Reyes first came into our clinic because of the nearly constant pain she has in her abdomen. She has had this for a few months, and it has made it hard for her to focus on the things she wants to do because it causes her so much discomfort. She has also had moderate bleeding, which has caused her to become anemic. Our medical team believes that her symptoms are consistent with a cervical polyp, but a biopsy is needed to be sure that the mass is not cancerous. Reyes is a 43-year-old mother of seven children, and she cares for her children with a lot of love. She lives with them and her husband in a one-room house in a rural coffee-growing community near the Pacific coast of Guatemala. She works in her home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her children. Her husband works in the fields, but often lacks the money necessary to buy basic things for the family, such as fruit, vegetables, and eggs. The cost of travel to the hospital is far too high for her, and so she has not been able to afford the biopsy that she needs to diagnose her condition. Right now, it is unclear if Reyes has cancer or a simply cervical polyp, but this test will clarify her condition. After she receives her diagnosis, our medical team will be able to provide her with the appropriate follow-up care. With a donation of $260, Reyes will be able to receive her diagnosis. Reyes said, "I want to recover so I will be able to see my children grow and become good people."

"One night while in aviation school, Leandro was directing traffic and he stepped out of his guardhouse to check on a busy intersection," shares our medical partner in Guatemala, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "The moment he stepped into the street, he was hit by a speeding bus. After three days in a coma, Leandro awoke with a missing arm and a fractured femur. He was in the hospital for four months." “Since the accident, my life has been difficult,” says 20-year-old Leandro. “It’s not as easy as it was before. But I’m still studying.” Though Leandro will unfortunately not be able to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot, he is now currently working towards becoming a nurse’s assistant. "His family is poor and he has worked hard to be able to afford his studies, however the cost of a prosthetic arm, that would no doubt make his future career and daily life easier, is not financially in his reach," WK adds. For $1,255, Leandro will receive a prosthetic arm. "This prosthetic will change Leandro's life," WK shares. "He will be able to complete daily tasks easier, avoid social stigma, and when he completes his nursing degree he will be better able to care for his patients. He is excited for the opportunity to receive a prosthetic and has been very dedicated to all physical therapy regiments to prepare for the attachment."

Zipporah is a 48-year-old woman who lives in Kenya, and earns money by selling vegetables by the roadside. She came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), with uterine fibroids. Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the muscle tissue of the uterus. “For about two years now, Zipporah has been experiencing this condition ... [and] has been going to different hospitals without much help,” AMHF explains. Currently, “Zipporah is experiencing bleeding, anemia, lower abdominal pain, and body weakness.” Because of these symptoms, Zipporah has been unable to care for her child, who lives with her elderly mother. “I know I should not depend on my mother, but this problem is making me very weak, and I am also unable to do my small business to get food,” shares Zipporah. Doctors recommend that Zipporah undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, a surgical procedure in which her uterus and cervix are removed. Without an operation, AMHF says, “the fibroids will continue to grow, affecting surrounding body organs, and Zipporah will continue suffering from pain and anemia complications.” With $790 in funding, Zipporah can undergo surgery and receive five days of post-operative hospital care. AMHF expects a full recovery after the surgery and explains, “She will be free from the bleeding, anemia, body weakness, and pain. Zipporah will be well again to work and take care of her child.” “I pray for a successful surgery to enable me to restart my small business to sustain myself and my child,” says Zipporah.

Zar Zar is a shy 14-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, 17-year-old brother, and two younger brothers. Her mother says that Zar Zar is a good student and she studies hard. Zar Zar is in the 9th grade and is looking forward to completing her studies. Her parents and older brother work as rice farmers, but this is typically not enough income to cover their expenses. Zar Zar has been diagnosed with encephalocele, a neural tube defect that causes a mass to grow. “When she was born her parents noticed a small lump on the bridge of her nose,” Zar Zar’s doctor at Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. “At that time the bump did not cause her any physical discomfort and she was otherwise a healthy, active baby. Her encephalocele now takes up the bridge of her nose and completely obstructs the vision in her left eye. Although it causes her considerable discomfort, she has learned to make do as well as she can. Only having vision in one eye has not stopped her from going to school, nor has the stigma attached to her condition.” “In the future, she said that she would like to be a teacher,” BBP adds. “At the moment, teaching is like a hobby for her, and she helps her younger siblings and her peers with their school work, she added that she enjoys explaining things and helping people learn. In addition, in her free time, she likes running and staying healthy.” Zar Zar’s family cannot afford the surgery needed to remove the growth from Zar Zar’s face, but with $1,500 we can make sure she receives the treatment. “After treatment she will concentrate on her education and hopes to help her family,” BBP explains. "Treatment will improve her confidence and make her more outgoing. Zar Zar’s treatment will also benefit the family as they will no longer have to worry about paying for expensive surgery and can look to the future with happiness."

