Rose is an adorable preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a small town on the northern coast of Haiti. Rose likes helping her family take care of their pets and chickens. Rose has born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect which means a hole exists between the two lower chambers of Rose's heart. This condition often leaves Rose feeling sick and short of breath. Because the surgery she needs in not available in Haiti, Rose must fly to Dominican Republic to receive the necessary treatment. On March 3rd, Rose will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will a patch the hole in her heart. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) is helping Rose's family raise $1,500 to cover the cost of labs, medication, and follow-up appointments. This will also support her family to obtain passports and the HCA social workers who will accompany Rose's family during their travel. Rose's father shared, "We are very hopeful that our daughter will be healthy and strong after this surgery!"

Dickson is a sweet five-year-old and the second born in a family of three children. Dickson’s father works finding jobs on construction sites for a living while the mother sells vegetables and fruits to be able to support their family. One of their relatives told Dickson’s parents to try seeking treatment for him with our medical partner's care center in Arusha. Dickson was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, where his knees bow so that they always touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty and pain walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Dickson. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 4th. Treatment will hopefully restore Dickson's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Dickson’s mother shared: “We have tried to seek treatment for our son but eventually we could no longer continue due to financial challenges."

Nheanh is a widow with a big family of three sons, four daughters, and many grandchildren. Her husband passed away a long time ago and she lives with her oldest daughter who sells food in the local market. She helps take care of her grandchildren, cooks for them, and helps her daughter with housework. When not taking care of her family, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Nearly three years ago, Nheanh developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Nheanh learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and half hours seeking treatment. On January 17th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. "I am hopeful that after surgery my eye can see well. It will be easy for me to go out, and I can help my daughter to take care of my grandchildren," shared Nheanh.

Nyo is a 58-year-old woman. She and her husband are agricultural day laborers, but Nyo had to stop working two years ago due to poor vision. Since COVID-19 led to lockdowns in April 2020, her husband only receives work from his employer when there is a worker shortage so their income has been very limited. Nyo shared that she likes to meditate with prayer beads and listen to the news about her homeland Myanmar and music on the radio. Nyo is experiencing a cataract in her right eye. She can only see shadows, and the vision in her right eye is worsening. As a result, she cannot do household chores, and her husband has to help her to eat and guide her to the bathroom. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping Nyo receive treatment. On January 4th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Nyo’s natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Nyo’s procedure. Nyo shared, “If I can’t work or I can’t see, I will have to beg to eat because my husband cannot work. My husband and I were so happy to learn that an organization will help pay for the cost of my treatment. We are thankful to the donors and BCMF.” Nyo added, “When I have money, I want to open a small dry foods shop in my house. This way, when my husband and I are no longer able to continue to work as day laborers because of our age, we can chose a way to earn extra money while staying at home.”

Julie is a 26-year-old who hails from Kawaida village in rural Kenya.. She was married at an early age and has two children aged 12 and 4 years old. Julie sells old clothes near their house while her husband is a motorbike (bodaboda) driver. Julie was brought to the hospital by her mother-in-law, who cooks porridge for a local nursery school, earning limited income herself. Julie's family also relies on her (the mother-in-law) throughout the year for support. Julie was well until September 9th when she slipped and fell. She landed on her right leg leading to fracture-dislocation of the right ankle joint. She was taken to the County Hospital for treatment, but Julie still has difficulty walking and is in pain. After six weeks when her cast was removed, it was noted that the bones had not united and an ORIF surgery was recommended, but they could not afford it. Since then, Julie has just stayed at home until our partner's Community Health Worker identified her and asked them to come and seek support at Nazareth Hospital. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 25th, Julie will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will relieve her of the pain, help her walk easily again, and restore her leg's functionality. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Julie's mother-in-law says, “It is becoming very difficult for us because I have to do most of the work for my daughter-in-law. I was very happy when the Community Health Worker asked me to bring her here for possible support. I hope she will get sponsorship so that she can be well and be able to continue with her job, at least to contribute to taking care of her family."

Ay is a 32-year-old garment worker. She is married and has one six-year-old daughter. Her daughter is in 2nd grade. Ay's husband is a construction worker. When Ay was just three the back of her leg was burned by a cooking fire. In 2018 her wound re-opened where her scar was. She went to a pharmacy for medications and clean dressings but the wound would not heal. Ay has a painful non-healing wound that makes it difficult for her to walk or flex her right leg. When Ay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 29th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to to help her walk easily again. Now, Ay needs help to fund this $474 procedure. Ay says, "After surgery I hope my right leg will be free of pain and infection and once it heals I will be able to walk again and return to work."

Taw is a 43-year-old teacher who lives with her family in the refugee camp. Taw and her husband work at the same school and their daughter is also enrolled there in the nursery program. In her free time, Taw enjoys singing and reading with her students. Taw also loves to grow vegetables around her house, and she is very proud that the vegetables she grows are organic. Growing her own vegetables also helps to reduce her household expenses. Last month, Taw was walking home with a branch from a banana tree she had just cut down to cook for dinner. That afternoon it was drizzling and the dirt road was slippery. Taw slipped and fell onto her left arm, breaking both bones in her left forearm. With the help of Watsi donors, she underwent surgery to insert a metal rod into her forearm at the end of August at Chiang Mai Hospital. A few days after her surgery, Taw's wound got an infection and the doctor had to perform another surgery to remove the rod from her arm. Once the infection cleared up with the help of antibiotics, the doctor scheduled another surgery to have the rod reinserted into Taw's arm to finally help her heal. Taw’s left arm is still in pain. She is in pain whenever she sits down, and the pain increases when she moves her arm. If she lies down and puts her left arm on a pillow, she feels better. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Taw will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for September 7th and will cost $1,500. After the procedure, Taw will no longer be in pain and she will be able to go back home and see her family. She will be able to teach again and garden like before. Taw said, "I really miss my family and my daughter. I hope that I will receive proper treatment and be able to go back home again soon."

James is a hardworking man coming from the outskirts of Nairobi and is a father of two daughters, one in college and the other having completed high school recently. He is separated from his wife and takes up casual labour to make ends meet. He is a jovial man. In August, James was involved in an accident when a motorcycle hit him as he walked on a footpath. The motorcycle driver escaped leaving him in pain. He was taken to a local hospital for first aid and then to a district hospital. He had an x-ray done but was only given pain medication and advised to wait for the bone to heal on its own. However, James' mother decided to bring him to Nazareth hospital. His leg is painful and swollen and he is not able to walk at all. James was recommended to undergo an ORIF surgery to repair the fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 30th, James will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will allow the fractured bone to heal with ease allowing him to walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. James says, “I am glad there is hope for my leg to be treated so that I can go back to my normal life.”

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.