hand, he could no longer comfortably perform simple activities that he once did on his own. The injury has also prevented Joel from returning to work and earning an income. With no one to support him financially, he has been left struggling to afford the treatment he needs. Joel requires a debridement surgery to remove the damaged tissue and properly clean the affected area to support healing. Unfortunately, Joel's national health insurance coverage has already been exhausted, and he has no financial resources to pay for the procedure. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Joel receive treatment. On August 20th, surgeons will perform a debridement to begin his journey toward recover. Now, Joel needs help to fund this $505 procedure. “I am in constant pain and have no one to support me. I just want to be able to take care of myself,” Joel shared.