Kry is a 58-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has six children, eight grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in her free time. Four years ago, Kry developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry and cloudy vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Kry learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 3, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $211 procedure. She says, "I hope that after my surgery I will be able to plant crops near my home and will be able to go anywhere I want to independently."

John is a man from Kenya. He is a father of two children who are in primary school. A little over a year ago, John sustained a spinal injury when he fell from a tree. He has not been able to afford the necessary care to treat his injury. Now, he has been diagnosed with cervical mylopathy, a degenerative disorder that causes gait imbalance and clumsiness due to a compressed spinal cord. Fortunately, John is now scheduled fo spinal surgery on March 15 to treat this condition. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure. John says, “My prayer is to be able to walk again and in upright gait. I am really suffering due to this condition."

Kansiime is a farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of four children. For 12 years, Kansiime has had an epigastric hernia. The condition causes her pain. Fortunately, on March 20, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Kansiime's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. She says, "After surgery I will no longer be in pain.’’

Daly is a young woman from Cambodia. In her free time, she likes to watch TV, listen to music, and go for walks with her family. At the age of seven, Daly fell off her bike, causing a deformity in her lower back. She now experiences lower back pain and difficulty breathing. Daly will undergo spinal surgery to correct her lumbar spine. The procedure is scheduled for January 22 and will cost $1,500. She says, "I hope that I will not suffer any more pain, have difficulty breathing or sleeping, and that I will look better."

Yen is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has a son, six daughters, and twenty grandchildren. She likes to go to the local pagoda and listen to monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Yen developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurred vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Yen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 4, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $211 procedure. She says, "I look forward to go to the local pagoda, join in ceremonies, and take care of my grandchildren."

Chanthy is a nurse from Cambodia. She has one daughter and one son. She enjoys sewing and watching Thai dramas on TV. About 18 years ago, Chanthy developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, pain, irritation, and photophobia. 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Chanthy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Chanthy needs 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 her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for April 2. She says, "I hope I can see everything clearly after surgery. I want to continue my work at the hospital again. I hope to be able to go outside without my pterygium problems anymore."

Sovapich is a 45-year-old housewife from Cambodia. She is married with four children and one grandchild. She likes to use Facebook. Six weeks ago, she fell indoors and injured her forearm, breaking her ulna and dislocating her radius at the elbow. She was not able to afford surgery and first tried traditional medicine. She finds it difficult to do housework now. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 9, Sovapich will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. This treatment should improve the use of her arm, reduce pain, and improve mobility. She says, "I hope I can be better after the operation."

Magali is a 28-year-old woman from Guatemala. Magali is single and lives with her parents in Guatemala's rural highlands. With a passion for studying, Magali is taking weekend university classes, while working a full-time job and assisting with her family's business. Magali has always had problems with her sight, but she has never been able to afford a visit to an eye doctor. However, a month ago, Magali was able to get her vision checked at a free clinic. In this visit, she was diagnosed with myopia, or nearsightedness. Through our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, Magali is scheduled for an eye evaluation and to receive prescription lenses on June 12. She is requesting $552 to cover the total cost of her treatment. With a pair of glasses to fix her blurry vision, Magali will more easily be able to work, study, and support her family.

Jane is a a 20-year-old student from Kenya with hydrocephalus. Congenital hydrocephalus, which Jane has had since birth, is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that causes the skull to swell, resulting in severe mental and physical health problems. Growing up, Jane did not begin walking until she was six years old, and her speech development was even more delayed. Jane's family kept her confined to the house most of the time and, as a result, Jane began attending school much later. Despite this, Jane is now in the seventh grade and is working hard to one day become a doctor. Last August, Jane started losing touch with her senses. She would wander miles away from home, and she complained of a persistent headache. When our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, hosted a mobile clinic near Jane's village, her congenital hydrocephalus was finally confirmed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of Jane's operation, which is scheduled for June 26. This entails installing a shunt in her brain that will drain the excess fluid and release the pressure on her cranium. If left untreated, Jane's condition will likely cause permanent brain damage, mental disability, and loss of vision. "I feel sorry for my daughter and wish I did this for her early enough, but I have hope all will be well," Jane's mother says.

Marcela is an 11-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. Her favorite foods are pasta, rice, and beans, and she loves playing with her cousin. Marcela was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Marcela has little energy to grow, and that her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise her growth. If left untreated, she may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for her well-being, her mother took Marcela to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 22, Marcela will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach her mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of her continued treatment, allowing her to gain weight, strengthen her immune system, and catch up with other children her age. "I am thankful to the program for the support we will get," says Marcela's mother. "I did not know that my child was malnourished, but now that I know, I will do all possible to help her recover a healthy weight.”

Annah is a 30-year-old mother from Uganda. She is married with four children and is expecting her fifth! Annah and her husband, Charles, work as small farmers growing food for their own consumption. They also farm for others to earn an income. Less than a year ago, Annah gave birth via C-section due to her cervical dystocia. With this upcoming delivery, doctors are expecting her to need another C-section. Beginning on June 22, Annah will be monitored at our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is asking for $241 to fund her treatment and ensure she has a safe delivery. Annah and her husband have contributed $7 towards her care. “It is a great blessing to have this help," says Annah. "I thank all the donors for their support.” After delivery, Annah looks forward to nursing her baby and returning to gardening.

Then is a 70-year-old married woman who has four daughters and three sons. She likes to watch TV and look after her grandchildren in her free time. Diabetes has caused necrosis, or tissue death, in Then's left foot. She went to a hospital in Vietnam, but her symptoms did not improve. It is difficult for Then to walk, and she is in pain. The hospital referred Then to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). She traveled four hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform an amputation surgery on her left leg. Her treatment is scheduled for February 24. CSC is requesting $446 to help fund this treatment, as Then cannot afford it on her own. This procedure will help ease her pain and allow her to walk easily again.