Gift is a 31-year-old woman from Western Uganda. She is a married mother to three children, all of whom were delivered via c-section. She and her husband work as small scale farmers and her husband also fishes and raises goats to make ends meet for their family. Gift is carrying her fifth pregnancy and shared that, unfortunately, she experienced one miscarriage. She has been receiving care throughout her pregnancy and her doctor recommended she deliver by Caesarean section to avoid complications like uterine rupture. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping to provide delivery care for Gift and her baby. On October 7th, Gift will undergo a C-Section at AMH's care center to ensure a safe delivery for her and her baby. Now, she needs help raising $252 to fund her delivery and care. Gift shared, "I am afraid of the cost implications, yet I want a safe delivery. I will be grateful for your support."

Ar is a 28-year-old man who lives with his wife, three sons, and two daughters in a refugee camp. Originally from Burma, his family fled to Thailand 20 years ago due to civil war. His children attend school, except for his youngest daughter, who is not yet old enough. His wife is a homemaker and Ar works as a day laborer when work is available. Ar's family shared that, in addition to his day laborer pay, they receive a monthly cash card from The Border Consortium to purchase food in the refugee camp. Overall, the family's total monthly income is just enough to cover their basic needs. On September 2nd, Ar climbed a tamarind tree to pick tamarinds fruit. When the branch he was standing on suddenly broke, he fell and landed on his right arm and experienced pain in his back. He visited the camp hospital that day, and the medic initially determined that his arm was not broken. Due to recent positive COVID-19 cases in the refugee camp, Ar could not be immediately referred to the local hospital for further testing and was kept for observation at the camp hospital. When the pain in Ar's back and arm did not subside the next day, the medic referred Ar to the local hospital. After receiving a negative COVID-19 test, Ar was finally able to visit the hospital on September 6th, where he received an X-ray for his arm and a blood test for a second COVID-19 test. The X-ray revealed that his upper right arm is broken. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Ar will undergo surgery on September 8th to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure will enable Ar to continue working in the future. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Ar shared, "I am scared to receive surgery. But I was told that I will not be able to work using my right arm if I do not receive surgery, so I gave my consent to the doctor. I hope that I will be able to work again after I receive treatment."

Kobusingye is a 23 year old small scale farmer. She has two children: a boy and a girl both delivered via caesarean section who are now studying in kindergarten. As a mother and wife, Kobusingye enjoys doing domestic work like cooking, cleaning, and caring for her family. She earns a living from farming but typically only harvests produce to feed her family since they have little land. Her husband is in the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) business, but due to lockdown where transport was frozen, he isn’t able to work right now. Kobusingye is carrying her third pregnancy. She attended antenatal care from our medical partner's care center, Nyakibale Hospital. Her doctor recommended delivery by caesarean section due to her previous pregnancies and deliveries. The procedure will reduce the chances of complications like uterine rupture. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $252 for this surgery. Kobusingye shares, “I will really appreciate your support and hope for a successful delivery."

Tho is 47-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She and her husband have four daughters together. Two of her daughters are married, and Tho now has three grandchildren in primary school. She works in the fields with her husband and her two unmarried daughters. She loves to cook, and uses the vegetables from her garden. Tho was in a motor accident eight years ago, resulting in a fractured left tibia. She went to a provincial hospital to receive treatment, but her fracture never healed correctly. The condition of her leg has deteriorated over time and now she can no longer walk unaided. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 3rd, Tho will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. With a successful surgery, the bone will heal properly and she will regain her ability to walk. Tho said, "After this surgery, I hope that my leg will finally be better, and I will be strong enough to walk by myself. I don't like to have my family take care of me all the time, so with no more pain, I can help them again."

Oscar is a twelve-month-old baby from Guatemala. He has been diagnosed with malnutrition. Oscar has had little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to illnesses that further compromise his growth. Oscar's father works hard as a day laborer, but his income is limited. His mother takes care of the household. His parents want the best for him, but they cannot afford treatment for their son. On January 12, Oscar will begin malnutrition treatment. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Oscar recover. Treatment will give Oscar’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $437 to fund this treatment. “With your help, I know my son will get better, so that he grows healthy," says Oscar's mother. "When he is big, he can become a doctor."

