Meet Hsa, a 27-year-old man from Burma. Hsa works on a rice farm and also makes coal from wood to sell so he can support his family. Hsa came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), with a mass inside his nasal passage and adjacent sinus. “Hsa first noticed symptoms related to his condition six years ago when he was 21,” says BBP. “He said that he had difficulty breathing, had a sore throat, and a yellow-colored discharge started to drip from his nose.” Hsa sought medical care on multiple occasions, but the medicines he received did not relieve his symptoms, BBP adds. “His head throbs, he cannot breathe well, and he has trouble hearing due to the drainage.” “I have to miss work in the rice fields when my symptoms are particularly bad,” says Hsa. His inability to work prevents him from sending money home to support his family and pay school fees for his sisters. With $1,500, Hsa can undergo surgery to remove the mass from his nose and sinus. Funding also pays for 15 days of hospital care immediately after surgery and two outpatient visits for follow-up care. “It is expected that if Hsa has treatment for his condition, that he will be able to return to work so that he can earn money to support his parents and siblings,” BBP tells us. “He will no longer be in discomfort/pain and will be able to sleep well.” “If I can get well, I will be able to make money and send it home to my family,” says Hsa.

Tabitha is a 63-year-old widow that lives in Kenya with her nephew. She supports them both by bringing goods from Nairobi and selling them in her community. A couple months ago Tabitha fell down and landed badly on her left hand, breaking her wrist. Despite being placed in a cast, Tabitha’s doctors have noticed that the fracture is not healing very well and recommend surgery. Because of this injury, Tabitha can’t lift anything or work normally, which prevents her from raising enough money for treatment. She says, "I am in debt to my land lord and friends. I want to get well soon so that I can go back to work and support myself and my nephew." Her doctors say that without this surgery, Tabitha may not regain use of her left hand. $660 will cover Tabitha’s open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure which will surgically open the area surrounding her broken bone and realign the broken ends using metal hardware. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation says that, “after the surgery and recovery, Tabitha will be able to go back to work and support herself. She will regain use of her left hand and be able to lift things again.”

"Fadix is from a war zone in Somalia. Her mother is unwell and cannot afford transport to get Fadix to the hospital," explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. One of Fadix's relatives brought her in to the hospital after noticing she was unable to pass stool normally. Fadix is a smiling newborn living in Ethiopia. She was born with an anorectal malformation. After she was born, she immediately underwent surgery to get a colostomy, an artificial passage to make it easier for her to eliminate waste. The colostomy is now blocked and she needs surgery in order to pass stool healthily. "It’s hard for us to get medical treatment for Fadix where we live. If Fadix does not get help here, we are afraid that she will die,” her relatives say. Fadix's family does not have the money they need to cover her medical bills and are eager for her to get better. With $1500, Fadix will receive an anorectoplasty. This operation will surgically create a new passage through which Fadix will pass stool. This operation will eliminate her need for a colostomy and ensure that she can eliminate waste from her body and grow into a healthy young child.

Meet Sucely, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), describes Sucely as an “active and well-tempered child,” who laughs frequently and enjoys playing with dolls. Sucely lives on a compound-style property with her extended family. “Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother all participate and contribute to the general well-being of family and spend lots of quality time together,” says WK. Recently, Sucely’s parents have been extremely worried about their youngest daughter, who hasn’t been growing like her two older brothers did. After examining Sucely, WK diagnosed her with acute malnutrition. Sucely does not consume enough food, and she is unable to retain nutrients due to parasitic disease and bacterial infection. If left untreated, Sucely’s malnutrition could lead to extreme dehydration, a compromised immune system, and death. According to Sucely’s mother, “We have a lot of family and so our resources are spread very thin.” Sucely’s father is a part-time carpenter, but he does not make enough to cover the costs of her treatment. For $535, we can help Sucely get the life-saving help she needs. “This treatment will supply Sucely with growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to recoup some of the weight and height she has lost and increase her overall caloric intake,” says WK. Moreover, her parents will receive “intensive nutrition education, thus building their confidence and ability to care for Sucely throughout her childhood.” Sucely’s mother shares, “Thank you so much for finding us. I am worried because our other two children were not like this. We are excited to learn.” Let’s help give Sucely the opportunity to develop normally and live a healthy, happy life!

“Samuel and his wife are subsistence farmers and they depend on the produce from their small farm for their basic needs,” says our partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This is Samuel, a 55-year old father from Kenya with a wife and two children. AMHF explains, “In February 2015, Samuel fell and sustained fracture of the left ankle joint. He was taken to hospital and plating was done. About two weeks ago, Samuel started having severe pain on the site and difficulty in walking. Samuel came to Nazareth [our partner hospital] and an x-ray was done which showed that the plate had dislodged. The doctor ordered a repeat ORIF.” An ORIF is an open reduction internal fixation—a surgical procedure to fix a severe bone fracture. With $1,125 in funding, Samuel will receive the new surgery he needs. AMHF reports, “We expect after an ORIF, the bones will unite, Samuel will be well again and he will be able to use his leg. This will enable Samuel to work in his farm and earn for his family.” Samuel wants to get back working on his farm -- not only to support his family, but to pay for his children to attend college. Samuel shares, “Working in the garden requires my hands and legs. I therefore hope this surgery will be successful so that I can continue working for my family.”

