Sokkong is a coffee vendor from Cambodia. She has one son and one daughter. She likes to watch TV and take care of her kids. Three years ago, she developed hip pain on her right side. She was diagnosed with spondyloarthritis of both of her hips. Fortunately, Sokkong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Sokkong of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 8, and Sokkong needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "After surgery I hope I can walk well and return to work."

Faima is a baby from Kenya. Faima’s mother is a stay-at-home mom. Faima has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Faima has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Faima will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Faima that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 4 and will drain the excess fluid from Faima's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Faima will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. “I am praying and hoping Faima will get treated and thrive,” shares Faima’s mother.

Samith is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has a daughter and three sons. She likes to spend time at home and watch TV. Thirty years ago, Samith 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, Samith experiences pain, tinnitus, ear discharge, and hearing loss. It is difficult for her to hear and communicate. Samith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 5, 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 I have no more ear pain and discharge after the surgery and I can hear well. I hope I can return to work soon."

Ryan is a boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three children. He cannot wait to join his siblings in school. Ryan 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, Ryan is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 13. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $676 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. "I look forward to his condition being rectified successfully,” Ryan’s mother says.

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 home, caring for their daughter and their nephews. Two months ago, Saw climbed a palm tree to collect coconuts. When he reached the top, he suddenly fainted and fell down, breaking his left femur and arm. Since the accident, he has not been able to work. In April 2018, he underwent internal fixation for his broken femur at Mae Sot Hospital. He felt a lot better after surgery, but in late June 2018, he accidentally fell from his bed and broke his left femur again. A few days after the accident, Saw started to experience pain in his left leg. Now, he cannot walk anymore. Saw says, "I am afraid to move because of the pain and I also have pain in my left arm when I try to walk and use crutches." He needs to undergo further treatment, including a removal of the hardware installed during his first surgery and then another internal fixation surgery to heal the fracture. Fortunately, after visiting our medical partner's care center, he was scheduled for surgery on July 17. Now, he needs help raising $1,500 to fund surgery.

Sok is a girl from Cambodia. She has two sisters and two brothers. She enjoys reading and eating fruit. After school, she likes to play with her neighbors outside and sing. Sok was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age, making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort. Surgery can help correct the position of her spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition. She needs to undergo a rod expansion to improve her posture and get rid of her back pain. Surgery is scheduled for June 12 at our medical partner's care center. Now, her family needs help raising $1,500. She says, "I hope my back doesn't hurt so much after surgery and I can return to school."

Costine is a young student from Kenya. His mother is a housewife, and his father is a farmer. In May, Costine was herding their cattle when he slid and sustained a severe hip fracture. He was rushed to the nearest hospital for first aid and later referred to our medical partner's hospital. He cannot lift or touch anything with his right hand and has not been attending school. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 17, Costine will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Costine will be able to use his hand and help out his parents at home and he will be able to go back to school. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. Costine says, “I miss my friends at school, I want to get treated so that I can rejoin my friends at school."

Moe is a 10-month-old baby boy who lives with his parents, uncle, grandmother, and older brother in Burma. His father used to work as a server in Bangkok, but he moved back home three months ago to help take care of Moe. Since Moe’s mother cannot work while she is looking after her two sons, they are forced to live off of their savings. Three months after Moe was born, his mother noticed that he had a bump on his left eyebrow. She took him to visit the doctor at Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center. He was sent to Mae Sot Hospital for further investigation. The doctor at the hospital diagnosed him with a cyst and scheduled him for a cyst removal surgery on April 10. Now, Moe's family needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure. “When he grows up, we want to send him to school and we will support him whatever he decides to become," says Moe's father.

Denis is a young student from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two children. Denis is currently in first grade and enjoys mathematics and drawing classes. He is a loving and caring brother to his sister and loves playing different games with his friends. Denis’s mother is a businesswoman who sells snacks at the bus stand. His stepfather is a painter. When he was two, Denis sustained serious burns. His mother was boiling beans in the kitchen, and Denis walked to the hot cooking pot and put his right hand in the boiling beans. Now, Denis cannot easily move his right wrist, which affects his performance in school. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Denis receive treatment. On March 6, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to give him full use of his right wrist. Now, he needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Denis says, “I will be happy if I will be able to use my hand to hold a football and play with my friends. Thank you very much for helping me and my family by paying for this surgery.”

Ann is a bar attendant from Kenya. She is a mother of four children. In early February, Ann was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when they were hit from behind by a hit-and-run vehicle. She was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with femur fracture and cervical spine fracture. She is not able to sit, stand, or walk and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 16, Ann will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The procedure will help her walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Ann says, “I wish to be treated and leave the hospital when am much better. I still need to provide for my children."

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!"

Dah is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. The family owns a piece of land, which Dah's husband and her five siblings use to grow crops and rice paddies and raise chickens and pigs .As the family lives from their land, they don’t have a monthly income. This July, Dah attended her aunt’s funeral and had to walk home at night. Because it was raining, she decided to run, but she slipped and broke her left arm. Dah went to a traditional healer, who applied a mixture of tamarind and wine on her arm. Her arm did not heal properly. Currently, Dah feels pain and she cannot take care of her sons. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Dah will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 23 and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help Dah heal successfully. Dah says, “I hope to get better soon so I can take care of my children again, and let my husband go back to work.”