Tuy is a 60-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren. He lives with his wife, who helps him on the farm. Some of Tuy's favorite activities include caring for his grandchildren, listening to the news, and watching boxing on TV. Five years ago, Tuy developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him to experience eye tearing, irritation, and blurred vision. 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 and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. Tuy has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Tuy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 15th, he will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $225, which covers supplies, treatment, and inpatient care for two days. Tuy shares, "I hope that after surgery I will see better and will be able to plant rice again so my wife doesn't have to work so hard."

Abigael is a bright seven-year-old from Kenya. She is the firstborn in a family of two children. Her mother is a single mom who works to support her family by doing a variety of work on other people’s farms. Abigael attends school, and one of her favorite ways to spend time is playing with her friends, both at school and at home. Abigael was born with clubfoot on her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Abigael's mother noticed the condition and took her to the nearest hospital when she was two weeks old. She underwent a series of casting there; however, over time, her clubfoot became progressively worse rather than improving. Fortunately, Abigael and her family traveled to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, to seek treatment. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Abigael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to put on shoes, walk comfortably, play with her friends freely, and continue with her education uninterrupted. Abigael’s mom shares, “I request support for my daughter's clubfoot to be corrected so that she can be able to put on her shoes and walk like other children.”

Jaebets is a 13-year-old, eighth grade student from Haiti, who aspires to study medicine when he is older. He lives with his parents and two sisters in Port-au-Prince. Jaebets has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, which means that a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is paying for the cardiac surgery that Jaebets needs to correct the defect. However, Jaebets' family also needs to be able to cover the $1,500 that it will cost for pre-surgical preparation, laboratory tests, medicines and follow-up appointments. The money is also needed to pay for the social worker from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Jaebets and his family when they travel to the Cayman Islands for Jaebets' surgery, which is scheduled for November 17th. Jaebets said: "I am excited to have this surgery so that I can focus on school instead of on my heart."

Chamnan is a 34-year-old merchant. He is married and is the proud dad to two daughters. In his free time, he enjoys playing football. About ten years ago, Chamnan had an ear infection that caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his right ear to perforate. As a result, Chamnan experiences ear discharge, pain, and ringing in his ear. It is difficult for him communicate clearly with others, which makes work difficult for him. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Chamnan receive treatment. On June 2nd, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure on his right ear, during which surgeons will close the perforation. Now, he needs help raising $487 to fund his procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chamnan shared, "I hope my ear discharge stops and my hearing finally improves."

Math Sa is a 64-year-old fisherman. He has one daughter, four sons, and six grandchildren. He lives with his wife who sells their fish at a local market, and his youngest daughter who is a student. At home, he likes to listen to the news on the radio and visit his mosque. Two years ago, Math Sa developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him photophobia and blurry vision. Now he is unable to catch fish because it is hard for him to see the nets in bright sun. When Math Sa learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 9th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly again and do more outside in the daytime. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Math Sa says: "I hope after surgery I can see clearly again. I want to be able to catch fish again to support my family."

Sophea is a 17-year-old construction worker. He lives at home with his family and has four brothers and two sisters, and is the youngest child in his family. His parents are both farmers. He went to school until the 9th grade, but started to work to help support his family. In his free time, Sophea enjoys playing football, singing songs, meeting friends to drink coffee, fishing, and helping his mother with housework. In March 2022, he was driving a tuk-tuk when he badly burned his right ankle on the motor. He went to a local hospital for burn treatment, but in early April, the burn scar broke and he now has dead tissue on the back of his leg that is painful and makes it difficult for him to walk. He is unable to work or help around the house. When Sophea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 22nd, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to to help him walk easily again and return to his job in construction. Now, Sophea needs help to fund this $487 procedure. Sophea hopes that his wound will finally be healed soon, and that he will be able to resume his daily work.

Bunleap is a 16-year-old student from Cambodia who is in tenth grade. He excels in math and would like to pursue a career in the IT field when he is older. Bunleap is the youngest in a family of three children. To support their family, his parents manage a local grocery in front of their house. One week ago, Bunleap was playing football with his friends and sustained a fracture to his elbow. He is currently experiencing pain, swelling, and bruising. Because of his injury, he is unable to use his hand. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On August 8th, Bunleap will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will hold the fractured bone fragments together, allowing for optimal healing. Bunleap said, "I hope that the pain will stop and I will be able to use my hand again."

