Ruth is a mother of four and grandmother to four from Malawi. She is a farmer who is also responsible for household chores such as cleaning, fetching water, and tending to her garden. Since October 2016, Ruth has been experiencing abdominal pain and urinary pain. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund Ruth's surgery. On October 23, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. She is very much looking forward to living a normal and healthy life again. She says, "I came here for surgery but am unable to pay for it myself, so thanks to this program I can have good care."

Hor is a woman from Cambodia. She has been married for 38 years. She has one daughter and four sons. She likes to watch TV and cook in her free time. Four months ago, she developed back pain that increasingly got worse. Now, she has pain all down her leg and her left foot is numb. She needs to undergo a laminectomy and discectomy surgery to improve her spine and get rid of her pain. This will help her be able to walk again. Fortunately, surgery is scheduled for October 19. She needs help raising $930 to fund this procedure. She says, "I really hope I won't be in pain after the surgery and I can walk on my own again."

Emmanuel is a four-year-old boy from Kenya. He is an only child. The family lives in a rental house. Emmanuel is playful but has difficulty talking. This is because he can only hear very loud noises. Emmanuel needs hearing aids to improve his hearing. However, his family has been unable to afford these devices. Fortunately, they decided to bring him to our medical partner's facility for help. Emmanuel is now scheduled to receive hearing aids on September 27. His family needs help raising $929. These aids will improve both his sound perception and speech development. Emmanuel’s mother says, “I hope that he could get the hearing aids...I want the best for my son."

Pheak is a tailor from Cambodia. She has one sister and three brothers. She enjoys listening to music and watching TV in her free time. Fourteen years ago, Pheak had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Pheak experiences pain, tinnitus and ear discharge. She cannot hear clearly. Pheak traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 6, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my hearing improves and my ear has no more pain after the operation."

Joshua is a baby from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of three kids. Unfortunately, Joshua’s father died when his mother was seven months pregnant with him. His mother has no savings and works as a farmer to support her children. Joshua has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Joshua has been experiencing vomiting and regular fevers. Without treatment, Joshua will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Joshua that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 17 and will drain the excess fluid from Joshua's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Joshua will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Joshua’s mother says, “Please help my son.”

Teriki is a grandmother from Kenya. She is a mother of four. Currently, Teriki and her husband are living in their son’s home. Her son is a farmer who plants maize in order to support his parents and his children, who are still in school. In June, Teriki sustained injuries on her right arm, forearm, and scalp. She is in chronic pain and is not able to use her left hand. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 19, Teriki will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal and be able to use her hand again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. “I am in a lot of pain, please help me,” Teriki says.

Sarah is a student from Kenya. Her parents are farmers. They plant maize in a small farm. Two years ago, Sarah began to experience troubling symptoms, including weight gain, dizziness, and a neck swelling. She was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sarah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 12 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $641, and she and her family need help raising money. Sarah says, “I want to be treated so that I can join my friends in school. I also look forward to good results after full recovery."

Yabsira is a child from Ethiopia. He and his parents are from Sodo. His father supports the family as a farmer. Yabsira was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Yabsira is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Saw is a 28-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, daughter, and two nephews. He used to work as a chef in Thailand, but three months ago, he moved back to his village in Burma. His wife works around the house, caring for their daughter and their nephews. Two months ago, Saw was climbing a palm tree to collect coconuts. When he reached the top, he fainted and fell, breaking his left femur, foot, and arm. Although he sought treatment from a traditional healer, the healer did not realign his bones. Saw is not able to use his left leg, and his left arm cannot bend. Since the accident, he has not been able to work. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for April 11 and will cost $1,500. After surgery he will be able to walk and move his left leg again, which will allow him to return to work soon. “I want to get better quickly. Being at home and not being able to do anything is like being in prison. When I recover I will move back to Thailand to work hard and save money so I can buy my own land in Burma for my family. I eventually want to open a Thai food restaurant," says Saw.

Saning’o is a boy from Tanzania. He is five years old and in nursery school. Saning’o lives with his parents and his relatives in eastern Tanzania. His parents are breeders who keep cattle. A few years ago, Saning’o was playing in the kitchen. He grabbed a piece of charcoal and burned his right palm and fingers. Although he visited a hospital and received treatment for the burns, he sustained contractures on his fingers. These are painful and restrict his ability to use his hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Saning’o receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. Now, his family needs help to fund this $608 procedure. “I will be very happy to see Saning’o get treated and continue with school," says his father.

Lov is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sisters and four brothers. She likes to clean and relax at home. In infancy, Lov had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Lov experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and recurrent infection. It is difficult for her to hear, and she has painful infections often. Lov traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 12, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my ear heals and I can go home and spend time with my family."

Shela is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and older brothers in a small rural community in southwest Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. She is in the third grade. Shela has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect. Two holes exist in her heart, one between the two upper chambers and another between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes, depriving her body of oxygen and leaving her weak and short of breath. Shela will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 22, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will first perform a diagnostic catheterization to determine if it is safe to close the holes in her heart. If the result is positive, they will then perform surgery to close both holes with patches. Another organization, Health CIty Cayman Islands, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Shela's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Shela's family overseas. Her mother says, "We are very thankful to everyone who is making it possible for Shela to travel to the hospital!"