Ubah is a girl from Ethiopia. She was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Ubah is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on May 7. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Ubah's procedure and care. After her recovery, Ubah will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her aunt says, “I am her aunt and I am hosting her and her mom after they displaced and moved from Somalia. I am separated from my husband and I am running a small tea café in my neighborhood. That’s how we are trying to support our self. I am also a refugee. For this reasons I can’t afford her medical bill."

Mary is a farmer from Kenya. She is a single mother of three children. Mary 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 $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Mary. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17. After treatment, Mary will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Mary says, “I hope that soon I will be cancer free to lead a normal life and have a settled mind."

Pov is a 31-year-old gas seller from Cambodia. He likes to take care of the children and help out around the house, and in his free time he likes to watch TV and listen to music. Two years ago, Pov fell off his motorcycle and injured his left shoulder. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm and has to stop working at the rice field. Pov traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 18, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to regain full range of motion in his arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $637 to fund this procedure. He says, "I hope that after my surgery I will be able to use my arm again and go back to work."

Aung is a 34-year-old from Thailand. He lives with his retired parents and one sister at Thaton Town, Mon State, Burma. Aung was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Aung feels tired when walks or climbs the steps. He also has poor appetite and difficulty falling asleep. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Aung. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 10 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I want to open a motorcycle repair shop in Thahton. This is what I plan to do after receiving surgery. I want to support my family as much as I can,” says Aung.

Bros is a construction worker from Cambodia. He has three brothers and four sisters. He likes to go for walks, watch TV, and hang out with friends in his free time. Five months ago, he was in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his right arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to use his arm and he cannot work. Bros traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 10, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $637 to fund this procedure. He says, "After surgery I hope I don't have any more pain and I can use my arm again."

Lean is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has four daughters and ten grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. A year ago, Lean developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On October 17, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope my eye surgery is successful so I can walk to the pagoda and take care of my family."

Keng is a laundromat worker from Cambodia. He has been married for five years. He likes to listen to classical music and go for walks in his free time. For the past two months he has experienced a lot of hip pain on his right side. He cannot walk and cannot work. Fortunately, Keng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Keng of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for October 16, and Keng needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "After surgery I hope I can walk normally and have no more pain."

Nathan is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and two older sisters in Port-au-Prince. He has just started kindergarten. Nathan has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving him short of breath and causing heart failure. On October 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will tie off the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Nathan's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His mother says, "I am looking forward to letting my son play outside without worrying about him!"

Blessing is a young boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family. His mother looks after the children while his father works as a real estate agent. For two years, Blessing has been experiencing hearing loss. He is not able to speak. Fortunately, his audiologist believes that hearing aids will help. Blessing is scheduled to receive the hearing aids on August 2. Now, his family needs help raising $929 to pay for them. Blessing’s mother says, “I will be grateful to see him develop."

Innocent is an eight-day-old child from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two children. Innocent's parents keep livestock for a living. Innocent was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Innocent is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $966 to cover the cost of Innocent's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 13. This procedure will hopefully spare Innocent from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Innocent's mother says, “Please help us we have no means of affording the needed surgery.”

Teriki is a grandmother from Kenya. She is a mother of four. Currently, Teriki and her husband are living in their son’s home. Her son is a farmer who plants maize in order to support his parents and his children, who are still in school. In June, Teriki sustained injuries on her right arm, forearm, and scalp. She is in chronic pain and is not able to use her left hand. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 19, Teriki will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal and be able to use her hand again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. “I am in a lot of pain, please help me,” Teriki says.

Kyi is a 34-year-old health worker from Thailand. He lives with his wife. Kyi feels stomach and back pain. He has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, Kyi's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyi is scheduled to undergo his biliary obstruction repair on June 21. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kyi's procedure and care.