"I am unhappy that I have right ear pain, and it is difficult to communicate with other people," shares Sao, a 39-year-old wife and mother. She works as a cook and cares for her parents in her home in Cambodia. “For two years, Sao has experienced discharge from her right ear every day as well as hearing loss,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. “She has been treated with antibiotics at another hospital, but her condition did not improve.” Doctors at CSC have discovered a cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth located behind the eardrum—in Sao’s right ear. A cholesteatoma initially develops as a cyst after chronic ear infections or perforation of the eardrum. Over time, the cyst sheds layers of old skin that collect within the ear. Without treatment, a cholesteatoma can grow large enough to cause hearing loss, dizziness, or facial paralysis. Treatment for Sao is a mastoidectomy, a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the diseased cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ears. The cells—known as mastoid air cells—are diseased as a result of the chronic ear infections that spread to the skull structures near Sao’s right ear. Doctors will also remove the cholesteatoma that has grown behind her right eardrum. $809 pays for surgery for Sao as well as two hearing tests, one night in the hospital, one day of inpatient post-operative care, and three outpatient follow-up visits in the month following surgery. “Sao’s ear discharge and pain will stop after the surgery,” says CSC. Sao’s uncle, who accompanied her to the appointment at CSC, looks forward to a successful procedure for his niece. "I hope after the operation is done, Sao's ear discharge will stop, and she can have good hearing and health,” he shares.

"Gregoria began to feel strange in late February, after she gave birth in her home," our medical partner, Wuqu Kawoq' (WK), tells us about the 24-year old mother. She has epilepsy, causing her to experience multiple seizures a day. Due to the epilepsy, a chronic condition that causes seizures, Gregoria often loses consciousness for a few minutes at a time. After the seizure, she experiences severe headaches and numbness in her hands and feet. As she lives in a rural mountain town in Guatemala, Gregoria does not have access to high-quality medical care. Her husband works in the fields, however he has been staying home more often to help care for the baby and Gregoria. For Gregoria to receive treatment, she will have to travel from her town to Guatemala City with her husband. Treatment will consist of diagnostic tests along with medications to regulate her seizures. In total, the treatment and travel will cost $967. "This treatment will help clarify Gregoria's condition, allowing our medical team to give her the follow-up care she needs," WK explains. "It will relieve the stress-both emotional and economic- that her family is feeling." "I just want her to get better and be able to spend time with our family," Gregoria's husband expresses.

“I am a sports enthusiast,” shares Lokendra. “I love playing football and volleyball the most. In my village, my friends and I have made a team, and we play every evening.” Lokendra is a 14-year-old boy living in Nepal with his mother, younger brother, and younger sister. Lokendra’s father resides and works in a restaurant in India. According to our medical partner, Possible, “Lokendra helps cook the evening meal, graze the cattle, and collects fodder for the livestock.” “Lokendra was climbing a tree on his way to school when he lost his balance,” Possible explains. “He then fractured a bone in his left forearm.” His injury is so painful, Possible continues, that Lokendra needs help doing daily tasks and "cannot go to school anymore because of the injury." It also prevents him from spending time with his friends playing sports. $579 covers the cost of an orthopedic repair for Lokendra’s fracture. "Lokendra's fractured bones will be aligned and secured with the help of pins," Possible details. "The area of injury will then be plastered to prevent the movement of bones." Treatment and proper recovery will allow Lokendra to move about and return to all of the activities that he could do before his injury.

64-year-old Jane is a mother of two living in Kenya. “Jane and her husband are farmers and depend on their small farm produce for their basic needs,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). The couple is also supporting the younger of their two children, who attends a university. Both Jane and her spouse have recently fallen ill. “About four months ago Jane woke up with severe pain on the lower right side of the abdomen,” AMHF tells us. An ultrasound revealed that Jane has uterine fibroids, or tumors in the wall of her womb. Although uterine fibroids typically are not cancerous, Jane’s have been causing her increasingly acute pain, as well as bleeding. This combination of symptoms “has made it difficult for Jane to socialize,” AMHF shares. Furthermore, “the excessive bleeding may cause development of anemia.” Jane will need a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix. Several weeks ago, Jane’s husband underwent a procedure to address his own medical issue. Unfortunately, paying for that operation left the family without adequate funds to pay for the hysterectomy that Jane needs. $790 will fund this procedure for Jane, and will also cover the cost of her postoperative hospital stay as she recovers. “I am praying and hoping for a successful surgery. I need to be well to take care of my family, especially now that my husband is also sick,” Jane says.

49-year-old Elda lives in Haiti with her two children -- a 16-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter. Our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), explains that in 2005, Elda’s husband died in a car accident. Since then, Elda has been the sole provider for her children, supporting her family by selling motor bikes and auto parts. In 2008, Elda noticed a growing lump in her breast and sought medical advice. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. “Six years later Elda had another surgery to remove a growing mass in the same breast and receive chemotherapy,” PM continues. It’s been about one year since Elda’s surgery and PM tells us that Elda is doing well. However, in order to be completely cancer-free, Elda needs one final round of radiotherapy. $1,500 covers the cost of Elda’s radiation therapy as well as her travel arrangements to the Dominican Republic, where her treatment will take place. After years of battling cancer, this treatment will allow her to finally enjoy a healthy life. PM shares, “Elda is excited to finish with the treatment, build a small boutique, and live her life in peace by the sea.”

Maria, a 17-month-old girl from Guatemala, loves to play with a doll lent to her by a neighbor. “Maria is a generally happy child,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Maria is the youngest of five children and her mother is pregnant with a 6th. She is cared for by her 10-year-old sister who generally watches over all of the children, while their father works on a committee for the government health center and their mother works weaving textiles to sell.” Maria has acute malnutrition, and in the last several months she has been sick often with diarrhea and a cough. “Maria is weak and she is far below the average height and the average weight for her age,” says WK. With another child on the way, Maria’s mother does not have the resources to take Maria to a doctor. Her family fears they cannot afford the protein rich foods and the medicine Maria needs to recoup her weight and height. Childhood malnutrition has serious consequences that persist into adulthood. “Her immune system will continue to weaken and mental and physical development will be compromised which will, in turn, affect her ability to succeed in school and the work force,” explains WK. With $535, Maria will be provided with micronutrients, food supplements, and medication to treat her diarrhea and cough. After treatment, she will have more energy and her risk for chronic diseases later in life will be reduced. Lastly, her mother will enroll in WK's nutrition education courses. Maria’s mother shares, “Parents want what is best for their children, but without money we just simply cannot achieve this.”

Soloman, a 4-year-old boy living in Kenya with his parents and two older siblings, has bilateral undescended testis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains,“Soloman’s testes cannot be felt in the frontal sac. If Soloman is not treated, he is likely to develop testicular cancer and/or hernia. He will also be at risk of infertility in the future.” Soloman's condition was discovered three years ago. “Soloman’s mother noticed that both Soloman and his elder brother had undescended testes,” AMHF tells us. “She got concerned and took them for a medical checkup and they were later referred for specialized treatment. Attempts to have both Soloman and his elder brother treated did not bear any fruit as the parents could not raise the funds required for the surgery. Soloman’s mother hopes to bring her elder son for treatment once Soloman is well.” $570 covers the costs of Soloman’s double orchidopexy, a procedure which will place the undescended testes inside his scrotum. This will decrease the risk of him developing testicular cancer, a hernia or infertility in the future. “Mom told us that my brother and I are unwell,” shares Soloman. “I will be very happy if my brother and I got treated.”