Grace is a one-year-old baby girl, who is the third born in her family. Grace and her siblings are cared for by their aunt, as their parents have chronic medical concerns that prevent them from being able to provide for their children. For the past eight months, Grace has lived with an umbilical hernia. The hernia causes her pain, especially when she is laughing or crying. When the hernia was first discovered, Grace was brought to the hospital, where it was recommended that she wait until she was a year old before being treated. Now that Grace has reached her first birthday, she needs to undergo surgery, to prevent the risk of strangulation of the hernia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $230 to fund Grace's hernia repair surgery, which is scheduled for January 19th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. Once completed, this procedure should allow Grace to live free of her current discomfort. Grace's aunt says: “I will be glad when Grace is relieved of this condition, and she stabilizes to enable her to live in good health.”

Chantra is a 16-year-old student in the 11th grade. He goes to the local public school and has one younger brother. At school, he enjoys physics and chemistry and would like to go to medical school to be a surgeon. Chantra's parents sell fresh chicken at a local market in Kandal province. At home, he plays several sports, does homework with his friends, and likes listening to music. Last week, Chantra was involved in a motorbike collision. When he stretched out his arms to break his fall, the impact fractured bones in both hands. His parents took him to a clinic for a splint and pain medication, but both hands still have pain, and he is unable to use them to feed or dress himself. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 1st, Chantra will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will repair his fractures and help him to use his hands again. Chantra shared: "I hope after surgery my hands can move well again, so I can go to school. I want my dream to be a surgeon to come true."

Meet Alex, a 15-year-old student, living in Kenya. Alex's mother is a single parent, working as a vendor. Alex aspires to enroll in a plant engineering course in the future. Last February, Alex was walking home from school along the side of the road, when a car veered off the road and hit him. After hearing a loud bang, the next thing that Alex remembers is waking up in the hospital with a fractured hip. Thanks to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Alex is scheduled to have surgery to repair his hip on October 11th, at AIC Cure International Hospital. The procedure will cost $1,293 and Alex and his family need your help to fund this procedure. His treatment will enable him to walk without support again and he's excited to return to playing his beloved football. “My desire is to walk well without crutches and get back to the field to play football. I am requesting support from AMH to help me undergo surgery and resume my normal life,” Alex told us.

Hebron is an adorable two-year-old baby boy. He is a charming boy who loves to play with his older sister. Hebron’s father is a teacher at a local college while Hebron's mother is a housewife. Despite working hard, it is difficult for Hebron’s father to make ends meet for their family. Hebron has been diagnosed with genu valgus, where his legs bow inward so that his knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking and this worries his parents since his sister suffers the same condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Hebron. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 8th. Treatment will hopefully restore Hebron's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Hebron’s mother says, “Please help me, my children's legs are being deformed and we are worried."

Ziporah is a 45-year-old lady from Southwestern Uganda. Together with her husband, she practices subsistence farming. They have 6 children, 5 of whom are still in school and one who is married. Their income is too limited to manage their home affairs and meet medical costs. For the last 6 months, Ziporah has been experiencing severe abdominal pain and irregular menstrual cycle. The pain had been there for the past 8 years but in the last 6 months, it has been severe. She is worried about suffering from anaemia but it was hard for her family to raise money for her to visit the hospital. When it became challenging for her to do all the daily chores, they managed to visit Nyakibale Hospital for review. Now Ziporah has been diagnosed with endometrial polyps. The cost of the recommended hysterectomy surgery is too high but our medical partner can help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is raising $219 to fund Ziporah's surgery. On September 15th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Ziporah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Ziporah says “I feel I have reached my last if am not supported. Your support will determine my life as I have no other option. I pray that I get considered and live a good life again as I do my activities farming for a living.”