This is 35-year-old Min, a husband and father from Burma. Min's wife is a farmer, and Min had to stop working two years ago due to his heart condition. "Min has an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a weakened area in the wall of the aorta resulting in an abnormal widening of the largest artery in the body," explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). As a result, Min experiences back and stomach aches, as well as constant fatigue. "He is now reliant on his wife’s income as a farmer, which is meager and only covers the family’s food costs," says BBP. For $1,500, Min will receive heart surgery required to repair the defect. This will provide him relief from his symptoms, and allow him to return to work. "He said he wants to make it his personal mission to help other patients get treatment," says BBP. "He will start by telling other people in his village about the organization.

Meet Ma Khin, a 59-year-old mother of 11 from Thailand. Ma Khin currently lives with her youngest daughter, who helps support her by working in a garment factory. Ma Khin has a uterine fibroid, a noncancerous tumor that developed in the womb, which has caused her lots of physical pain. Her upcoming treatment, which costs $1,500, will remove the tumor and alleviate her debilitating back pain. “When she is better she would like to go back to work and look after her daughter in whichever way she can,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, tells us. “She looks forward to her daughter having a child of her own.” Together, we can give Ma Khin access to the medical care she needs!

64-year-old Noeun is a mother of two with five grandchildren living in Cambodia. Noeun has a cataract in her right eye which causes her vision to be blurred. Noeun says she is unhappy because she cannot see clearly and relies on her daughter to care for her. Nouen needs cataract surgery to improve her vision and prevent permanent blindness. $150 covers the cost of cataract surgery. After surgery, Noeun looks forward to being able to care for her grandson and work around the house as she used to.

Say hello to Simon, a six-week-old baby boy from Kenya. Simon is cared for by his loving mother, who is in her fourth year of high school and hoping to finish her studies at the end of the year. As a young, single mother, she depends on her parents for support. Simon was born with spina bifida, an open mass on his back. His mother is distraught because she has no way of paying for his treatment. If not treated, Simon can develop a tethered cord, which will cause kyphosis or scholiosis. “I have nowhere else to seek help. I pray and hope that his surgery will go on well and that we’ll find support for the treatment,” says Simon’s mother. Let’s raise $980 so Simon can receive a spina bifida closure. “The surgery will help reduce the chance of infection as well as prevent any possibility of Simon developing tethered cord,” our medical partners write. Let’s get Simon the help he needs to live a healthy life!

Lillian is a one-year-old baby from Guatemala who comes from a family with limited resources. Due to an ongoing illness and because food is often scarce in her home, Lillian has not been getting the nutrition she needs to grow as she should. She is extremely underweight and short for her age and her development is not progressing much month to month. She can't sit or speak, and has limited energy. For $525, our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, can provide intensive nutritional therapy that will help Lillian develop normally again. Her doctor notes that Lillian's family are attentive to her condition and are "looking forward to working with us to turn around their child's health." Let's help give Lillian a chance at a healthy life!

Meet Henry, a six-year-old boy from Guatemala. Born with blocked tear ducts in both eyes, he experiences constant irritation in his eyes, and his tears do not drain normally. Due to the slow drainage and chronic buildup of tear secretions, Henry gets frequent eye infections, which can lead to pus buildup in his eyes that only perpetuates the cycle. Very few Guatemalan surgeons are qualified to perform the surgery he needs, which is also quite expensive. Henry's parents, who have been searching for a solution for many years, are hopeful that the issue will be fixed before Henry starts school. Without treatment, the pain and cycle of infections will continue and potentially create further complications for this potential-filled kid. We're raising $1,500 for a bilateral tear duct surgery. The surgery will result in the resolution of Henry's pain, normal tear drainage, improved appearance, and greater comfort. Let's help Henry get healthy enough for school!

Padam is a warm and cheerful husband and father. He lives with his wife, two sons, and daughter in Nepal. He regularly travels to India for work to provide for his family and give his children a great education. Since Padam was 15 (he is now 42) he has had an inguinal hernia in his bowels. This typically isn't serious if treated right away, but he has been living with the condition for nearly 30 years. It has now become life-threatening. Padam needs surgery to remove the hernia, which is causing pain, discomfort, and a risk of bowl strangulation and death. For $1,390, he will receive surgery to remove the hernia. This will allow him to continue providing for his family while living a happy and fulfilling life!

Surja is a 40-year-old woman living in Nepal. She has been dealing with uterine prolapse for the last five years, a painful condition which prevents her pelvic muscles from providing adequate support for her uterus. Surja's husband passed away fifteen years ago, and she's had difficulty supporting her 16-year-old son since. The last five years have presented an even greater challenge because of her condition. Her labor-intensive tasks at work include breaking rocks and carrying heavier loads - impossible to carry out in her current condition. Despite these hardships, Surja remains hopeful. She wants to get healthy and continue caring for her son. For $1,165, we can fund Surja's surgery so she can regain the ability to work and support herself and her son!