Edeau, who is 13 years old, lives in a farming community in southwest Haiti, with his godmother and his godmother's family. He is in the seventh grade. Earlier in his childhood, Edeau suffered from rheumatic fever, which severely damaged one of the four valves of his heart, making it difficult for his heart to pump blood through his body. Edeau requires surgery to correct his condition. On February 6th, surgeons at Welcare Hospital will replace Edeau's damaged valve with an artificial one, a $6,000 procedure, which is being subsidized by Gift of Life International. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs associated with the pre-operative and post-operative care that Edeau will need, and the travel expenses for Edeau and his family. From Edeau: "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping me to get this surgery."

Fatma is a 14-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the 4th born in a family of seven children, and is in grade 7 at Sowene Primary School. She is passionate about education and likes reading, her favorite subject being English. She aspires to become a designer in the future. Fatma has clubfoot on her right foot. They discovered the condition in 2017, and she was operated on at Mombasa Hospital, but the deformity has recurred, thus affecting her mobility. We met her at the AIC Cure clinic accompanied by her mother, Asli, who explained how they had visited different hospitals to seek medical attention for her foot, including undergoing surgery at Mombasa, but the condition hasn’t been corrected; instead, it continues to worsen/bend on the right side. Both parents operate a small shop in Taveta town, which provides the family with a small income. Fatma says that she feels pain while walking and is not able to play with her friends while at school. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Fortunately, Fatma visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 11. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,286 to fund Fatma's surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk without difficulty and continue with her studies uninterrupted. “I will be happy to see my foot corrected and appreciate your assistance,” Fatma said.

Oun is a 47-year-old grandmother who is married with two daughters, one son, and two grandchildren. She and her husband both work in construction. At home, Oun likes to cook for her family and play with her grandchildren. Last year, Oun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience blurry vision and have difficulty seeing in bright or low lighting. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out independently. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 5th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Oun said: "I hope, after surgery, I can see clearly, return to work, and take care of my daughter."

Huoch lives in Kampong Cham province with his wife and two young children. H e and his wife are grocery sellers, and he has a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. After work, he likes taking his children for rides on his motorbike and helps his wife with housework. Huoch suffered a blow to his health at a very young age when he developed polio at age two. Polio is a virus that spreads from poor hand washing or eating or drinking of contaminated food or water. In some cases, it can cause permanent paralysis of the limbs. Huoch went without any medical care until 12 years ago when a nearby clinic provided him with an external metal frame to assist him in walking due to his deteriorating mobility. Despite this support, Huoch continues to experience muscle pain, fatigue, an increased risk of falling, and worsening paralysis in his right leg. Fortunately, doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre can help by performing a surgery called tenotomy (cutting of his Achilles tendon) costing $572, a procedure designed to extend the Achilles tendon, enabling patients to walk with their knees straight and feet flat on the ground. This surgery is commonly employed to rectify toe walking in patients who have not responded positively to conservative treatments. Now, Huoch needs help paying for this procedure. Huoch says, "I hope after this operation, I will be able to walk again without help and will not be afraid that I will fall."

Following the loss of her husband to stomach cancer several years ago, Srean moved in with her youngest daughter, a fisherwoman in Kandal province. Once a rice farmer before retirement, Srean now enjoys a simple lifestyle, taking walks and listening to the radio. Two years ago, Srean developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, burning and headache from eye strain. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. When Srean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 24th, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Srean shared: "I hope after surgery I can take more walks and take care of my grandchildren and my self."

Michael is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania, the youngest among his siblings. His father earns a living by crafting building blocks, while his mother, a homemaker, supports him to meet the family's needs. In March 2020, while walking near the kitchen, Michael slipped and his right hand came into contact with a pot of scalding water, resulting in severe burns. His mother promptly rushed him to the hospital, where he underwent a month-long admission for treatment. Upon discharge, she diligently tended to his wound, ensuring its cleanliness. However, despite the wound healing, Michael continued to hold his right hand close to his body as the skin on his right elbow had become damaged, restricting the range of motion in his hand. Unfortunately, his parents were unaware that treatment for this condition was available. In June 2023, they met the outreach team of our medical partner's care center who had visited their village and were directed to Kafika House. Michael was diagnosed with a burn scar contracture on his right elbow and was scheduled for a release procedure with Z-plasty and grafting to his right axilla and elbow. His parents are seeking assistance as they cannot afford the associated costs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Michael receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 7th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve the functionality of his fingers. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Michael’s mother says: “I hope that my son's hand will fully recover, allowing him to grow up with the ability to use his fingers."