Khant Kyaw is a 17-year-old Burmese man currently living in Thailand. He lives with his father and younger brother. Until recently, Khat Kyaw worked as a guesthouse receptionist and concierge. His father was unemployed, so Khant Kyaw supported his three-member family. His younger brother is a student in fourth grade. About a month ago, Khant Kyaw started to experience abdominal pain. He lost his appetite and stopped working. He visited the hospital, where medics found a mass in his abdomen. On November 15, he underwent a CT scan to diagnose his illness. Khant Kyaw needs help to raise $414 to fund this diagnostic procedure. "I am very depressed, but my father always tries to cheer me up," explains Khant Kyaw. "He said I'll get well soon and be back to normal life."

Bosco is a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. At six months of age, his mother noticed his head increasing in size. He became irritable, vomited regularly, and had difficulty sleeping at night. Medication provided by local hospitals did nothing to alleviate Bosco's symptoms. Finally, his mother traveled for two days to visit our medical partner's hospital, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Bosco was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. On November 7, doctors performed a shunt insertion to drain the fluid and reduce the pressure on his brain. Bosco's mother, a single mother, farms to make a living. She works hard to feed and clothe her children and to send them to school, but she is unable to cover the cost of healthcare. She needs help to fund this $775 procedure. "God will bless you for helping my child get treatment," she says.

"Theara is a 36-year-old garment factory worker married with one son and two daughters," shares our Cambodian medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "She enjoys watching Khmer dramas and news on TV and listening to songs. She sometimes likes to go shopping." One year ago, Theara developed a pterygium in each eye. Also known as surfer's eye, a pterygium is a non-cancerous growth that can cause painful symptoms. In Theara's case, the pterygium causes blurred vision, burning, itching and redness. "Theara traveled 30 minutes with her husband to reach CSC for treatment," CSC shares. There, she can receive a simple surgery to remove the pterygiums in both her eyes. Surgery costs $148, something Theara cannot afford. With our help, she'll be able to see normally again and won't be in pain.

“I hope his treatment will help Evans be stronger and that he will learn to walk,” shares Evans’s mother. Two months ago, Evans was starting to take his first steps. But now, at eighteen months old, he cannot stand by himself. This is because Evans has developed severe malnutrition. He is very physically weak, and often has diarrhea—a symptom that is both caused by malnutrition, and worsens his malnourishment, as it strips his body of nutrients and hydration. If Evans does not receive treatment soon, walking will only be the first of many developmental setbacks he could face: adults who had malnutrition in childhood tend to have lower IQs and poorer school performances than their healthy counterparts, and are also likelier to someday raise malnourished children themselves. For $375, Evans will receive the malnutrition treatment he needs. This includes micronutrients, medications, and diagnostic tests. After ten days of inpatient treatment, Evans’ health will be stabler, and he can begin the path to recovering fully. Evans’ mother cannot pay for her son’s hospital stay on her own. She is a subsistence farmer of corn and sorghum, and sometimes picks tea as a supplement to her income. She has contributed $1 towards Evans’s treatment, which is the most she can afford. “I thank all of the donors and ask God to protect them,” she shares.

"I hope I can see clearly again so I can take care of my grandchildren and visit the pagoda easily," says Kry, a 66-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. Kry developed a cataract in each eye two months ago, causing her blurred vision, tearing and sensitivity to light. "She can't see clearly, do work well, or go outside alone," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in Cambodia and often go untreated. Kry traveled an hour with her daughter to reach CSC to receive care. She's looking forward to being able to go to the local pagoda on her own and listen to the monks pray. For just $150, Kry will receive a simple cataract surgery that will allow her regain her clear vision. Surgeons will remove the old, cloudy lenses in her eyes and replace them with new, clear implants.