Glory lives with her grandmother in the village to attend school, while her four younger siblings live with her parents in the city. She is currently in form four and would like to be newscaster when she completes her studies. Last December, Glory developed an infection on her right hand. This affected her studies to some extent, but she was determined to go to school to complete her final year. However, the wound has now contracted as it healed, making her unable to straighten her fingers. This injury has made it difficult to hold a pen well enough to write, but she has continued her studies as best as she can. Glory's family learned that she needs surgery to heal her condition and to be able to fully use her hand in the future. Her father could not afford the cost of the surgery out of his wages earned in his construction job. But, when he heard about the visiting plastic surgery team over the radio, he decided to seek help. Now, African Mission Healthcare is seeking support to fund her surgery, which will allow her better mobility in her hand. Glory says, “It was hard for me to accept that my finger would need to be amputated but the surgeons have assured me that it will help me use my other fingers better making carrying out daily activities easier than now. Especially in my studies.”

Deborah is a nine-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, several siblings, and her grandparents. She enjoys singing and listening to music in her free time. Deborah has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, where a hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without properly circulating through her body, leaving her feeling sick and weak. To receive treatment, Deborah will fly to Dominican Republic. On March 2nd, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is also contributing $8,000 to pay for her surgery. Deborah's family needs help raising money to fund the costs of her surgery prep. The $1,500 prep bill covers labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner who will accompany Deborah's family overseas for her surgery. Deborah's father shared, "our family has been praying for years for this surgery to happen, and would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping!"

Marimar is from Samar, an island approximately 530 km away from the capital city of Manila. She's been diagnosed with cholelithiasis, also known as gallstone disease. She saw several doctors in her province after experiencing shooting pains in her stomach whenever she walked. Eventually, her condition has gotten severe to the point that she had to stop working due to her worsening symptoms. Due to the lack of equipment and specialists in their province, she has needed to travel to Manila to get the surgery she needs to heal. If left untreated, her condition may lead to tissue damage, tears in the gallbladder, and infection that can spread to other parts of her body. Luckily, her brother who works in construction in Manila is able to host her to stay with him until she undergoes surgery and afterward as she heals. Her surgery is scheduled for February 1st and our medical partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines is raising $1,253 to fund her procedure and care. After recovering, Marimar will be able to work again to support her family in Samar. Looking forward to a better future, Marimar shared, "after the surgery, I hope to be able to live and work again without the excruciating pain."

Mark is eighteen days old and has been diagnosed with a serious birth condition called anorectal malformation. His mother first had a concern when he was 6 days old, but hoped that it was normal. A few days later she noticed that Mark was experiencing trouble going to the bathroom and took him to hospital. After finding out that he would need surgery, a friend of their family referred them to BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. Upon arrival, he was examined and scheduled for emergency surgery that will help heal his condition and ensure he can grow up healthy. Mark is the only child in their small family. His mother works as a lab technician in a small hospital, but her earnings are limited right now. Mark's father does farming and is able to sell the farm produce. Their family does not have national insurance and can not raise the required amount of money for Marks’ surgery. They have come a long way from Kericho County and are in need of support for his care.

Bernard is a 6-month-old baby and the youngest in his family of four. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as a businessman selling fruits at a local market in Nairobi. The family shared that they live in a two-room rental house and rely on Bernard’s father’s income for their needs. About two months ago, Bernard began experiencing an inguinal hernia. Without treatment, there is a risk that the hernia can swell or block blood flow to the intestine. Fortunately, on November 24th, Bernard will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $585 to fund Bernard’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably. Benard’s father shared, “My son looks jovial and happy, but I am afraid this condition will affect his growth and future.”

Bekalu is a 5-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves sweets and playing football. He also loves his dad very much and is a good listener to him. Bekalu is the first child of his parents and he has a younger sister. His dad works as a health information technician in a government clinic. Bekalu’s mother ran a small vegetable business in the neighborhood before she gave birth to their second child. His dad’s income is significantly lower than the needs of the family so having money for healthcare costs is very challenging. Bekalu has been diagnosed with a condition called cryptorchidism. If left untreated, Bekalu has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Bekalu will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 28th. AMHF is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Bekalu's dad said: “I am so happy for him getting such a medical chance. I lost my hope before I came to this hospital. I was thinking ‘What will happen to this boy?’ We couldn’t get him to school as a result of this condition. But it was beyond our expectation to get this service. Once the treatment is finalized and he is as any other boy, me and his mom will have renewed hope and we will educate him well.”

Chab is a 54-year-old woman who works as a farmer alongside her husband. Together, they have two sons and two daughters, all of whom are students. At home, Chab enjoys watching movies on TV but it has become harder for her to see recently. Two years ago, Chab developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. When Chab learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 25th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again and go back to doing all her day-to-day activities. CSC is requesting $229 to help fund this procedure for Chab and restore her vision. Chab shared, "I hope I will see well again so I can help my husband to plant more rice."