Yohana is a three-month-old baby boy and the youngest of his mother's five children. Yohana's father has two wives and a total of nine children. His parents are small scale farmers and livestock keepers, and their income is just enough to support the large family. Yohana's parents came from a remote village far from health facilities, so most mothers deliver at home through the help of midwives. Yohana 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, Yohana has been experiencing fever and his head has been increasing in size. Without treatment, Yohana will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $765 to cover the cost of surgery for Yohana to drain the excess fluid from his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 12th, and it will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Yohana will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Yohana’s mother says, "Please help my baby, he cries a lot and it hurts me to see him suffering like this.”

Susan is a seven-year-old girl in the first grade and the second child in her family. Unfortunately, Susan was involved in a grisly road traffic accident when a vehicle lost control on March 8th, 2021. Five children and the teachers were hit, and one child unfortunately passed away. Susan survived despite sustaining fractures on her right hand and leg. She was brought to our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, and had a fracture repair surgery on her hand and leg. One week ago the plates were removed. Susan's hand has healed well but she has started having severe pain on her leg. When Susan's parents brought her back to the hospital, a X-Ray showed the fracture has reoccurred, and the surgeon recommended a repeat surgery. Without treatment, Susan will continue experiencing the pain, she may never be able to use her leg again, or her leg may eventually heal with a deformity. Fortunately, the surgeons at Nazareth can help. On July 1st, Susan is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Afterward, Susan will freed from pain and will be able to use her leg to walk to school and play again. Susan’s father works temporarily as a welder and her mother is a housewife. Their income is limited and their health insurance can no longer cover for another surgery after supporting the previous one. Therefore, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure for Susan. “We thank God that our child is alive as one child died during the accident. We are hoping her surgery can be successful so that we can see her happy again and not in pain. We plead for her surgery sponsorship, ” Susan’s father wishes for her daughter's full recovery.

Kennedy is a 23-year-old high school graduate and the second born of four children in his family. Kennedy shared that his father sadly passed away in 2006, and his mother works as a house helper in Nairobi. His older brother works as a watchman in the city and his younger siblings are still in school. He is not working currently, and he lives alone in his family home on a quarter-acre of land. On May 22nd, while training to drive a motorbike so that he may be able to do this for an income, he was hit by a speeding vehicle and lost control. He fell along the roadside and fractured his right leg. It is difficult for him to walk and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 2nd, Kennedy will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Kennedy shared, “I recently finished my form four and I have my future to think of. I need to be able to walk well but first I need the surgery to help me.”

Kayiok is a 33-year-old father from Kenya. He has four kids aged between 7 and 11 years of age. He is the sole breadwinner for his family, selling cattle in the markets around Narok to make an income. For the last three years, Kayiok has struggled with stomach pains and prolonged upsets that give him sleepless nights. It started off as a small pain in his stomach area that gradually worsened. He visited several facilities in his home area, which treated him for gastritis. The treatments were only occasionally effective at reducing the pain. In the last three months, Kayiok's condition has significantly worsened. He started having more pain in the right upper and lower quadrant of his epigastric region, with associated heartburn. The pains worsen when he is hungry, with slight relief after eating. He mainly eats porridge and milk, because his heartburn is worse with solid foods. When he came to the hospital on February 12th, doctors conducted several tests and diagnosed him with a duodenal ulcer. He needs to undergo an urgent laparotomy and gastrojejunostomy surgery to ease his stomach pains and distress. Unfortunately, Kayiok cannot afford the cost of his care. He does not have medical insurance coverage and has been paying for his medical bills with cash. Several trips to different health facilities for the last three months have depleted his small savings. He currently relies on well-wishers to buy medication. Kayiok is unable to afford the surgery and is requesting financial help. Kayiok will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo a curative laparotomy on April 23rd. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $616 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Once recovered, he will be free of pain and will be able to eat normally and go about his daily life activities as he used to. Kayiok shared, “I have been struggling with this stomach problem for years now. I have even lost a lot of weight and my condition is worsening. I need this surgery to get well.”

