Junior is a nine-year-old boy who lives near Port-au-Prince with his parents and two younger brothers. He is currently in the third grade and would like to become an engineer when he grows up. Junior was born with an atrial septal defect, which means he has a hole between the two upper chambers of his heart. Because of this, blood leaks through the hole without first passing through his lungs and taking up oxygen to deliver to his organs. This leaves him feeling sickly and weak. He needs to undergo surgery to repair the hole. First, Junior will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 19. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Junior also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Junior's surgical care. His father says, "We are excited for this surgery because it is very hard for Junior to walk up the hill to our house. We hope he will be able to have more energy once his heart is fixed!"

“I thank the doctors who are going to work on me to take away my pain,” shares Shaban. “But most especially, I thank the people that are donating their resources toward my surgery.” Shaban is a 30-year-old farmer from rural Uganda. During his free time, he likes to listen to the radio and watch soccer—especially games in which his favorite team, Chelsea United, is winning. For a decade now, Shaban has been battling a scrotal hernia, meaning part of his abdominal tissue has pushed through a weak spot in his stomach and into his genital region. This past year, the hernia has gotten substantially worse. The pain has become so pronounced that he can no longer complete the housework and farming tasks that he shares with his parents. Fortunately, there is hope for Shaban. He will undergo hernia repair surgery on February 4. This operation will relieve his pain and remove the risk of complications. However, he needs our help to pay for this $228 procedure. After recovery, Shaban hopes to save up money to start a small business. Let’s help get him back to a pain-free life so he can achieve that goal!

Narith is a 43-year-old potato farmer who is married and has one son and one daughter. She likes to chat with her neighbors in her free time. Three years ago, Narith developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and extreme sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly and working. When Narith learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 20, doctors performed a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Narith will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope that I can see everything more clearly," says Narith, "so that I can feed my cows and chickens. I can also earn money to support my family and go anywhere by myself."

Four-year-old Ndinabo likes to wrestle and play with the other children in his community. He is the fourth child in his family, and he attends a local school. Ndinabo has malnutrition, accompanied by fever and diarrhea. He was unable to return to school when it began in September. He was referred to our medical partner's hospital, Bwindi Community Hospital, by community health workers. He and his father walked for four hours through the hills of Bwindi to seek care. Without treatment, he risked poor growth and development. Fortunately, Ndinabo began malnutrition treatment on November 5. Ndinabo's father, Gad, picks tea in the community. His mother, Allen, is a farm laborer. They contributed $4 to their son's care, but they need help to fund his $316 treatment. “I wish to thank the people that are donating to his care," says Ndinabo's father. "May God bless you. I want him to go back to school when he has fully recovered.”

Soeum is a married grandfather who lives in Cambodia. He's 78 years old and has two sons, five daughters and twenty grandchildren. "Soeum developed a cataract in each eye about two years ago, causing him blurred vision, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light," explains our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "It is difficult for him to see things clearly and recognize faces, walk anywhere on his own, and do any work by himself." Fortunately, Soeum learned about CSC's services from his son, who has also been treated there. He traveled for four hours with his grandson to reach a CSC treatment center. For $292, he can receive cataract surgery, improving his vision and allowing him to be more independent. The simple procedure will remove his the old, cloudy lenses from his eye and implant a new, clear lens. Soeum says, "I hope my eyes can see everything more clearly so that I can easily work and go anywhere by myself without needing to disturb anyone. I want to visit my relatives in Kampot province."

Mid last year, Elizabeth noted a lump on her right breast. She visited a hospital in December but did not get a definite diagnosis. Elizabeth visited the hospital again this year after she noted that the lump grew. A biopsy was done and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Elizabeth now requires a mastectomy. She complains of pain on her right arm and a lump on her right breast. Elizabeth is unable to work with ease when her hand is in pain, and she has been affected psychologically and financially because of frequent hospital visits. If not treated, she will be at the risk of cancer metastasis (spreading further), which could result in premature death. Elizabeth is a middle-aged woman and a mother to five children. Two of her children are in university and two in high school. The youngest child is in primary education. Together with her husband, Elizabeth tends to their one-acre piece of land to provide for their family needs and meet school fees cost. Elizabeth feels these financial costs are a heavy burden, and she cannot afford to pay for treatment as well. Elizabeth says, “I want to be healthy and continue providing for my children as they pursue their education.”

Kyaw Thet is a 14-year-old boy living in Burma. He is part of a large household, which includes two older sisters, four nephews, two nieces, and his parents. He also has three brothers who live separately with their families and four sisters and one brother living in Bangkok. Kyaw Thet’s family earns money by growing and selling rice. They also keep ten cows and two pigs for food or to sell if they need extra money. Kyaw Thet was referred to our medical partner with a diagnosis of bladder trauma. The trauma occurred as a result of a motorbike accident. Kyaw Thet also suffered a broken leg, external wounds on his legs and the back of his head, and internal injuries. Kyaw Thet already had one surgery to address this condition and feels much better now, but needs another surgery - a urethrotomy - for his urethra stricture (the abnormal narrowing of the urethra, which carries urine out of the body). Currently Kyaw Thet does not feel pain during urination but he feels uncomfortable. The urethrotomy should relieve this discomfort and allow Kyaw Thet to return to a normal day to day life. He will be able to continue enjoying school and pursuing his dream of becoming a teacher.

