Lukas is a three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the only child of his father, who sells clothes along the streets of Nairobi. Lukas's parents are separated, so he lives with his grandmother. He loves to spend time with his father. Lukas was born with a birth defect called hypospadias, which causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he was at risk of urinary tract infections and continuing discomfort. Lukas's father brought him to a national hospital, but the waitlist for surgery was prohibitively long. Fortunately, a friend of his father advised him to visit our medical partner's facility, Bethany Kids Kijabe Hospital. On December 16, Lukas underwent a hypospadias repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to fund this procedure.

Jonalyn is a happy, 13-year-old student who loves to study and play a game similar to kick-the-can. She lives with her parents and two siblings in the Philippines, where their one-room house has a cement floor and a thatched roof made of nipa leaves. Jonalyn noticed a mass on the right side of neck when she was 12 years old. She told her mother about it, but they did not seek help since they did not have money to spend on medical consultations or medicine. After a few months, she complained of pain when swallowing and difficulty breathing and also noticed that the mass on her neck was getting bigger. She has been unable to concentrate during her classes because of the on-and-off throbbing pain in her neck. During a church activity in May of 2015, Jonalyn felt a throbbing pain in her neck and was examined by a doctor. She was diagnosed with a goiter—an enlarged thyroid gland usually caused by a deficiency of iodine, an important element in the production of thyroid hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for seven days and iron supplements for 10 days and referred Jonalyn to another care facility to undergo tests to determine the type of goiter. Unfortunately, the family was unable to seek further care for Jonalyn until now. She was screened by a health trainer in one of our sponsored communities, consultation was facilitated, and she was advised to undergo a thyroidectomy to remove the thyroid gland. Jonalyn's mother is a housewife, and her father raises pigs. They cannot pay for surgery for Jonalyn because their income is barely enough to sustain the family's daily needs. $1,500 covers the cost of Jonalyn's surgery, transportation to and from the hospital, 10 days of hospital care—including medicine, imaging, and blood tests—and medicine to take after she goes home. The surgery will lessen Jonalyn's discomfort due to her condition. "I am very thankful to you for helping people like me in my condition, especially those who are not financially capable in terms of health treatment," shares Jonalyn. "I was truly blessed because I was given an opportunity to be treated. After the surgery, I plan to continue my schooling to reach my dreams and help my family someday."

Eduardo, a baby boy from Guatemala, is only a month old, but is already having developmental trouble and has lost significant weight since he was born. At birth, his mother was unable to produce enough milk for him grow at a normal rate. More recently she has been able to breastfeed for 30-45 minutes at time, but Eduardo, unsatisfied, still cries afterward. His mother is doing everything she can to force production of breast milk, but Eduardo still hasn’t been receiving as much as he should. His mother cannot afford formula, so in some instances when she cannot provide milk, she gives her son water to stop him from crying. Eduardo is the youngest child of a single mother: he has a 4-year-old sister and a 2-year-old brother. They all live together with one of their mother’s friends. Eduardo’s mother has limited access to education; she stopped after her first year in secondary school because her family could not afford it. Now to earn money, she washes clothes for her neighbors. Eduardo is at risk of dehydration and starvation. “His mother is ashamed and afraid that she cannot produce sufficient breast milk to feed her child,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). With $1,016, medical intervention will be possible for Eduardo. His mother will be given formula to provide her son with the calories he needs to grow. She will also receive one-on-one health education to prepare her the time when Eduardo will begin eating solid foods. The doctors are certain that the simple treatment will strengthen Eduardo’s immune system and allow him to become a healthy, energetic baby. “I just want him to grow,” Eduardo’s mother shares.

Nine-year-old Peter is a shy boy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), informs us that he is the youngest among his two other siblings. Both of Peter’s parents work as farmers, making just enough to provide for their children. Four months ago, Peter was diagnosed with hypospadias, a congenital disorder that results in the misalignment of the urethra. Rather than have a urethra opening at the tip of the penis, males with hypospadias have an opening elsewhere -- usually on the side of the penis. This condition has taken a toll on Peter’s social life. “My son doesn’t interact with people a lot; not even his peers,” says Peter’s father. “He is however close to his elder brother and once his brother mentioned that children teased Peter.” In addition to the emotional distress, AMHF tells us, “Peter is likely to suffer impotence if not treated.” AMHF can provide Peter with corrective surgery for hypospadias. The procedure will cost a total of $655, which covers surgical expenses and a 10 day stay in the hospital with meals included. After healing, “Peter will be able to pass urine normally.”