Pinieli is a five-month-old baby boy, and the fifth born child in his family. His parents rely on seasonal farming for the family's daily sustenance. Pinieli has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. His parents were worried when they noticed the unusual positioning of his foot at birth, especially as they were unfamiliar with the condition. If not treated early, the condition will cause difficulty in his mobility. Fortunately, Pinieli's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on April 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Pinieli's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have a high chance of walking normally and living an active, healthy life. Pinieli's mother says, "We were worried at first, but now we believe that with the right treatment, he will walk like other children."

Siya is a 35-year-old salon worker from Cambodia. She is married and lives in Battambang Province with her husband, who works as an ice seller. They have two children; the eldest is in Grade 6, and the younger one is in Grade 1. In her free time, she enjoys planting vegetables around her home. Siya had a medical incident when she was three years old, leaving her with a muscle contracture and abnormal gait. She has difficulty walking as it causes her pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Siya receive treatment. On May 18th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to improve her walking ability, reduce pain and functional limitation, and help her regain a more comfortable gait and better quality of life. Siya can contribute $50, but needs help raising $522 more to fund her procedure and care. Siya said, “After the treatment, I hope that I will be able to walk normally again without pain or difficulty, and live my daily life with confidence without being teased by others.”

Ronaldo is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of seven children. Ronaldo is a cheerful and energetic kid who loves playing and having fun with those around him. His father works as a casual laborer to support the family. Ronaldo was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgum, a condition that causes his legs to angle inward at the knees. Several factors can cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. As Ronaldo has grown, his parents have become increasingly concerned about how the condition may affect his ability to walk comfortably and participate fully in daily activities. They also worry about the challenges he may face when he starts school in the future. Ronaldo's family is seeking care in the hopes that undergoing treatment will give Ronaldo the best possible start in life and allow him to grow, play, and attend school without difficulty. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Ronaldo undergo treatment on June 2nd. This treatment will restore Ronaldo's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $777 to fund his surgery. Ronaldo's mother said, "We want Ronaldo to grow up strong, walk comfortably, and one day go to school like his brothers and sisters."

Mongkul is a cheerful 5-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and three siblings, who are all still young students. His father works in a factory, and his mother runs a small grocery business to support the family. He is the third child in the family. He enjoys learning English at school, loves playing with toy cars and balls, and dreams of becoming a police officer when he grows up. For the past three years, Mongkul has been experiencing difficulty breathing at night, loud snoring, sleep apnea, difficulty swallowing, and frequent throat infections. His condition disturbs his sleep and causes discomfort at night. The frequent throat infections and swallowing difficulties also affect his comfort and overall health. Mongkul was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Mongkul, which is scheduled to take place on May 22nd. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Mongkul of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Mongkul's father said, “We are very thankful for this chance to help our son heal. We hope this surgery will help him breathe easily, sleep peacefully, and grow up healthy and happy like other children.”

Athalya is a little girl whose smile brightens the spirits of everyone around her. Despite her young age, she shows a special sensitivity when it comes to caring for others. She deeply enjoys music and dance. Athalya dreams of becoming a dancer one day, moving freely and joyfully to the rhythm of her favorite songs. Athalya lives in the town of Rionegro, Antioquia, with her parents, who lovingly support her at every stage of her development. However, about ten months ago, Athalya began experiencing oral discomfort that disrupted her daily routine. After seeing a dentist, she was diagnosed with dentin caries, a condition that began to affect her oral health and also her overall well-being. The pain and discomfort caused by this condition made everyday activities such as eating, concentrating, and fully enjoying her games increasingly difficult. This caused concern among Athalya's family, who sought specialized care to prevent the situation from worsening further. Following a comprehensive evaluation by the dental team, it was determined that, given the extent of the damage and Athalya's age, the safest and most effective treatment should be performed under general anesthesia. This decision made it possible to plan a comprehensive procedure focused on properly restoring Athalya's oral health without causing her any distress. Fortunately, Athalya will get the procedure she needs under anesthesia on April 29th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,109 to help fund her care. Her mother kindly shared, "For Athalya, this treatment represents an opportunity for relief and recovery. It is hoped that it will not only eliminate her physical pain, but also restore her peace of mind when eating, the energy to learn, and the confidence to continue dancing, smiling, and dreaming. Thank you for being part of this process and for lending us a helping hand at such a crucial moment for her health and well-being. May God multiply your kindness and bless you always for everything you do from the heart."

