Both is a 12-month-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and eight-year-old older sister. His mother works in a garment factory, while his father works as a construction worker in another province and visits most weekends. At home, Both enjoys drinking milk and watching cartoons. Six months ago, Both accidentally burned his hand with hot water at home, which caused contractures in the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers of his left hand. He experiences difficulty in fully straightening his fingers and cannot grasp objects easily. When Both learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 19th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help Both regain function in his left hand. Both's family can contribute $100 but needs help to raise $395 more to fund his surgery and care. Both's mother shared, "I hope that after surgery, he will be able to use his fingers and hand more easily and be able to play with other children."

Sopanha is a four-year-old pre-schooler from Cambodia. He lives with his parents in Prey Veng province and is an only child. His father repairs motorcycles, and his mother stays home to manage the household and care for Sopanha. He likes to sing with his mother as she listens to local Khmer music. At home, he likes to eat rice with milk. During his free time, he enjoys playing with other children in the village. Sopanha was injured during a difficult birth and suffers from complications from cerebral palsy (CP), which affects his muscle control and movement. As a result, he needs a walker or other assistive device to walk. Although he can sit independently, he struggles with activities that require more mobility and increasingly feels left out because he can't keep up with other children his age. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sopanha receive treatment. On February 26th, he is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure that will help improve his mobility. This procedure will cost $572, and Sopanha and his family need your support. Sopanha'ss father said, "After this operation, we hope to see Sopanha walk on his own and start school without any difficulties."

Swe lives with her parents and her son in a village in northern Burma. Her father is subsistence farmer, her mother owns a small weaving business where traditional Burmese blankets and sarongs are hand woven. Her son goes to school and Swe is a homemaker. In her free time, she enjoys visiting and talking to her friends in their village. In December 2021, Swe began to experience fatigue, sweatiness, vomiting and difficulty breathing. She also had a headache and a stiff neck. At first she could not travel due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, but eventually went to Mandalay in August to seek help. At a hospital, she received an echocardiogram and was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis and aortic valve regurgitation. She was told she would need surgery costing 15 million kyat (approx. $15,000 USD), but she could not afford to pay for it. She then went to Yangon with her son, in the hopes of finding another hospital that cost operate on her for less money. While in Yangon, her condition deteriorated and her son rushed her to a hospital. The doctor there confirmed her diagnosis and her need for surgery, but told her it would cost 20 million kyat (approx. $20,000 USD). When Swe told the doctor that she could not afford to pay such a large sum, the doctor referred her to an abbot, who in turn referred her to our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) for financial assistance accessing treatment. Currently, Swe cannot walk for more than 10 minutes or she feels very tired and short of breathe. She has a rapid heartbeat, dizziness and headache. She said, "I want to say thank you so much to BCMF and all the donors to help me with my treatment cost.”

Meet Davis, a playful, six year old boy, living with his parents and three siblings in Uganda. Both of his parents are small scale farmers, who own a three room mud house where the family lives. Davis developed a hernia in March 2020. When his mother noticed the hernia, she brought Davis to a local health center where he was treated, and discharged with medication. Recently, the swelling around the hernia has increased, causing Davis to have severe pain. If his hernia isn't surgically resolved, Davis risks strangulation of the hernia, which could have a significantly negative impact on his quality of life. With help from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Davis is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery on October 3rd, at Rushoroza Hospital. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is seeking $170 to fund this procedure, so that Davis can go on to live a healthy, active, and comfortable life. Davis' mother says: “I pray that my son gets well through surgery so that he may be able to live a normal life once again and take on his studies comfortably.”

Davis is a bright young man from Uganda. He is the thirdborn in a family of five children, all ranging in age from 15 to 30. His parents are small-scale farmers, and they own a three-room mud house for shelter. Davis completed secondary school class four, but he did not proceed because he wanted to prioritize and take care of his health before returning to his studies. For over five years, Davis has dealt with a right inguinal hernia. The hernia started as a small, painless swelling, but it has progressively increased in size. His parents initially were not concerned because Davis continued with his home duties per usual and was still very active. However, due to the swelling's noticeable increase in size, Davis has become very worried about the health complications his hernia can cause if it is not treated promptly. If left untreated, not only will the growth continue to grow, but he will also be at risk of strangulation and intestinal obstruction. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center on August 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Davis's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Davis says, “I want and hope to live a normal life again through surgery and be able to take my studies to a higher level. I want to become a strong and educated man in future who is able to help others.”

Mao is a 22-year-old welder. He has two older sisters and enjoys fishing and playing football with his friends. When he was young, Mao had a severe ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or his ear drum, to perforate. Now, Mao experiences hearing loss, ear discharge, pain, and tinnitus. He shared that he can't communicate clearly with others. Mao traveled to our medical partner's care center hoping to receive treatment. On May 3rd, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Mao says, "I want to get healthy and be free of pain and discharge."

