Namayani is a fourteen-year-old student and the last-born girl in a family of five children. Namayani is social and friendly and has just completed her primary school education. She hopes she will get good grades to enable her to join a prestigious high school. She wishes to become a teacher when she completes her studies. Her parents are livestock keepers and cannot afford the required surgery cost. Namayani was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. Her legs bend such that her knees are knocking. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Namayani says she struggled a lot walking to and from school because she felt pain when walking. The problem started three years ago, but has worsened over the years. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Namayani. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 9th. Treatment will hopefully restore Namayani's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Namayani says: “I will be happy if I have my legs corrected so that when I join secondary school next year I don’t struggle walking anymore.”

Sive Horng is a young student. She has four siblings, where she is the second child in her family. Sive Horng lives with her parents who are farmers. She loves to watch movies on TV. One month ago, Sive Horng developed a chalazion in her right eye, causing her burning, itchiness and irritation. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. It is difficult for her to see clearly and work. Sive Horng traveled hoping for treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On November 25th, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Sive Horng's symptoms should improve. She needs help raising $187 to fund this procedure. Sive Horng said, "I hope after surgery my eyelid has no cyst and I don’t have to worry so I can go back to working well."

Chhun Leap is an active 13-year-old boy in grade 6. He's an only child, his mother is a Khmer teacher and his father is a truck driver. When he isn't studying, he likes to play football with his friends, and read books. Since he was young, he has often felt poorly. He doesn't eat sufficiently because it hurts him to eat, Chhun Leap has been experiencing a frequent cough, sore throat, fever, and difficulty swallowing. This frequent illness causes him to miss school and not eat well. Chhun Leap was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $241 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Chhun Leap, which is scheduled to take place on November 25th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Chhun Leap of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. "I hope my throat will feel better, and I can go to school and play with my friends again," he shared.

Bonabana is a farrmer from Uganda. She is a mother of two children, a boy and a girl. For ten years, Bonabana has had an epigastric hernia. This hernia causes her pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on November 21, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Bonabana's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. She says, "After surgery I will be happy and resume with work."

Kisembo is a woman from Uganda. She is married and a mother of five children. For one year, Kisembo has been experiencing lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with symptomatic uterine fibroids. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $268 to fund Kisembo's surgery. On December 18, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Kisembo will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She says, “After surgery I will resume with my business.”

Mugisha is a boy from Tanzania. His father is a journalist, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Mugisha has been diagnosed with windswept deformity. His left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward, making it painful and difficult to walk. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he cannot walk comfortably. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Mugisha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 2. Treatment will hopefully restore Mugisha's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. His father says, “Please help us.”

Sopheap is a fish vendor from Cambodia. She has five sons, two daughters, and eight grandchildren. She likes to chat with her neighbors when not working. Three years ago, Sopheap developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her blurry vision, tearing, and irritation. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Sopheap learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. Sopheap needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for November 12. She says, "I hope my eye surgery is successful so I can continue my business selling fish and I can ride my bike."

Hay is a twelve-month-old boy from Thailand. He lives with his family in Nu Poe Refugee Camp, Umphang District, Tak Province. Hay Soe’s father works with the Karen Department of Heath Welfare in the border area outside of the camp as a health worker. Since he was three weeks old, Hay has had a hernia. His parents worry that his condition will get worse if he does not receive surgery. Fortunately, on January 8, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Hay's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 8 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. His mother says, “I want my son to get well and I want to help him go to school when he grows up. I want him to become a doctor and take care of sick people.”

Joseph is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest child in his family. Joseph 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, Joseph has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Joseph will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Joseph that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 13 and will drain the excess fluid from Joseph's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Joseph will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Joseph’s mother says, “My prayer is to have my son grow as a normal child with fewer health-related problems."

Talemwa is a young student from Uganda. He is the youngest of six children. He is studying hard because he wants to become a teacher in the future. He says, "I like playing football." For three weeks, Talemwa has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. This hydrocele causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on November 7, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $185 to fund Talemwa's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently.

Mengkeang is a street food vendor from Cambodia. She has five sisters. She likes to watch TV and go for walks. Five months ago, she was in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of her right arm. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. She is unable to use her arm and hand, and she cannot work. Mengkeang traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 16, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will be able to use her right hand again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $637 to fund this procedure. She says, "I look forward to returning to work and being able to use my arm again."