Kyu is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She works as a farmer with her two sisters. In her free time, Kyu enjoys going to the temple and practicing meditation. Since 2015, Kyu has been experiencing severe pelvic pain and difficulty walking. She has been diagnosed with a myoma in her uterus and advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Kyu's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Kyu is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on November 15. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Kyu hopes she can resume her work and contribute to her family’s income.

Thu is a 14 year-old boy who lives with his family in Karen State, Burma. The income the family earns from selling chicken and vegetables is hardly enough to feed the whole family. In the last six years, Thu has suffered from a number of abdominal infections. Thu stopped going to school after second grade, partly due to the difficulties of his recurring medical problems. This year, he was finally diagnosed with bladder stones, which require surgical removal. On September 3, surgeons will operate to address his condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to fund Thu's medical treatment.

Rachel is a two-year-old girl from Guatemala who lives with her parents and younger sister. She is an active girl and adores playing with her younger sister and their dolls. Rachel also loves to eat her favorite foods, which are watermelon and chicken soup. Rachel has strabismus—a condition in which the eyes do not align in the same direction and appear crossed. Symptoms of strabismus include double vision, uncoordinated eye movements, headaches, and loss of vision or depth perception. If left untreated, Rachel’s vision could suffer irreparable damage. Throughout her short life, Rachel has already had to receive treatment for malnutrition, physical and speech therapy, leg-lengthening orthotic braces, and glasses. Because of the severity of her eye condition, our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,500 to fund Rachel’s eye surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 4 and will involve consultations with a trusted eye specialist before and after surgery. Following treatment, Rachel will have healthy eyes for the first time in her life. Rachel’s mother says, “I dream for my daughter to have more opportunities in her life. I hope that she can study in a university."

Thembo is a 25-year-old carpenter from Uganda. He's a caring husband and proud father to his son. Thembo has been living with a hernia since childhood. Over time, the swelling has increased and the discomfort has started impacting his daily life. He can no longer lift heavy objects and some days the pain is so severe that he can't work. Neither painkillers nor local herbs have helped. Thembo sought treatment through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. On June 21, he will undergo hernia repair surgery and is requesting $249 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Thembo is grateful to the donors for supporting his treatment, and he looks forward to resuming his carpentry work free of pain.

Alexandro is a two-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives outside of Port-au-Prince in a very full house, enjoying the love and company of his father and mother, along with a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is a happy and curious child who likes listening to music and playing with his toys. Alexandro was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. This means that there is a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to pay for his transportation to surgery. He is scheduled for treatment on June 8 at our medical partner's care center, Health City Cayman Islands. "I am hopeful for my son's surgery," Alexandro's mother says. "So he will have more energy and strength!"

Nzamuramba is a 25-year-old man from Uganda who is happiest when he is at home with his family. He and his wife work as farmers to support themselves and their children. Five years ago, Nzamuramba developed a swelling in his left inguinal region. The swelling keeps increasing in size. He went to a health center, where he was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of the intestines through weak points in the abdominal muscles. The protrusions present as painful bulges in the groin. Treatment for an inguinal hernia is an operation to push the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sew together the weakened muscle with pieces of synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue grows into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Doctors at the health center advised him to have surgery, but he could not afford to pay for it. He says, "I am poor, and I don’t have money for my surgery." Nzamuramba is experiencing pain from the hernia, which slows his movements and makes it difficult for him to lift heavy items or dig on his farm. Without treatment, Nzamuramba will continue experiencing pain and may experience intestinal tissue damage. Nzamuramba needs help raising $249 to undergo hernia repair surgery on April 5. Funding also covers the costs of three days in the hospital, medical supplies, lab tests, and medicine. After surgery, Nzamuramba hopes to resume digging, work hard, and save money so that he can pay for his children's education.