Chit is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. This past April, she and her husband have moved in with her sister and two nephews in Mae Sot, a border city in Thailand, while she receives treatment. Prior to the move, Chit would sell various fruits from their home in the village, but she had to close her shop once they moved. Her husband has been unable to work due to his disability. They are now supported by Chit's sister, who works as a waitress at a restaurant. In her free time, Chit enjoys gardening and growing various fruit trees, such as avocado, lime, banana, and pomegranate. In the future, she wants to grow and sell fruit tree saplings because she greatly enjoys growing fruit trees! Since August of last year, Chit has been experiencing slight lower abdominal pains. She especially experiences tightness on the right side of her abdomen in the morning right after she wakes up. She has been diagnosed with a uterine fibroid, a noncancerous growth of the uterus. Doctors have advised her to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Chit's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Chit is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on July 26th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain and will be able to return home and work again. Chit shares, “I had to leave my house, and I always have to take care of my husband. But I also have to take care of myself because I am ill. Sometimes, I feel sad and tired of my life. I know surgery will help me...”

Gorete is a farmer and a mother of five with three daughters and two sons. One daughter and her youngest son are teachers, while her other two daughters are farmers and her eldest son is a builder. Gorete shared that her husband passed ten years ago and left her a coffee and banana farm from which she earns a living and has been able to educate her children. However, the lockdown in Uganda has made it difficult for her son to work and help her mother raise funds for her treatment. Gorete has been experiencing swelling for twenty years; however, about three months ago, she also began to experience other symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing while sleeping, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with an obstructing goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), is helping Gorete receive treatment. On January 4th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMHF's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMHF is requesting $252 to fund Gorete's surgery. Gorete shared, "I struggle to breathe while trying to sleep, which makes my nights so long. I cannot afford the treatment; please help me."

Shisena is a fun-loving 8-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents and four older brothers and sisters in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Shisena likes playing with her older siblings and listening to music. She goes to a special school program that she enjoys very much. Shisena was born with Down Syndrome and a condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) is helping Shisena undergo the cardiac surgery she needs for a healthy life ahead. During the procedure, doctors will use a catheter to plug the hole with a small device. HCA is contributing $5,000 to make her treatment possible and needs to raise $1,500 to fully cover her medical care. Shisena's mom told us, "We are very thankful to everyone who is making this miracle possible for our daughter!"

Angel is 10-month-old baby girl. She lives in a small rental house in Nairobi, Kenya with her parents and older sibling. Angel’s parents do not currently have stable jobs. Her mother used to sell fruits, however had to stop to take care of Angel. Her father, now the sole wage earner of the house, is a tailor but does not earn much. The earnings they receive are just enough to take care of the family. As a result, they can not raise the money that is needed to cater for Angel’s hospital bill. Angel has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Over the December holidays, Angel and her family visited her grandparents, however during this time she became persistently unwell, which caused her parents' concern to grow. They took her to a facility nearby and along the way her grandmother noticed that her head looked bigger than normal, and her eyes were not as they used to be. Upon arrival, the doctor immediately referred them to another specialist. facility in Nairobi. She was then examined and booked for surgery in April of this year. After returning home, the parents continued to watch as Angel grew weaker day by day. A family friend heard about their child’s condition and referred them to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Hospital. On arrival, she received another examination and was promptly scheduled for a shunt insertion surgery. If not treated, Angel will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of Angel's surgery to treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 9th, during which surgeons will drain the excess fluid from her brain. This will relieve the pressure inside her head, and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Angel will have the chance to develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Angel’s father says, “This is a condition that we have never heard of before and didn’t know how to go about getting her care. It is very difficult for a parent to see their child in a situation when they do not have finances to help them.”

Damaris is a farmer and a mother of five children. All of her children have finished school and work as casual laborers. Damaris and her husband have a small farm where they plant and sell vegetables to supplement their income. The family shared that they need assistance raising the required funds to cover Damaris’s surgery. For three months, Damaris has been experiencing excessive bleeding. She visited local hospitals for review and was eventually referred to a hospital of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Doctors diagnosed her condition as endometrial hyperplasia. In order to finally heal, Damaris will need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. On January 7th, Damaris will undergo gynecological surgery at AMH’s care center. Once recovered, she will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. AMH is requesting $1260 to fund Damaris’s surgery. Damaris shared, “I would like to go back to my normal routine of working and providing for the family.”

Susan is a mother of three, with her eldest child now 23 years, and two twins who are 17. She used to work at a salon in Nairobi, but the owner closed the business at the beginning of the year. She has been out of work since then and husband works as a casual laborer in a pharmaceutical firm, which recruits them in intervals depending on the availability of funds. She has applied for national health insurance coverage, but it is not yet approved and her doctors have recommended that she undergoes her surgery as soon as possible. Susan first noted a lump in July so she visited a facility in Nairobi and was treated with pain medication and an ointment. She felt better, but the pain recurred after two months. Due to the pain, she went to a government clinic and was advised to visit a higher-level facility. She opted to visit our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital after a recommendation by a neighbor. However, Susan is not in a financial position to pay for the surgery and is appealing for financial assistance. Susan has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Susan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 6th. After treatment, Susan will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Susan says, "My family and my kids are my motivation. This lump is just increasing in size and pain. I hope I get the treatment I need.”