Lekere is a joyful 7-year-old from Kenya who is in the second grade. She is the firstborn in a family of five children. Lekere's favorite activities are playing with other kids and writing. Her father is a herder, and her mother is a homemaker. Lekere was born with clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Currently, Lekere tiptoes as she walks and often falls while walking, making it difficult for her to engage with her peers fully. Lekere has been undergoing serial casting for five weeks as part of her healing process. The purpose of serial casting is to soften the tissue to achieve better results after surgery. Lekere is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on November 28th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund Lekere's clubfoot repair surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk well, play with her peers at home and in school, and continue growing into a strong, healthy young girl. Lekere's mother said, "My joy is seeing my girl walking normally like other children."

Dinah is a 3-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the second born in a family of three children. Her family hails from the interior part of North Pokot. Our medical partner met Dinah, accompanied by her grandmother, at a mobile community clinic in Kacheliba. The grandmother has nine children and is raising Dinah. She is a farmer and a herder and shared that she separated from her husband after he married several wives. Dinah was left by her parents, who are pastoralists and migrated to a different region. Because of the deformity, she could not walk for long distances. Dinah has clubfoot of right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Dinah and her grandmother visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Dinah's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will no longer be in pain and will be able to walk much more easily. “I am appealing for your support to help my grandchild undergo surgery so she can walk normally,” Dinah's Grandmother told us.

John is a 2-month-old baby from Tanzania. He resides in a modest home with his parents and two siblings. His mother is a devoted stay-at-home mother, while his father works as a carpenter. His father’s income is enough to cover the family’s basic needs. After John's birth, the doctors realized he was born with a congenital condition and advised his mother to seek specialized care. His right foot was twisted inward and downward. They started him on casting at the hospital for three weeks, hoping it might help him heal. However, it became apparent that his condition was more complex and would require surgical intervention as the only viable option to give John a chance at a more mobile and fulfilling life. However, the financial burden proved to be overwhelming for John’s family. Living on a modest income, they could not afford the surgical treatment cost. They had to make a hard decision to stop their son’s treatment. Sometime after discontinuing their son’s treatment, John’s mother learned about our medical partner the Plaster House and the services it provides. Fueled by love and hope for her son, she sought assistance from the center. John underwent a comprehensive wellness assessment; however, the family cannot raise money for his treatment and is appealing for financial assistance. John has clubfoot on his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. The Plaster House team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 19. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund John's clubfoot repair. After treatment and as he grows he will be able to walk comfortably, wear shoes, enjoy playtime with his peers, and reassure his parents that their son is free from disability. John’s mother says: “I hope my son’s treatment will be smooth and he will turn out okay after his treatment.”

Brandon is a 9-year-old student who is an active and social boy in class 4. He likes playing football and socializing with others. He aspires to become a doctor in the future so that he can perform surgeries for children. He is the first born in a family of 3 children. His mother is a housewife, while his father is a businessman. Brandon was born with clubfoot of both feet. He underwent serial casting treatment at a young age, where he wore a series of casts to gradually move the feet to the correct position. The right foot was corrected, but the left foot reverted back to clubfoot. He has been having difficulties walking and playing football, his favorite sport. Fortunately, Brandon and his parents traveled to visit our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH). He has been being treated with serial casting for the left foot again to soften the tissues and is scheduled to undergo a clubfoot repair surgery on August 16th. AMH is requesting $1,286 to fund Brandon's clubfoot repair. The treatment will be impactful because he will be able to walk confidently and play football with his friends. Brandon’s mother shared, “I would love to see my son walking like other children and achieve his dream career of becoming a doctor.”

Mon is a 40-year-old mother from Thailand. She lives with her husband and son in a small village. She is a seamstress while her husband is unemployed. Her son goes to nursery school. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her son and riding bikes with him. Since 2015, Mon has been experiencing pain in the right side of her abdomen. She has been diagnosed with uterine myoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Mon's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mon is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on July 19th. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCM) is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain. She said, “I was depressed when I learned I have to undergo surgery, but my husband comforted me and encouraged me to continue seeking medical treatment so I will feel better.”

Dormaha is a four year old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, and likes dancing and watching cartoons. Dormaha suffers from a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. Blood leaks through a hole that exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, bypassing her lungs without obtaining the oxygen Dormaha requires. She needs surgery to prevent her from experiencing the weakness and shortness of breath that she currently lives with. The surgery that Dormaha needs is not currently available in Haiti, so she will be flying to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. Fortunately, on May 18th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to close it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to pay for the surgery. However, Dormaha's family also needs help to fund the costs of many other aspects of Dormaha's care. They are seeking $1,500 to pay for the lab tests, medicines, checkup and follow-up appointments, that are all part of Dormaha's critical treatment. This money will also go towards obtaining passports, and for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Dormaha's family overseas during her care. Dormaha's mother said: "Our family has been hoping for this surgery ever since our daughter was a small baby, and we are very glad the chance has arrived!"

Fatma is a bright 14-year-old from Kenya. She loves school and is in class seven, where her favorite subject is English because she likes reading. Fatma has three older siblings and three younger siblings. Her parents operate a small shop in their town to provide for their family's needs. Fatma experienced delayed mobility and was diagnosed with clubfoot on her right foot in 2017. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which can cause difficulty walking and wearing shoes. She underwent surgery at another hospital in the past, but she continues to experience mobility concerns. Fatma's parents brought her to our medical partner's care center. On May 15th, she will undergo clubfoot repair surgery that will allow her to walk without difficulty and continue her studies uninterrupted. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund this procedure. Fatma shared: "I will be happy to see my foot corrected and appreciate your assistance."

Paw, who is 50 years old, lives with her husband, two daughters, and four sons in an internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Karen State in Burma. They have no source of income and rely on the food support they receive from donors every month. In her free time, Paw enjoys weaving traditional Karen shirts and foraging for vegetables in the forest. In 2021, Paw started to experience pain in her lower abdomen and back. At first, she thought the pain would go away on its own; instead, it only intensified. Last year, she felt a mass in her lower abdomen, but she could not afford to seek treatment at a hospital. After Paw and her family fled to the IDP camp in December 2022, she went to the clinic in the camp, where she could access free, basic health care. Paw was referred to Mae Sariang Hospital for evaluation. At the hospital, she had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with bilateral ovarian tumors. The doctor told her that she needs surgery to remove her uterus and both of her ovaries. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Paw's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on April 23rd at Mae Sariang Hospital. After she has recovered from this procedure, Paw will no longer experience pain in her abdomen and back. "When the doctor told me I need to have the tumors removed, I felt happy that I will be free from this pain. I also feel very happy that your organization [BCMF] will help me pay for my treatment cost. I hope that I will recover soon, and that I will be able to work again. I want to say thank you so much to all the donors for their help. May they be blessed more and be prosperous,” said Paw.