Han is a 24-year-old Karen man from Burma. He is an army medic. Han was born with ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Han is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on February 10 to correct his condition and improve his quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Han's procedure and care. He says, “I cannot sleep at night. Before coming to BCMF I was very worried about my health condition. Now I am a bit relieved. I am looking forward to go back to my duty as a medic again when I am fully recovered.”

Stephen is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three children. His parents are farmers. Stephen was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Stephen 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 $1,097 to cover the cost of Stephen's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 10. This procedure will hopefully spare Stephen from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Stephen’s mother says, “I wish to see my son grow up as a healthy child."

Sinoy is a farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, four daughters, and 15 grandchildren. She likes listening to monks pray on the radio and visiting the pagoda. Two years ago, Sinoy developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her pain and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sinoy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 17, doctors will perform a small incision cataract 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 going to the pagoda and recognizing my relatives' faces again."

Sing is a first grader. He likes to study mathematics and wants to be a police officer when he grows up. He has an older brother and an older sister. He likes playing games and watching TV. For the past year, Sing has had a recurrent infection. He experiences nasal obstruction, runny nose, sneezing, and snoring. Sing needs to have a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery to get rid of the infection and make him well again. This will allow him to breathe and sleep well and return to school. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo surgery on April 30. Now, he needs help raising $221 to fund this procedure.

SreyLen is a food vendor from Cambodia. She has been married for four years. She enjoys watching Thai films, cooking, and taking care of her young son. In 2007, she was in a motorcycle accident that caused a fracture in her knee. She went to a clinic, and doctors fixated hardware to heal her fracture. Now, the hardware has become loose and is hitting her bone, causing her discomfort. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 6, SreyLen will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $214. This procedure will help her walk easily again and be able to return to work. She says, "After surgery I hope I can walk normally and without pain."

48-year-old Juana lives in rural Guatemala. Juana takes care of her three children and household while her husband works abroad. A recent pap smear revealed abnormal results, which is a possible indicator of cervical cancer. Juana now requires a more thorough diagnostic procedure called a colposcopy to examine the abnormal cells. The $218 procedure will be performed on August 1 and results will indicate if Juana needs further treatment. Juana shares with our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, that she is looking forward getting back to her normal life and taking care of her children. She says, "Thank you so much for the help that you given me. I hope to God to be well."

Musa is a 75-year-old, talkative man who lives with his young son in Kenya. He and his wife divorced 40 years ago, and he lost two sons due to post-election violence. Musa works as a farmer, however he recently has not been working due to muscle weakness. One year ago, Musa started to experience upper abdominal pain, dizziness, and weakness. He first tried using herbal medicine in response to his symptoms, but his condition did not improve. Upon visiting the hospital, Musa was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, and hernia repair surgery was recommended. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $384 to cover the cost of Musa's surgery. The surgery is scheduled to take place on June 22 and, once completed, will hopefully restore Musa's former energy and level of comfort. Musa's son hopes that his dad heals so that they can help each other with farming. “My hope and my prayer are to see that Musa receives treatment. He has been having sleepless nights," shares Musa's brother.

Nasasira is a nine-year-old boy growing up in Uganda. In his family, he is the second born out of five children. His parents work as farmers, cultivating food, in order to raise money for their children's school fees and the family's needs. When his son was only one year old, Nasasira's father reported that Nasasira's left inguinal region had started swelling. His family tried to treat him using local herbs, but they did not help. At three years old, Nasasira was taken to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with an inguinal scrotal hernia, which occurs when tissue protrudes through a weak part of the muscles in the groin. As Nasasira was too young at the time, surgery could not be done. Now that he is older, doctors have confirmed the initial diagnosis and recommended surgery right away. If he is left untreated, Nasasira may experience more pain due to hernia twisting and blocking. Nasasira is currently scheduled to undergo surgery on September 20. As his parents cannot afford to pay for the surgery, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to cover the costs of the operation.

Tin (BB), a 14-month-old girl from Burma, was born with a large teratoma, a tumor, protruding from her groin area. The teratoma is about half her body size. Tin (BB) already had one surgery for her teratoma. However, for her last follow up, the doctor did an ultrasound and found an abnormal mass in her big intestine. At first, the doctor said the tumor was big and too dangerous to operate. However, the doctor injected the tumor, reducing its size. On October 5, Tin (BB) will undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to help fund the treatment. Tin (BB)'s mother says, "I am worried for my daughter and I hope that the surgery will be successful and she will grow up well like other children."

This is Reginald, a 77-year-old maize farmer and retired administrator. Reginald lives with his wife of many years in Malawi. He has many hobbies, from reading novels to listening to the radio with his wife. He also loves playing with his grandchildren. For four years now, Reginald has been suffering from the effects of an enlarged prostate. His symptoms include pain and difficulty urinating. Although there is an operation known as prostate resection that can treat Reginald’s problem, his family cannot afford to pay for it. As a result, he has had to be catheterized in order to deal with his urination problems. But fortunately, with your help, Reginald will be able to access the surgery that he so urgently needs. For $733, we can sponsor his prostate resection procedure on September 5, as well as his medications, 17-day hospital stay, and follow-up appointment. Reginald and his family were thrilled to be introduced to Watsi. Let’s help this grandfather achieve the physical comfort that everyone deserves to have in their old age.

Julieta is a 47-year-old mother of five children from the Philippines. She lives with her husband and children. During the day, Julieta does chores, cuts grasses on the farm, and looks after her children. 12 years ago, Julieta began to experience troubling symptoms. She experienced difficulty while swallowing, nervousness, shortness of breath, and at times, felt like she was choking. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. On September 8, Julieta will undergo thyroidectomy surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, requests $489 to help fund the procedure to remove the diseased part of her thyroid gland. "It is my long desire that this mass will be operated, for more than 12 years after giving birth to my eldest son, it feels really uncomfortable inside and out," says Julieta. "I hope this time, the surgery will cure my condition."

Rosewell is a 17-year-old living in the Philippines with his parents and three siblings. He is in the 10th grade and spends his free time playing guitar, watching basketball, and helping his parents take care of the house. Rosewell was born with an inguinal hernia, which means that his intestines have pushed through the base of his abdomen. While doctors usually perform corrective surgery at birth, his parents were unable to afford the procedure. The hernia causes Rosewell significant pain after eating and when lifting heavy objects. If left untreated, Rosewell's symptoms will continue to worsen. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, has requested $494 to fund Rosewell's surgery, which will take place on October 7. After the procedure, Rosewell is excited to get to play basketball.