Lai is a 59-year-old with six children and four grandchildren. She is widowed and lives with a daughter and helps her with the children. One month ago, Lai slipped and fell in the bathroom. She is not able to walk and experiences constant and severe pain in her left hip due to a femoral neck fracture. Fortunately, Lai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). At CSC, surgeons will perform a total hip replacement to relieve Lai of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for February 17th, and Lai needs help raising $1,087 to pay for the procedure. Lai shared that she really wants to walk again and be free of the terrible pain she's feeling.

Guyo is a 2-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has three siblings. Guyo's parents are from a rural area and make a humble living. His uncle, who brought Guyo to Watsi's Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital, helps to raise Guyo. Guyo is a sweet, outgoing boy who loves to play with his friends and siblings. He also loves playing with dogs. Guyo was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Guyo is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Once recovered, he will no longer have any pain or discomfort and can return to happily playing with his friends. His uncle shared, “I believe if he is treated well, he will be good psychologically in the future. And all the family will be happy. I hope he will be a doctor in the future and help his community.”

Shabani is a 3-year-old child from Tanzania. Shabani is the youngest in a family of three children. He is a cheerful and happy boy despite his leg condition, which makes things difficult for him. Shabani’s father is a local fisherman who makes a small amount of income to support their family. Shabani was diagnosed with left genu varus, or bowleggedness. This condition causes his leg to be bowed inward at the knee. It is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has a difficult time walking around normally. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Shabani. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 5th. Treatment will hopefully restore Shabani's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Shabani’s father shared, “We are not happy to see our son suffer this way. Hospitals have become very expensive and we are unable to afford the cost. Please help support our child.”

Thomas is a 45-year-old laborer from Uganda who came to Kenya in search of a livelihood. He is the oldest child in a family of 5 children. His mother passed in 2005, and his father left the family, which forced him to come to Kenya to search for a job. Thomas has four children aged between 4 and 17 years of age. They currently live with their mother. In November, Thomas suffered right tibia and humerus fractures after being knocked by a hit and run vehicle. While crossing the road along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, he was hit by a vehicle that took off immediately. Left unconscious, he could not remember subsequent events, but he was rushed to the hospital and admitted. As a result of the accident, Thomas cannot move nor use his hand and leg, and is in constant pain. He cannot move on his own and needs a wheelchair to move around. For the last three weeks, Thomas has been bedridden, and has had no visitors because none of his family can be reached. Doctors recommended a humerus ORIF surgery to correct the fracture. Though he was scheduled for surgery, it was cancelled because he was unable to raise money. Thomas normally works as a casual laborer, loading and off-loading building stones, at a construction site along the highway. His daily income is about $USD3 a day and generally inconsistent, depending on the availability of work. Thomas is still financially supporting his children, and he does not have medical insurance coverage. He appeals for financial help for his cost of care. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On December 8th, Thomas will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will allow him to walk with ease and also use his hand with ease. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund his life-changing procedure. Thomas shared, “I am unable to move nor use my arm since the accident. Doctors recommended this surgery but I have not been able to get it because I don’t have money. I have been unable to contact my family or friends back at home, and I am all alone with no one to turn to.”

Nat is a 26-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have been married for three years and have one daughter together. His wife is a factory worker. In his free time Nat likes to play football and volleyball, play with his daughter, and go for walks. In April 2019, he was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in his left tibia. He received treatment at a government hospital including a skin-graft, but the treatment was unsuccessful. He still has a fracture, chronic pain, and cannot walk easily. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 19th, Nat will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will allow him to walk easily again. Nat said, "I am excited to heal quickly so that I can start getting around and playing sports again."

Mary is a 77-year-old single woman from Kiambu County in Kenya. On September 12th, she slipped and fell sustaining a closed tibia/fibula fracture of the right leg. Her son brought her to Nazareth Hospital and an x-ray done confirmed the fracture. The surgeon recommends an ORIF procedure, but their family could not raise the money required. If not treated Mary may never be able to walk again and will continue depending on others. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 12th, Mary will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. She will be able to again walk with ease and with minimal chances of complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. With a heavy heart, Mary’s son said, “No one wanted to assist, but I kindly request for her support so that at least she can be able to walk around on her own.”

Florian is a 20-year-old farmer from Tanzania. He is sixth born in a family of nine children. He is a very hard working young man and helps his mother working in the family farms. He also helps his mother to look after his young brothers and sisters and assist with putting them through school. Florian was not fortunate to proceed with the school after graduating from his primary school education since his father passed away shortly after and he was forced to join his two brothers in helping their mother. Florian’s father passed away five years ago and his mother is a subsistence farmer. Florian has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Florian has been experiencing severe headaches and dizziness. Without treatment, Florian will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,300 to cover the cost of surgery for Florian that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 9th and will drain the excess fluid from Florian's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Florian will hopefully continue to develop into a strong, healthy young man. Florian says, “Please help me get this treatment, my family is not able to pay for my needed surgery. Please help me so that I may get well.”

Joseph is a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the last born of his mother who has eight children. His father is polygamous with two wives, Joseph's mother being the first wife. The second wife has five children making a family of fourteen children. Four children in the family have been able to join school but the rest have not had a chance to attend yet. Joseph's older siblings who do not go to school help their parents to look after their cattle of five cows and five goats. Both parents depend on small-scale farming of maize, beans, and vegetable for their food and they are able to sell a goat once in a while to be able to get money to buy other commodities. Joseph was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Joseph is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,015 to cover the cost of Joseph's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 10th and will hopefully spare Joseph from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Joseph’s mother shared, “The money needed to pay our son’s surgery cost is too high for us to afford, kindly help us.”

Kong is a 60-year-old tour guide from Cambodia. He and his wife have three children. Kong has to travel a lot for his work, but he can support his family. He enjoys taking care of his children, helping them with their schoolwork and taking them on trips. Last year, Kong had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Kong experiences hearing loss, ear pain, and pus discharge. He has trouble communicating in his work now, and his wife is very concerned that he will have permanent hearing loss. Kong traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 8th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Kong said, "I hope that my ear can heal well after this surgery and that I can have an easy time going back to work. I do not want my family to worry too much."