Phong is a lovely grandmother from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is 77 years old and works as a street food vendor. She is a widow; her husband passed away six months ago due to liver disease. She has three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her third daughter, who works in a garment factory. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the pagoda. Five years ago, Phong developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her excessive tearing, irritation, and redness, which made her feel uncomfortable. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Phong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Phong needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. She is scheduled for surgery on May 4th. Phong can contribute $25, but needs help raising $273 more to fund her procedure and care. Phong said, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can see clearly again, move around easily, and continue going out to sell food as before."

Meet Grace! She is a 46-year-old rice and maize farmer who lives in Malawi. Grace is a widow with five children. Two of her children are married, while the youngest is still in school. The other two children left school due to a lack of the necessary fees, and are now fishermen. For five months now, Grace has been experiencing abdominal pains, backache, and an abnormal vaginal discharge. She first went for her cervical screening, which indicated the presence of suspicious lesions. Grace was referred for additional testing and evaluation, and a biopsy confirmed the presence of potentially cancerous lesions. Grace will need to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, as a result of her diagnosis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Grace's surgery. On September 28th, doctors will perform the hysterectomy, which should allow Grace to resume her life, free of pain. Grace said: ”I am grateful for the opportunity to have good health. I am looking forward to your support, and to regaining my health again, which will enable me to concentrate on my farm work, and to continue supporting my children.”

Isaac is a 37-year-old husband and father to three young children ranging from 2-8 years old. He works as a laborer at a construction site in Nairobi. However, income is tight, as Issac's job has an inconsistent need for laborers and his wife is a stay-at-home mom. On the 13th of April, Isaac was involved in a bad car accident and rushed to our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital for emergency care. The car Isaac was in swayed off the road and hit a wall that caused a severe fracture in his right leg. The fracture has made it difficult for him to walk and causes him pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On April 14th, Isaac will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him regain the ability to walk. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund his medical procedure. Isaac says, “My family depends on me. I am scared of how to fend for them with this condition. I need the treatment since I cannot work with a broken leg."

Viden is a 7th grade student from Cambodia. He is the youngest of four siblings and enjoys playing soccer, swimming, and listening to music. He hopes to become a police officer when he grows up. In April 2019, Viden was in a severe motorcycle accident and was in a coma for three days. Afterwards, the accident left Viden with injuries to his left arm. 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 has pain in his arm and is unable to flex his wrist or move his shoulder or elbow. Viden traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 6th, 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. "I hope that I will be able to move my arm normally again and I will be able to return to school without difficulty."

Tun is a 61-year-old man from Burma. He works as a day labourer at a parking lot and supports his family. He loves listening to music when he has free time. About 18 years ago, Tun's right foot was injured in a road accident. He just self-treated the wound because he could not afford to go to any clinics or hospitals. Although the wound did not cause him any pain or any other problems, it never was healed properly. About 3 months ago, Tun started to experience intermittent pain, especially at night. The pain worsened over time until he could no longer hide it and screamed whenever the pain struck. When his neighbors and co-workers found out about it, they advised him to go to Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH). Once at the hospital, the doctor examined him and said that his leg is in a bad condition. The doctor also explained that, with the failed joint and non-healing ulcer, the best treatment for him is to have a below-knee amputation. Tun said, "I can’t work daily because of my ulcer. That's why I have no money to seek treatment. My children are not able to work as they are still young. I‘m not happy. I am in debt and it's increasing daily."

Han is a 71-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has five children, ten grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in his free time. One month ago, Han developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him vision loss. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Han learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On July 15, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $211 procedure. He says, "I hope that after my surgery I am able to see better so I can take care of my family and go back to the rice farm."