Neo Mark is a happy and active 21-year-old young man who lives in the Philippines. He was able to finish high school and trained for automotive repair. He started working right after school to help provide for his family. Two years ago, he developed pain in a sensitive area. He was no longer able to work, and he could not lift heavy objects or walk long distances. He was diagnosed with a hernia and advised to have surgery. However, he was not able to undergo the advised treatment due to financial problems. Now, Neo Mark stays at home with his mother and helps with simple household tasks. For $1,098, we can fund a hernia repair surgery that will correct Neo Mark's hernia. This will relieve his pain and make it easier for him to work again. Neo Mark is scheduled for surgery on March 24. With our help, he'll be able to help support his family once again.

Rakith is a 22-year-old man from Cambodia who loves to play music and sing songs. In fact, Rakith has shaped his life around this passion—he is a professional DJ. Having a job that relies so heavily on listening has made Rakith’s current medical condition especially difficult. When he was five years old, Rakith had an infection in his left ear that went untreated. He developed a cholesteatoma, an atypical skin growth in the bone behind the eardrum. Although non-cancerous, the cholesteatoma has caused Rakith significant problems. He now experiences hearing loss and ringing or buzzing in the ear. Rakith traveled two hours to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, where he was told his hearing problems can be fixed with a mastoidectomy. When Rakith undergoes this operation on February 8, surgeons will remove part of his ear’s mastoid bone so that they can remove the cholesteatoma. When the growth is gone, Rakith’s hearing will improve. Rakith and his wife cannot afford to pay for this treatment on their own. For $842, we can fund the procedure he needs, as well as the lab tests and two-day hospital stay necessary to ensure he recovers safely.

Thea is in the second grade at school. She has two sisters and two brothers. Thea likes to read school books and watch TV in her spare time. Thea was born with congenital clubfoot. This is a medical condition in which the feet are twisted out of shape and position. She was treated once in a small, local hospital, but her symptoms did not improve. She has difficulty walking, and she is in pain. Thea and her mother traveled for four hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), to seek treatment. On February 15, surgeons at CSC will perform a bilateral tendoachilles lengthening procedure to correct her clubfoot. The total surgical and hospital costs will come to $304. Let's support Thea by helping her to walk easily again!

Esdras is an eight-month-old boy who lives with his mother and sister in rural Guatemala. He is an active little boy who prefers crawling to being carried. He likes to play with cars and balls. Esdras has been diagnosed with malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. As a result, Esdras has a weakened immune system and little energy. If he does not receive treatment, he will face an increased risk of chronic diseases and low IQ, as well as a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Fortunately, he will begin malnutrition treatment on January 17. Esdras’s mother is working hard to support Esdras’s health, but she cannot afford the treatment. For this reason, our medical partner is requesting $437 to fund treatment, which will include food supplementation, micronutrients, and growth monitoring. This treatment will allow Esdras to gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. The increased caloric intake will also allow his immune system to grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. These tools will help Esdras’s family maintain nutritious diets and give Esdras a chance to grow healthy. “My son is the most important for me, and I want him to be healthy and to recuperate in his growth," says Esdras's mother.

Asiimwe is a 16-year-old young woman from Uganda. In her free time, she enjoys listening to gospel music and visiting her friends. Asiimwe visited our medical partner's care center, Bwindi Community Hospital, when she was pregnant with her first child. Her doctors considered her pregnancy high-risk, so they recommended that she undergo a C-section delivery. On December 5, Asiimwe checked into the hospital to await delivery. $241 covers all of Asiimwe's medical expenses, including four antenatal visits, three nights in the hospital, and one postpartum visit. Asiimwe and Victor are subsistence farmers who grow potatoes, cassava, millet, beans, and maize. They are co-paying $8 to help cover the costs. Asiimwe is looking forward to nursing and caring for her baby. She hopes to continue farming to support her child’s needs and education. “May God bless the donors who are supporting my safe delivery," shares Asiimwe. "I am looking forward to going back home with a healthy baby.”