Iqram is a young boy from Tanzania. Iqram is a two-year-old boy, the only child to his parents, who struggles to stretch his right hand due to a burn scar contractures. The playful boy was playing with his friends when he went back to his mother's house and by accident, fell on hot milk sustaining burns on his right side, especially his right hand. He spent a month in the hospital where the wounds were nursed and successfully healed. However, his right elbow skin healed with contractures. The contractures restrain Iqram's ability to fully stretch and use his hand. The family has not been able to raise funds for a contracture release surgery, but their hope for help remains. Iqram's father is a casual labourer at a factory and his mother a housewife. Their income is little to meet the treatment cost. They hope to have Iqram's hand released and be able to use it with ease especially when he joins the school. Iqram's aunt referred them to our facility when she learnt of an outreach program and upon review, he had contracture release recommended. Iqram's parents appeal for financial assistance Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Iqram receive treatment. On September 27th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to The surgery will allow Iqram to fully stretch his hand, restoring ability to utilize it. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Iqram’s mother says, “My son’s life will be very challenging if he not able to have his hand corrected please help him."

Tina is a 59-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her family in a village in Myawaddy Township, Karen State. She stopped working five months ago because of her poor health and now, she looks after the household chores and takes care of her grandchildren. Both of her grandchildren go to school while her daughter works as a health worker in their village. Both Tina’s son and her son-in-law work as agricultural day labourers on different farms. In January 2019, Tina began to experience that her right eye started to hurt. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for she to see clearly. Tina was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Tina is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach her retina on September 20. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After his surgery, Tina's vision will hopefully be restored, and she will resume her daily activities comfortably. She is not able to sleep well because she worries about her condition. “When I have free time, I weave bags for my grandchildren,” said Tina. “I hope that I will feel better soon so that I can go back to work and pay back my debt.”

Sue is a 10-month-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, his great-uncle, his grate-aunt and his uncle in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State. father works at an ice factory in Bangkok, while his mother looks after him in their village. Sue has cataract in both of his eyes. He cannot see clearly with both of his eyes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Sue. On August 28, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Sue's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Sue’s mother said, “I feel very stressed and upset that I don’t have money to treat my son. I also feel bad that my husband doesn’t care about us, even though I told him that my son has to receive surgery. He still doesn’t believe me and doesn’t provide us with any money since we found out his diagnosis.”

Zacharia is a baby from Tanzania. Zacharia 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, Zacharia 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 Foundation, is requesting $966 to cover the cost of Zacharia's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 22. This procedure will hopefully spare Zacharia from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Zacharia’s mother says, “We are living in fear of losing our son due to his condition please help save our baby we have not been able to afford his treatment cost all this time.”

Seang Khy is a woman from Cambodia. In March 2019, Seang Khy was in a motorcycle accident, dislocating her left hip. She is unable to walk without support, and experiences pain all along her left leg. Surgery will allow her to walk normally without any pain. Surgery is scheduled for May 2 and will cost $390. In her free time, Seang Khy likes to grow vegetables and feed the farm animals nearby her house. She is looking forward to returning to her work and regaining her independence. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to walk like normal again and I can return to my work selling rice."

Kerhi is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and two brothers in Gonaives, a city on the west coast of Haiti. His father is a bus driver, and his mother works in the market. He is in the fifth grade and enjoys math and science. Kerhi has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A blood vessel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta that normally closes soon after birth instead remains open. Blood flows through it, bypassing the lungs and depriving the body of the oxygen it needs. Kerhi underwent a surgery two years ago to tie off the duct, but unfortunately the defect has re-opened; he will now undergo a different type of procedure called cardiac catheterization to close it in a way that makes it very unlikely to ever reopen again. Kerhi will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On May 2, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a device attached to the tip of a catheter to block the leaking duct. Another organization, Gift of Life New York, is contributing $6,000 to pay for surgery. Kerhi's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Kerhi's family overseas. He says, "I am excited to fly on a plane for the first time and visit a new country!"

May is 17-year-old farmer from Burma. She lives with her mother, older siblings, and an uncle. Since she was 13, May has been experiencing pelvic, leg, and back pain in addition to frequent vomiting. She has been diagnosed with fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus. She needs to undergo a myomectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove the fibroids. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $960 to fund May's surgery. She is scheduled to undergo her myomectomy on March 19 at BCMF's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. She says, "In the future I want to keep helping my mother on our farm."

Der Lwel is an 18-year-old boy who lives with his parents and two younger brothers in Ta Kue Khee Village, Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, Burma. He and his parents work as subsistence farmers, while his two younger brothers are students. Two years ago, Der Lwel broke his lower back bone. The next day, he received internal fixation surgery. After the surgery, he learned that he would need to come back in two years to have the metal screws removed. Now, he is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the metal screws on February 13. This procedure will cost $1,500. Der Lwel said, “I feel very uncomfortable and I have pain when I bend over while planting or harvest rice. I want to receive treatment and work comfortably like I did before I got injured.”

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. His grandparents and mother are subsistence farmers who own two cows. Emmanuel 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, Emmanuel 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 Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 23. This procedure will hopefully spare Emmanuel from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I feel at home at BethanyKids where everyone I meet treats me well and this makes me garner hope that my son will recover,” says Emmanuel’s mother.

Bikolimana is a student from Tanzania. He is the fifth born child in a family of seven children. Bikolimana’s parents are both subsistence farmers. Bikolimana has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Bikolimana traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 31. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Bikolimana's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Bikolimana says, “I wish to be able to walk to school without difficulty and be able to play.”