Vincent is a six-year-old boy and the oldest of three children. Vincent and his siblings live with their grandmother in Southern Kenya. Vincent has bilateral equinus deformity, which means he has difficulty walking and often tiptoes as he walks, or even crawls. He has visited clinics in the past and undergone casting, but there has been no significant improvement. To correct his condition, Vincent is scheduled to undergo Achilles Tendon Lengthening (ATL) surgery on April 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to fund Vincent's life-changing procedure. Vincent's grandmother shared, "I would love to see my grandson walk on his own. Any help will be highly appreciated.”

Pascalina is a 38-year-old mother of seven. She is a farmer and loves looking after her children, who are all in school. Pascalina was married, but her husband passed away in 2009, so she has been taking care of her family on her own ever since. Now, her brother occasionally provides financial support to her family for school fees and other basic needs. When she was 18 years old, Pascalina sustained a burn and was taken to a hospital nearby. Her wounds healed, but she developed a contracture on her right hand, which makes it hard for her to carry out her day-to-day duties normally. It has been difficult for her to look after her children with this contracture, and she has been relying on her left hand as a result. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Pascalina receive treatment. On March 4th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help restore mobility to her right hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Pascalina shared, "Please help me have this surgery because it will enable me to work and carry out my daily life activities with ease, especially taking care of my children.”

Elnatan is a 1-year-old boy from Uganda. He is very playful and loves to play with car toys. Elnatan is an only child. His mom makes traditional coffee for a living, and she is the main breadwinner and caretaker for the family. His dad is an assistant mechanic, but, as his mom shared, he does not contribute as much to the family due to his problems with alcoholism. Elnatan was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Elnatan has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Elnatan will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo a corrective surgery called an orchidopexy on January 21st. AMHF is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Elnatan's mother shared, “I believe he will heal and go to school and become a clever student. I hope he will lead his own organization and become financially successful one day."

Benard is a 35-year-old man from Kiambu County in Kenya. He works as a laborer, off-loading trucks carrying construction materials. His wife is a housemaker and together they have three children aged 10 years, 9 years and 3 months old. In December 2020, Benard slipped and fell from a raised water tank he was inspecting, fracturing his right tibia and fibula. He was taken to a clinic in the neighbourhood, where first aid was administered. Afterwards, Benard went to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Nazareth Hospital for an x-ray, which confirmed a fracture of his right tibia and fibula close to his ankle joint. Surgeons recommend he undergoes a fracture repair surgery. If not treated, Benard’s fracture could heal while misaligned or be malunited, resulting in limited use of his right limb, deformity, and infection. However, this procedure is costly for Benard and his family. He is the sole breadwinner of the family, and does not have savings to pay for his care. He appeals for financial support. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 5th, Benard will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will ease his pain, allow him to recover, and help him to be able to walk with ease again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Benard shared, “My head is spinning because I do not know what would happen to my family if I was unable to go to work due to my injury. I would really appreciate help with the surgery so that I can continue providing for my family.”

16-year-old James is an active boy, he likes looking after his father’s cattle, digging, and playing football in his free time. He is the fourth born in a family of six children. His father has two wives and they live in a traditional grass-thatched mud house in West Pokot County in Kenya. James's father is a farmer while his mother is a housewife. At the age of four, while playing football, James fell and sustained a patella dislocation - a knee injury in which the knee cap slips out of its normal position. The condition has greatly affected his mobility to the point that he is not able to walk because of pain. He now limps as he walks, a situation which has affected his education. Fortunately, James is scheduled to undergo an open reduction surgery (with possible DFO) to return his knee's position and realign his bones so he can walk without any difficulty in the future. Their family cannot afford the treatment's bill and have requested for help meeting the cost of $1,224. "I desire to walk normally like my friends and so that I can continue helping my parents at home," James told us.

David is a 2-year-old baby boy from Kenya. David is a very happy and active child. He is an only child to his single-parent mother, and they live with his mother's parents. David's mother runs a small tea kiosk to earn a living and shared that she did not complete her college education when she had David. On October 17th, while David was playing, he slipped and fell and fractured his hand. He is in pain and cannot move his hand freely. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 3rd, David will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him heal well and he will be able to use this hand without pain. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. David's mother shared, “I am very worried because of my baby. My parents and I are not able to pay for the operation he requires. I am pleading for support so that he can be well and continue playing and growing normally. God bless you.”