Punlork is a 32-year-old factory worker who lives with his wife and two daughters in Kampong Speu province. In March 2021, he was in a car accident. The impact was swift and merciless, sending Punlork flying through the air, before he crashed onto the road. He fractured several bones, and lost consciousness for about 24 hours. When he awoke, he was in a local hospital with fractures of his left wrist, right tibia and right femur. He underwent surgery, and his bones healed, but three years later, he is unable to move his left arm, and he walks with difficulty. This has meant that he has been unable to work, leaving the family dependent upon his wife's income from her work in a clothes factory. As a first step, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will perform a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, on December 12th. This should enable Punlork's leg to heal completely, so that he can walk easily again. Additional surgery to repair the nerves in his hand and arm will have to wait until he has recovered from the first surgery, and for when a visiting hand specialist will be available. Now Punlork needs your help to fund the $304 cost of the hardware removal procedure. Punlork said: "This accident has been very hard on our family, with only my wife working. I look forward to walking without pain, and finding work where I can use only my left arm. I hope that the doctors can find out how to fix my arm so that I can find a good job to support my family."

Federesi is a subsistence farmer from Uganda. She is married and a mother of four living children. Federesi lost both her parents, while her husband has lost his father. She is the second last born in a family of thirteen children, but unfortunately, five of her siblings passed on. She studied up to primary six while her husband reached primary five. They all do small-scale farming to support their family. For five years, Federesi has been experiencing excessive bleeding, lower abdominal pain and backache. She has been diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. She visited various health centres and was told her pain was due to fallopian tubes. Each time she visited the health centre, she was given medicine, but she did not get relief. On 18th October, she visited Good Samaritan Medical Center, where she was told that her condition needed surgery, but she was unable to pay for it. Her son, who works at Rwibaale Health Center, advised her to come to Rwibaale Hospital for help. Due to pain, she is unable to dig and walk long distances. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $253 to fund Federesi's surgery. On November 25TH, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Rwibaale Health Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Federesi said,"I hope to get rid of pain and resume my duties of farming after surgery.’’

Mary is a nine-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the 5th among six children being raised by a single mom. When Mary was three years old, she was diagnosed with a bow leg on her left leg. This is a condition where one's leg is curved outward at the knees. It affects her movement, ability to perform daily tasks, and her self-esteem. Mary is scheduled for corrective surgery on February 27th. After surgery, she will be able to walk and move better and gain self-confidence. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to fund Mary's surgery. “I will be able to walk well like other children and continue with my studies,” Mary said.

Getrida is a small-scale farmer. She studied up to primary school in class four and dropped out due to a lack of financial support from her parents. She is married with five children, four of whom are in primary school while the lastborn is two years old. Her husband is also a farmer, and they own a two-room mud house for shelter. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. One year ago, Getrida began to experience troubling symptoms, including a painful abdominal swelling. She was diagnosed with a tubo-ovarian mass after a scan was done and surgery was recommended. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Getrida receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a curative laporotomy, a surgery to remove the mass, on December 12th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $284, and Getrida and her family need your support. Getrida says, “I believe the surgery will be successful with a positive outcome. After I recover, I will practice farming to support my husband and our family.’’

Mach is a widow with one daughter, and three sons, and is a loving grandmother to 13 grandchildren. Sadly, her husband passed away due to tetanus several years ago. She lives with her youngest son, a construction worker, in Phnom Penh province. For the last several decades, she earned a small living as a morning glory (water spinach) seller in the market. In her free time, she likes listening to Buddhist prayers on the radio. Two years ago, Mach developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She finds it difficult to take walks outside, so often stays alone in the house. When Mach learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 1, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared: "I hope I will see better so I can go shopping and go to the pagoda by myself. I don’t want my family to worry about me falling or my eyes getting worse."

Meet Reacheany Kuch, who lives with her parents in Phnom Penh province. In their daily lives, her parents operate as food vendors in a local market. When not in kindergarten, Reacheany delights in accompanying her parents to the market, observing the hustle and bustle of the vibrant surroundings. She has a fondness for the duck eggs her parents bring home from their market, and she has decided she would like to become a teacher when she is older. Reacheany Kuch has faced a challenge from a young age – torticollis, which causes her neck to tilt to one side. Her head tilts to one side, and her chin tilts to the other side - she feels pain when she tries to correct it. This makes it difficult for her to move her head or neck. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), offers surgery to correct congenital torticollis. Her parents traveled to CSC, where, after a thorough examination, the doctor recommended a procedure called sternocleidomastoid (SCM) release to correct Reacheany Kuch's torticollis. Now, her parents need help to cover the costs of the $572 procedure, which will include surgery, hospitalization, medications, and rehabilitation. Your assistance will play a crucial role in ensuring that Reacheany Kuch receives the care she needs to overcome the challenges posed by her condition and continue pursuing her dreams of becoming a teacher. Her mother said: "We are hopeful the operation will correct Reacheany Kuch's neck, and she will look like other children. She is timid, so this will help her when she attends a new school next year."