Mikaeli is a 12-year-old boy. He is the oldest of three siblings in his family and a student. Unfortunately, he had to discontinue his studies due to mobility challenges caused by a congenital condition in his left foot. His father is struggling to find appropriate treatment for him, which is causing a lot of stress for the family. The condition causes an inward and downward twist in his left foot, and his parents are concerned about the potential implications on his future if left unaddressed. Mikaeli’s father, a farmer, serves as the primary breadwinner for their family of three children. Despite his efforts on the farm, the income generated from sales is insufficient to cover all their expenses. In response to this financial gap, the father takes on casual jobs to supplement their income. However, even with these combined efforts, the funds they currently generate are inadequate to meet the medical costs associated with their son’s condition. Fortunately, Mikaeli's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on December 29th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Mikaeli's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Mikaeli will eventually walk comfortably and wear regular shoes. Mikaeli’s father says: “I wish for my son's leg to be normal so that he can return to school and continue his education.”

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.”

Rovence is a 45 year old single mother in southwestern Uganda. She has two sons and two daughters. Her elder son recently joined the army, while the other is currently pursuing his studies. Her two daughters are still in secondary school. Rovence separated from her husband when he married another wife. After the separation, Rovence, who had dropped out of school after 7th grade, enrolled in a hairdressing school. After completing her training, she established a small ladies' hairdressing salon. She earns a living to support her family, pay rent, school fees, and provide basic needs. Rovence resides in a two-room rental permanent house with her son and two daughters. She is the sole provider for the family, receiving no support from her husband. Seven years ago, Rovence began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling. Initially non-painful, the swelling started causing shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, pain on swallowing, profuse swelling, and high blood pressure. Due to limited finances, she has resorted to traditional means such as cuts and herbs, but these have proven ineffective. After meeting someone who had a successful surgery at Nyakibale Hospital, Rovence sought medical attention there too. She arrived hopeful and was screened, examined, and diagnosed with nodular goiter. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rovence receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 12th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Rovence says, “My entire family depends on me, I have no other support yet. I am in ill health. I trust that if am supported, I will get better and resume with hair dressing to take care of my family."

Pich is a 70-year-old grandmother who has lived with her daughter since her husband died of COVID last year. She cares for her granddaughter while her daughter works. Pich used to sell delicious Khmer cakes near their house but has stopped due to her declining vision. At home, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Pich developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision and constant tearing. She feels depressed because she is often alone all day at home. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Pich learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 7th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Pich is able to contribute towards the cost of the surgery and needs help raising $253 to fund her surgery. Pich shared, "I hope after my operation I can see well again and go outside by myself."

Rabecca is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is a mother to four children, all delivered via caesarean section. Three of her children attend primary and secondary school, while the youngest remains at home and hasn't started schooling yet. Rabecca has attended antenatal care at Nyakibale Hospital on six occasions during her pregnancy. Due to financial difficulties, Rebecca had to leave school after primary six grade. Consequently, she does not have a formal job. She is involved in cultivating food crops on a small piece of land which is the main means of sustenance. These crops are primarily intended for home consumption, but any surplus is sold to generate income for her family. Her husband works as a construction porter on various building sites. Despite their combined efforts, their incomes are insufficient to cover her medical expenses. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Rabecca is currently expecting her fifth child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of four previous scars. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rabecca undergo a C-Section on August 8th. This procedure will cost $252, and Rabecca needs your support. Rebecca says, "We survive miraculously by God's mercy, due to our limited family income. This restriction even hinders us from providing basic necessities like medical care. However, I believe that with your support, I will be able to have a successful delivery."

Blessing is a 7-year-old boy. He is the second-born in a family of two children in primary school. He stays with his grandparents and enjoys studying and sports. His mother operates a small-scale retail shop and cannot generate enough money to facilitate her son's surgery. His father died five years ago, leaving them unsupported. The grandparents are engaged in small-scale farming and find it hard to afford the bills for his surgery. For one year, Blessing has had an umbilical hernia. He was received at the hospital with on-and-off umbilical swelling that increased in size. His grandmother reports having observed her grandchild in pain over time. The swelling is significant, causing disfigurement and making it difficult to inspect the site. Whenever he eats to satisfaction, he experiences much pain and discomfort. Despite persevering and attending school, the situation has become more challenging daily. It now limits Blessing's movements, such as going to church and school, and he is unable to sleep on the affected side of his body. He cries throughout the day during its onset due to pain and discomfort. If not treated, he will be at risk of more severe conditions such as intestinal obstruction, threatening his life. Blessing has never been taken to the hospital for treatment due to a lack of enough money, but when the condition worsened, his grandmother decided to search for treatment. Fortunately, on January 23rd, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Blessing's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Blessing's grandmother says, “I am grateful because my grandson will be relieved of this condition and live well, thus continuing with education, and I will also be able to continue with farming to provide food for my grandchildren.”

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.”

Luana is the only child of her mother and father. Her mother is a college student hoping to become a doctor, and her father is a market vendor. They live in the Amazon basin of northeastern Bolivia. Luana was born with a condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Luana also has Down syndrome. Our partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund cardiac surgery which will help her to grow up healthy and active. Luana's mother shares, "We are so grateful that the hospital selected our daughter to have surgery, and we are praying everything will go well!"

Rechael is a 38-year-old widow and mother of three children, who works in a small grocery store. Her husband died in a traffic accident in 2018, and her life changed dramatically as a result. Her husband's family sent her away with the children, and since her mother had also died earlier, she shared with us that she had nowhere to go. Her aunt agreed to have Rachael and her children come live with her. Rechael was accompanied by her aunt and uncle when she came to Nazareth Hospital this week. She was very anxious, and when she started narrating her story she began to cry. She had become depressed, had experienced periodic upper abdominal pains, and occasional vomiting. She has been admitted at hospitals three times, and a scan showed that she had gallstones. Doctors advised that she have surgery to heal her condition. Unfortunately, she is unable to pay the $788 needed for this surgery. If not treated, Rechael will continue to experience these symptoms, and could develop complications such as pancreatitis, or obstruction of the gallbladder among others. “I am desperate and don’t know what to do. I can only depend on my family, and they are not in a position to help. I pray for help so that at least my life can be normal again for the sake of my children,” said Rechael.