Feckson is a 55-year-old farmer living in Malawi with his wife and four children. He works as a small-scale farmer to support his family. Eight years ago, Feckson started experiencing urinary hesitancy. He visited our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, and was found with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate. His symptoms worsened such that he was unable to pass urine, and had a catheter placed. Feckson had to stop working, and was unable to afford further treatment. For $742, Feckson can have the prostate resection surgery he needs. The surgery would alleviate the strain on his urethra and bladder to allow urine to pass more easily. The total cost will cover the procedure, supplies, medications, and three days of inpatient care. It is expected that Feckson will make a complete recovery after surgery, and will be able to discontinue use of his catheter. "I look forward to leading a normal life again, without the catheter," he shares.

Asaph is a 64-year-old farmer and father of eight children who lives in Malawi. Two years ago, he started experiencing difficulty passing urine and increased nighttime urinary frequency—symptoms related to an enlarged prostate. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. An enlarged prostate—known as benign prostatic hyperplasia—is a common condition in older men due to hormonal changes. As the prostate gets larger, it squeezes the urethra, causing problems with urination. Asaph has been unable to sleep restfully and has had difficulty providing for his family due to pain and discomfort associated with the catheter he uses to empty his bladder. For $742, Asaph will undergo surgery—transurethral resection of the prostate—in which doctors insert an instrument into the urethra to remove the part of his prostate that is blocking urine flow. After surgery, a catheter will be inserted temporarily to remove urine from the bladder. When the urine is free of blood or blood clots, the catheter will be removed, and Asaph can urinate on his own. Funding for Asaph also pays for a three-night hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and transportation to and from the hospital for him and two caregivers. It is expected that, after his surgery, Asaph will make a full recovery and be able to live catheter- and symptom-free. "Before I had to go to the bathroom four to five times every night," shares Asaph. "Now I will be able to live a normal life again."

Sorn is married with two sons, one daughter, and seven grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda near her home in Cambodia to listen to the monks pray and to join in ceremonies. Sorn developed a cataract in each eye 4 months ago and traveled three hours with her son-in-law seeking treatment. Sorn's cataracts cause her blurred vision, burning, pain, and light sensitivity. Sorn can't do work well or go outside on her own because of the cataracts; they've greatly limited her independence. With $225, Sorn will have a surgical procedure to remove the clouded cataract lenses from her eyes and replaced with artificial clear lenses. After this procedure, Sorn will be able to see clearly again and will no longer experience the discomfort or sensitivity to light.

Dickson is a 75-year-old father and grandfather who farms tobacco in Malawi. He came to our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM), seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate gland. “Dickson's enlarged prostate has led to urinary incontinence, an embarrassing and inconvenient symptom,” WAM tells us. “He is occasionally unable to go to work in the garden due to his condition.” The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. An enlarged prostate—known as benign prostatic hyperplasia—is a common condition in older men due to hormonal changes. As the prostate gets larger, it squeezes the urethra, causing problems with urination. Typical symptoms include difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine streams, and inability to empty the bladder. For $742, Dickson will undergo surgery—transurethral resection of the prostate—in which doctors insert an instrument into the urethra to remove the part of his prostate that is blocking urine flow. After surgery, a catheter will be inserted temporarily to remove urine from the bladder. When the urine is free of blood or blood clots, the catheter will be removed, and Dickson can urinate on his own. Funding for Dickson also pays for a three-night hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and transportation to and from the hospital for him and two caregivers. “Following surgery,” says WAM, “Dickson is expected to have his catheter removed and make a full recovery.”

Soe is a 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband in Burma. Soe came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), seeking treatment for gallstones. The gallbladder—a small, pear-shaped organ that sits under the liver—stores and drains bile. When an individual has gallstones, bile drainage may be blocked, causing irritation, spasms, pain, nausea, and vomiting. “Soe is experiencing stomach and lower back pain making it difficult for her to sleep and eat,” BBP tells us. “Usually, when she eats, she feels nauseous and needs to vomit.” Until recently, Soe had a job as a waitress at a hotel restaurant in Thailand, but her symptoms made it impossible for her to work. Facing financial trouble, she and her husband returned to Burma in the hopes of finding treatment for Soe and receiving support from their family. For $1,500, Soe will undergo a laparotomy, a surgical procedure to access the abdominal cavity and remove the gallbladder. Funding also covers the costs of an eight-day hospital stay, transportation to and from the hospital, pre- and post-surgical consultations, and blood tests. “Soe should fully recover following her gallstone surgery,” says BBP. “She should be able to return to her family and again find a job so that she and her husband can save money for their future.” Soe looks forward to a successful operation. “I will work and save money for the next few years, and then, one day, we will have a happy family,” she shared in her pre-operative interview with BBP.