Alogius is a tutor and loving father. His wife is a farmer and together they have three children, and also care for his late brother’s three children. Alogius shared that it’s challenging to provide for his family’s daily needs and school fees and still have enough money for their healthcare. As a result, he has to sell properties to meet the cost of medical care. Five years ago, Alogius developed a supraumbilical hernia. He could not receive treatment before due to limited funds, but when he learned about the Watsi program, he traveled to Nyakibale Hospital hoping to finally have treatment. Upon review, doctors determined that they could heal his condition through surgery. Alogius will undergo hernia repair surgery on April 12th and our medical partner is requesting $230 to fund his procedure, which will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently upon recovery. Alogius says, “I think I will regain my health back when I am operated with your support. I will be able to work well as I used to before and will be able to support my family and continue educating my children.”

Jenipher is a small-scale farmer and a mother of five. Jenihper's husband is a certified tailor and they own a three-room house. Their firstborn is 34 years old now and was married after completing a technical course in bricklaying. Their youngest recently ended school after completing high school, but is unable to continue due to expensive school fees. For the last seven years, Jenipher has been experiencing post-menopausal complications associated with severe lower abdominal pains. Jenipher has visited many health facilities and has still not seen any improvements. This condition has left Jenipher unable to work on her farm. Jenipher has now has been diagnosed with menorrhagia and endometrial hyperplasia. If not treated, Jenipher could develop endometrial cancer and could become severely anemic. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $319 to fund Jenipher's hysterectomy. On June 7th, 2022, she will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Jenipher will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and finally return to feeling herself again. Jenipher says, “I have lived with this condition for a while and have suffered a lot. I hope to get well through surgery so that I may live a normal life once again and be able to take good care of my family.”

Zainab is a charming and beautiful 19-month-old girl. She and her two older siblings are being raised by their single mother after they separated from their father. Zainab's mother works as a fruit seller so that she can put food on the table for her children. Zainab was diagnosed with Bilateral Varus, a condition that causes her legs to be bowed outward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. It also leads to knee pain and osteoarthritis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Zainab. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 22nd. Treatment will hopefully restore Zainab's mobility and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Zainab’s mother says, “Her legs keep widening I can’t even dress her in trousers because people stare at her legs.”

Rinah is a playful four-year-old girl. She recently started school and also has two siblings. Her mother and father work as small-scale farmers to provide for their family. Rinah was born with an extra finger on her right hand. Her family shared that Rinah is experiencing difficulty with her peers as a result, which has affected her self-esteem and desire to go to school. Upon review, doctors recommended amputation of the extra digit to prevent her symptoms from worsening over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rinah receive treatment. On April 19th, she will undergo a minor amputation to help her live more comfortably. Rinah shared that she is most looking forward to being confident, especially when playing with her friends at school. AMH is requesting $114 to fund this procedure. Rinah's mother shared, “My daughter feels inferior and no longer meets with her friends for activities comfortably. She will be able to resume her education much more easily as soon as she gets treatment.”

Dara is a 27-year-old soldier from Cambodia. He has three older sisters, who are married, and one younger sister, who studies English literature. Dara lives at home and, when he is not working, he likes to play football with his friends. A year ago, Dara started having frequent, severe nosebleeds that caused him to feel light-headed. His family took him to a local clinic, where doctors were able to stop the nosebleed and determine that Dara has a tumor in his nose. Currently, he continues to have frequent nosebleeds and is unsure when they will happen, which can be distressing for Dara. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help Dara receive the treatment he needs. On March 9th, surgeons will remove the mass. CSC is requesting $231 to fund this procedure and his medical care. Dara shared, "I hope that the tumor will be removed quickly and easily, and I won't have to worry about having another one."

Millicent is a playful and confident eight-year-old student. She has big dreams and, in the future, she would like to be a news anchor. She is the youngest child in a family of two children, and her older sibling is 12 years old. Sadly, her father recently passed away in December. Her mother works as a security officer at a local school trying hard to cover the needs of their family on her own now. For the past two weeks, Millicent has experienced intermittent umbilical swelling. She has been diagnosed with a reducible umbilical hernia and requires surgery to treat her condition. If left untreated, the hernia is likely to grow and could cause life-threatening complications like gangrene or peritonitis. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Millicent receive treatment. On February 7th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Now, she and her family need help raising $585 to fund her procedure and care. Millicent mother shared, "we are still mourning our loss and now our girl is sick. I am unable to pay for the important treatment she needs."