"Like everybody else, I have dreams of getting a wife and my own children,” says Barnabas. "I really hope I can get help to be treated." Meet Barnabas, a 31-year-old man from Kenya. "Barnabas was hit by a motorbike as he was walking on the road," reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "He sustained leg fractures. Due to lack of money, Barnabas has not received treatment." Barnabas has fractures in his tibia and fibula. "He has been experiencing severe pain and inability to use his right leg," AMHF continues. "If not treated, Barnabas will continue to suffer and the bone may have delayed union." Barnabas is single and works as a casual laborer at a training college. He makes very little money, and cannot afford the $1125 open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery to heal his bones. “We expect after an ORIF, the bones will unite," AMHF adds. "Barnabas will be able to use his leg. He will be able to work and achieve his dream of having his own family.”

Meet Pang, a 13-year-old boy from Burma who has a cleft lip. “Pang feels very embarrassed about his face so he doesn’t like to leave the house and avoids crowds, even during festivals which he knows he will enjoy. He also said the other children make fun of him and people constantly stare,” reports our medical partner, Burma Border Projects. Pang resides in rural Burma with his parents. “His parents own their own farm and plant rice in the rainy season. Outside the rainy season, they do not work regularly and instead grow vegetables and raise chickens for the family’s consumption,” continues Burma Border Projects. The family also lives far from the nearest city and the family doesn’t have enough money to pay for transportation costs or school fees, preventing Pang from schooling. For $1320, we can repair Pang’s cleft lip and improve his appearance. The surgery will raise his self-esteem and improve his breathing, speech, and language development.

“Josinter is known in her village as a social lady who happily interacts with everybody in the community,” shares our medical partner in Kenya, Lwala Community Alliance (LCA). “Josinter is married to a farmer and they have three children who are all in primary school.” Josinter is currently pregnant with the family’s fourth child, and is experiencing headaches and mild abdominal pain. As a result, she’s unable to help on her family’s farm or attend to her household duties. “Josinter hopes for a healthy and jovial child and for a quick recovery after delivery so that she can join her husband on the farm,” shares LCA. $290 will provide Josinter and her baby with prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.

Say hi to Thet Mhu, a 20-year-old man from Burma! “Thet Mhu lives with his three siblings and mother. His mother works as a day laborer in a rice storage factory and his father passed away a few years ago. His big sister helps the family by working as a day laborer with his mother.” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Unfortunately, Thet Mhu also deals with a leaking heart valve which causes extreme fatigue. “He cannot walk far at all without having to rest – he is thin and has mild jaundice. When he sleeps on the bed, he cannot lie down on his back or else he cannot breathe; he has to sleep sitting up and he has to change position often. He cannot eat well.” says BBP. For $1,500, Thet Mhu will receive heart surgery to repair his defective valve, alleviating his extreme fatigue and restoring his health. Thet Mhu says, “Because of my condition I am not able to work or study. I am not able to play football, ride a bike, or perform difficult household chores. I can only help a little bit around the house. In the future, I want to work in agriculture and raise livestock, earning money to help provide for my family.” Let’s help Thet Mhu get his health and independence back!