Valentine is a 17-year-old gentle girl from Kenya, the third born in a family of six. She’s currently in secondary school, having just completed Form 2, and she excitedly looks forward to joining Form 3 next year. While her older sister pursues her dreams at hairdressing college and doing her best to support the family with her limited income, Valentine has been working hard in school, hoping to create a better future for her family. Their parents are small-scale farmers, working tirelessly on a tiny 1-acre plot of land. They grow vegetables and tend to mango trees, while Valentine’s father supplements their income by operating a motorcycle taxi. Despite their best efforts, it’s a daily struggle to meet the basic needs of all their children, each of whom is in school. Recently, Valentine faced an unexpected crisis. While riding as a passenger on a motorcycle, an accident led to a serious injury, fracturing her leg. In severe pain and unable to walk, she was taken to a nearby facility where doctors confirmed the injury. Valentine was then referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Upon her arrival, the hospital team worked quickly to manage her pain and stabilize her leg. However, the expenses involved in her treatment, particularly the necessary surgery to repair her fracture, are beyond her family's reach. Her parents are unable to afford medical insurance and are struggling to keep up with the costs. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 28th, Valentine will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation, that will hopefully restore her mobility. Now, Valentine's family needs help to fund this $861 procedure. Valentine says, "I never imagined I would end up in the hospital during my school holidays. Now, I can’t walk on my own, and I hope to get better before school reopens in January."

Meet Malin, a 32-year-old woman from Cambodia. Malin loves to read books and watch the news in her free time. Malin has an osteoma, a benign tumor that grows on the skull, behind her left eye. This tumor is placing pressure on her eye and causing severe pain. “Malin is shy around people,” our medical partners write. “She said that no one will hire her because of the way she looks which makes her feel hopeless.” Because of her condition and difficulty finding work, she relies on her husband to support the family. Malin has come to our partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, in order to make a positive change! The surgery to remove her osteoma costs $300, and is expected to reduce her pain and improve both function and aesthetics. Let’s help support Malin in improving her quality of life!

Meet Bibek, a three-year-old boy from Nepal! Bibek is the youngest and the only child of his family of ten. His father works in India as a wage laborer and on his farm to support their large family. "Bibek was playing around on the porch at his home one evening when he suddenly fell over and hurt his right forearm," our medical partner, Watsi, writes. "He has pain and swelling in his right forearm. Bibek can not move his right arm. He can not play with his friends or put clothes on." For $205, we can fund a cast for Bibek, help his forearm heal, and relieve his parents' stress.

This little guy is Moses, a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second born in his family and lives with his parents and big sister. Moses’ favorite activities are singing and coloring, and he does both in the preschool he attends. Moses was born with Genu Valdum (knock-knee deformity), a condition in which his left knee is angled inward. Moses cannot walk or run properly, or for long distances, without feeling pain. If not treated, Moses has an increased chance of developing early osteoarthritis. 
 Moses’ mother is hopeful that Watsi can help her son. “Moses is a very active boy," she says. "He likes to compete with other children when playing, but he gets frustrated when he can’t run as fast as he would like to. We hope his deformity can be corrected so that he won’t be limited in what he can do because of his leg.” For $555 Moses can receive corrective surgery on his left knee. This will allow Moses to go back to being an active boy who can keep up with his energetic friends.