Shee is a bright and caring 12-year-old girl from Thailand who likes to play the piano, listen to music, and help her caregiver garden with her friends. She lives with 30 students, including her younger brother, in the dormitory of Has Thoo Lei Learning Centre. She is currently in fifth grade, and her brother is in third grade. Both her and her brother's dormitory fees, including food and accommodations, are funded by a Christian nonprofit organization called Compassion Thailand. Both of her parents currently live in Burma and work as subsistence farmers. Her father also works as a day laborer. Shee's parents support her and her brother with their school fees and pocket money. For the past two years, Shee has dealt with femoral hernias. As a result of her condition, she experiences pain in her right groin, as well as pain and discomfort when she sits for a long period of time. When she plays with her friends or is active, the bulge increases in size. Her condition has progressively worsened, and she has had to miss school frequently as a result. Fortunately, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Shee's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 22nd. Once completed, she will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. Shee says, “I want to become a nurse when I grow up one day and help people in my community who are sick and need my help.”

Lai is a 58-year-old motorcycle taxi driver. He has one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren. Lai lives alone in the city, and his children work as farmers. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the news on his phone. Two years ago, Lai developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and sensitivity to light. When Lai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 5th, 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 raising $229 to fund his procedure and care. Lai shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see clearly so I can drive my motorcycle and earn money to support my living."

Faith is a beautiful four-month-old baby from Kenya. She is the youngest of two children. To support their family, her mother is a stay-at-home mom, and her father herds and sells cattle. Faith was born at home with several congenital conditions. Her parents took her to a nearby facility for examination, where she was diagnosed with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and clubfoot. They were referred to another facility where a medical device, called a shunt, was used to help treat the hydrocephalus, draining the excess fluid from her brain. On discharge, the hospital referred her and her family to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, where Faith was examined and scheduled for spina bifida repair surgery. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Faith is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Faith's spina bifida closure surgery. The surgery is scheduled to take place on July 13th. This procedure will hopefully spare Faith from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Faith’s father says, “When I saw the problems that my child has, I was worried that she would never receive treatment. I am hopeful she will receive treatment with your help.”

Meet Tessy, a beautiful 4-year-old girl, living in Kenya. In March 2022, Tessy and several of her family members were involved in an accident. Her grandparents and an uncle did not survive this event, and Tessy's parents and her sister - and Tessy herself - were all hospitalized with traumatic injuries. Her parents and her sister have all since recovered. Tessy sustained injuries to her head, chest, hand and legs, and she remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for several months. While Tessy has a visible deformity of her left arm and her right thigh, her doctors shared that her overall progress since the accident is impressive. Some of her fractures are healing well, but the fracture of her right femur requires surgical intervention. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help Tessy access the care that she needs. On June 10th, Tessy will undergo an open reduction and internal fixation at AIC Kijabe Hospital. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is seeking $1,500 to fund this procedure, without which Tessy would find it difficult to walk, and would live in chronic pain. Tessy’s father says: “Her condition has greatly improved. She was in the ICU for almost two months and responded well to treatment. She needs the surgery to help with the healing and to be able to walk again.”

Elinipa is a beautiful two-year-old girl. She is an incredibly friendly child who loves to play with her five older siblings. At birth, she was a healthy child. It wasn't until she was learning to walk however, that her mother noticed that her legs were slightly curved, yet even so they did not seek treatment assuming it was a minor problem that she would outgrow. Elinipa has now been diagnosed with bilateral valgus, which is a condition caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result of her condition, Elinipa's legs bow inward to the point that her knees touch. This makes walking persistently more difficult as she continues to grow. Through our medical partner's outreach program her parents learned that their daughter needs surgery to correct her legs. Elinipa's parents are small scale famers who depend entirely on what they harvest to make a living. As a result, their income is not enough to afford to take Elinipa to the hospital to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Elinipa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 13th at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. With this treatment Elinipa's mobility will hopefully be restored, thus allowing her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing her risk of future complications. Elinipa’s father says, “I am worried with how her legs continue to bend inward. Please help us.”