Rosario is a newborn baby girl who lives with her family in Guatemala. Rosario’s father is a day laborer on a farm nearby, and her mother helps her mother-in-law take care of the house and land. “Rosario is suffering from acute malnutrition due to lactation failure,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “When examined by our medical team, Rosario had very little energy. Her mother does not have enough money to pay for formula, and if intervention does not occur soon Rosario will be in danger of permanent mental and physical damage or death.” Rosario’s mother is 18 years old and had a very complicated pregnancy and birth, in which Rosario required critical care. Despite these previous complications, Rosario’s mother is extremely dedicated to the health of her baby. “When she realized she could not produce sufficient breast milk, she immediately came to our clinic asking for help,” explains WK. “She cries because she is hungry and there is nothing I can do,” shares her mother. “I feel so helpless and embarrassed. She is my first child and I just want the best for her.” Fortunately, treating lactation failure is easy and effective. With our support of $1,220, WK will be able to work with Rosario and her family to prevent future threats of malnutrition. Doctors will provide a combination of milk formula supplementation, growth monitoring and intensive nutrition education to give Rosario and her mother the tools Rosario needs to survive and thrive. “We believe our treatment plan will allow Rosario to recoup the weight she has lost and start to develop normally,” explains WK. “She will avoid the loss of developmental milestones, and grow to her full mental and physical potential.”

“John is a beautiful little boy living with his father,” shares our medical partner in Haiti, Project Medishare (PM). Just eight years old, John is in severe respiratory distress. “Twelve months ago John fell on a rock while biking in his neighborhood, and his parents did not take him to the hospital because they did not have money and it was not severe,” PM explains. “A few days later John started having difficulties breathing and his belly, face and foot started swelling.” When his father saw this, he took John to the hospital where he was given oxygen. However, pus in his right lung is still preventing him from breathing normally. In order for John to recover, he must receive surgery to remove the pus. “John's father is working very hard to raise money for him,” PM tells us. “He has to walk under the hot sun of Haiti every day, selling used stuff.” John’s father shares, “I fix stuff I find to sell in order to get money to feed my kid. I only came to the hospital with John hoping to receive free care because he was very sick; when they said to me that it is a private hospital and that I have to pay, I thought about going back home because I have no money. 
” Thankfully, John’s father does not have to take his son home. With $1,500 in funding, PM explains, “Treatment will consist of a thoracic drainage by surgical intervention.” First, the pus will be drained from John’s lung. Second, John will be given antibiotics to treat the infection. Finally, he will rejoin his family and resume his healthy life. “This surgery will save John’s life,” PM shares. Let’s fund this life-saving treatment and allow John to live a normal childhood—without pain and respiratory distress.

Adelina is a sweet 15-year-old from Tanzania. She lives with her mother and grandparents, loves to play football (soccer), and dreams of growing up to become a soldier in the Tanzanian defense force. She also lives with unicystic ameloblastoma, which causes benign cysts to swell on her face. This swelling is both painful and extremely uncomfortable, and Adelina has become self-conscious when people make comments about her appearance. Adelina says she loses sleep over her condition, and simply wishes to look normal again. Unfortunately, her mother is unable to pay for medical treatment and her father is indifferent to what Adelina is going through. Together for $1375, the Watsi community can step in and help Adelina receive surgery to permanently remove the swelling from her face. Let's help her go back to school, walk around without covering her face, and play with her friends comfortably again!

For the past eight months, Mamourou has had increasing difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate which is obstructing the urine passageway. This condition was causing him very severe pain, so Mamourou's doctor temporarily inserted a catheter to help the urine drain. The doctor recommended a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) in order to resolve this urinary obstruction and Mamourou's accompanying pain. Since the placement of the urinary catheter, however, Mamourou has not been able to work which is weighing upon his family. After the death of his wife five years ago, he became the sole caretaker of his four children and works diligently as a farmer to sustain his family and ensure access to education for each of his children. This leaves very little money for him to spend on the operation he needs to relieve his condition. For $730, we can help Mamourou get well again so he can continue supporting his children!

Felista is a wonderful four-year-old girl who arrived at CURE's hospital with her aunt. Felista has a leg condition that causes her lower leg to angle inward. The condition, which causes Felista pain, prevents her from doing activities like other girls in her hometown do. A $1,000 surgery, which will place pins in Felista's leg to straighten it permanently, will restore her leg to full mobility and ease Felista's pain.