Asiyatu is a married mother of two children aged 8 and 3 years. Her first child is in 3rd grade and the youngest is in nursery school. She is a homemakerwhile her husband is an Airtel money branch manager earning about $208.72 per month from his business and he takes care of all the bills at home. They live in a three-bedroomed rented house costing $29.82 per month. Asiyatu likes chatting with her children and enjoys eating chips and vegetables. Asiyatu was well until 2020 after the delivery of her second child when she noted a small lump on her left breast that was not painful. She visited a nearby hospital but did not receive help. The husband took her to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) after noting that the lump was getting bigger as time passed. She was brought to Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) for a lumpectomy which is a surgery that removes cancer from the breast through the removal of a tumor and a small rim of normal tissues around it, and a sample was sent for histology. In September, she reported back to PIH for histology results that revealed an Invasive Breast Carcinoma requiring a mastectomy. She was then referred back to KCH for surgery since the husband could no longer manage to pay for the surgery as he did with the previous one. She was scheduled for surgery the next year. Lately, Asiyatu has been experiencing needle-pricking pain that is becoming unbearable without pain-relieving medications, affecting her household chores. As a result of her pain, her husband took her back to the hospital in November for support where she was then referred back to PIH for urgent surgery seeking support under the Watsi program. Doctors at PIH confirmed the need for a modified radical mastectomy, a surgery. Their family is able to commit $89.45 to support her care and their family is raising the remaining funds. Asiyatu believes the surgical operation will help her get back home in good condition and continue taking care of her children and her caring husband. Asiyatu said, “I am ready to live with one breast as I hope to get rid of all my pains and have my perfect life back again.”

Six year old John is active and jovial. His father passed away two years ago, and now John lives with his mother in an urban area in Kenya. When John entered first grade, his teacher noticed that he had difficulty hearing him in class. He contacted John's mother, and advised her to take John in for an evaluation. However, John's mother struggles to support herself and her son with her work washing clothes, so she was not able to take John to the doctor. A benefactor offered to pay for John to be evaluated, but when it was determined that he would benefit from having hearing aids, the benefactor could not afford to pay for John to have them. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,171 to cover the costs of John's hearing aids and care, which he will receive from AIC Kijabe Hospital. With your help, John will be able to participate fully in school, and in the life around him. John’s mother says: “All I want is for my son (John) to be able to hear well. I have struggled with hearing loss since birth too, and I know how it feels.”

Wilson is a charming 2-year-old toddler from Kenya. He was born with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. Without treatment, Wilson can experience difficulty walking or wearing shoes. When Wilson was born, the hospital referred Wilson's family to our medical partner's care center. He started casting treatment when he was a month old but did not respond to treatment. On July 10th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery that will allow Wilson to walk easily as he grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund this surgery. Wilson's father shared, "Any support to help my son walk with his feet is highly appreciated."

Ra He, a 20-year-old woman living in Thailand, currently resides with her husband in a refugee camp positioned along the Thai-Burma border. Her husband supports their livelihood as a farm day laborer. During her free time, she finds solace in watching movies on her phone. Towards the close of 2021, Ra He began experiencing persistent discomfort in her lower right abdomen, which intensified during the early morning and nighttime hours. Additionally, she faces irregular menstruation patterns and struggles to attain restful sleep due to the persistent pain. She was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. To address this, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), recommended an oophorectomy—a surgical procedure that would remove her ovary. Fortunately, Ra He is scheduled to undergo her oophorectomy on August 28th. BCMF is requesting $913 to help fund the procedure and subsequent care. In her own words, Ra He expressed, "The ceaseless pain inhibits me from engaging in household tasks. I'm also concerned about potential challenges in conceiving due to my condition and the impending surgery. I extend my gratitude to the generous donors for facilitating my treatment. Upon recovering my health, I aspire to establish a small in-house grocery store."

Bahati is a 14-year-old girl in grade 8. She is expected to sit for her primary school national exams this year. Bahati is the second born in a family of four children. Her father passed away six years ago. Her mother is the family’s only breadwinner and works whenever she can to get jobs washing clothes for people around her community. On July 4th, Bahati was hit by a speeding motorbike as she was coming home from school. She was left unconscious and rushed to a nearby facility by well-wishers. She had an x-ray and a CT scan that revealed a fractured bone in her right leg. The fracture is affecting her studies and mobility. It is difficult for her to walk, and she cannot ambulate without support. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On July 25th, Bahati will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her walk easily again, and she can return to school. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Bahati's mother says, “This child is a candidate who should be in school studying. This injury has caused her not to go to school because she cannot walk. We pray that she gets treatment so that she can continue with her studies."

Kiberian is a 3-year-old boy from Kajiado County who needs surgery to help him walk well. He comes from a large pastoralist family with many siblings. His father is a farmer/herder, while his mother takes care of their family and home. Kiberian was born with a deformity in his legs that has greatly affected his mobility. His knees bend inward, while his ankles remain apart. He cannot walk long distances and often falls while walking. Kiberian's father took him to a satellite clinic for treatment and the doctors recommend procedures that will reposition the femur and tibia of each leg into alignment. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of the surgery, scheduled for June 20th. This treatment will be impactful to Kiberian because he will be able to walk well, play with other children, and continue with his education. Kiberian’s father shared, “The joy of a father is to see his children growing well without any challenge or deformity and I would love to see my boy walking well.”

Sephania is a baby from Simanjiro, Arusha in Tanzania. He lives among the Maasai people. He comes from a large family of six siblings, raised by a single mother. His father died shortly after he was born, and his mother depends on her brothers, who are cattle breeders. They help provide basic needs for the family since his mother does not work and has no means to earn a living. Sephania was born with both his legs twisted inward and downward. His mother was informed that there was treatment for the condition. She could not afford transport money at the time and had to wait for almost 2 years before she was able to collect enough money to travel to a medical center. She arrived at our center with an escort, who helped her translate as she only speaks Maasai. After a brief assessment with our team, we set up a treatment plan for Sephania, starting with a series of castings. Sephania has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Sephania traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Sephania's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Sephania’s mother says, "It has taken a while to be able to come for treatment. I hope my son will get treatment that will help with his foot’s condition."

Laurecia is a 19-year-old tailor living in Tanzania. When she was about two years old, her parents noticed her legs bowing outwards. They did not seek treatment, however, due to financial challenges. Laurecia, who is a very determined young woman, was able to complete her Form 4 studies and pursue her passion for tailoring, enrolling in a vocational school where she could hone her skills. Laurecia was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, stemming from the consumption of contaminated drinking water. As a result of her condition, Laurecia has a difficult time walking and doing the work of a tailor. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Laurecia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th, at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Treatment will restore Laurecia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Laurecia says: “I have lived with this condition for too long. I’m hopeful for the future now that I am about to start treatment.”