Dachena is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She likes going to school and singing in her church choir. Dachena has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of her heart was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever she suffered in childhood, and can no longer adequately pump blood through her body. Dachena will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 29th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair her valve; if they are unable to do so, they will implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, The Mitral Foundation, is contributing $7500 to pay for surgery. Dachena'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 Dachena's family overseas. Dachena said, "I hope that after surgery I will have more energy to do the things I enjoy!"

Said is an infant from Tanzania. Said is a handsome and cheerful infant. He has been in the hospital for some time being treated off bilateral club foot. He was diagnosed with the condition upon birth and treatment commenced a few weeks later. However, the mother and grandmother could not keep up with the cost of casting and manipulation. They were referred to ALMC where manipulation and casting were recommended. If not treated, Said will be at risk of permanent disability. Said's grandmother is the only provider in the family through subsistence farming. She further has the responsibility of caring for her other children. She is afraid that treatment for her grandson might be halted due to their finances. Fortunately, Said traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 11. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Said's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Said will be able to walk with ease and free from permanent disability. Said’s mother says, “I don’t want my son to grow up disabled but we are unable to afford the treatment cost, please help.”

Jackson is an only child from Tanzania. Both of his parents depend on small scale farming of maize and vegetables and only sell a few crop harvests and do not make much income. Jackson traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 16th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Jackson needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. Jackson's father says, “We have tried to seek treatment for our son ever since he was born with no luck. The doctors at your hospital can treat him but we can’t afford the cost, help us. ”

Gibson is a young playful boy from Being the firstborn in a family of two, he loves helping his mother around the kitchen and playing football. When he was two years old, Gibson suffered extensive burns on his left upper body after hot boiling beans spilt on him while playing with his friend in the kitchen. He was taken to the hospital and spent a long time healing. He healed with contractures on his left axilla and had a partial burn contracture release. The surgical site developed infections and he had skin grafting done but unfortunately failed and had a repeat surgery. He was reviewed by visiting surgeons and had skin flap surgery recommended to allow blood circulation. Without treatment, Gibson will be at risk of long term complications on his left hand.Gibson's parents are peasant farmers who rely on the few harvests they get to make ends meet. They are not able to consolidate sufficient funds for their child's surgery. The appeal for financial assistance. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Gibson receive treatment. On September 26th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. Once treated, he will be able to stretch his hand with ease and reduce further infections on the wound. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Gibson’s father says, “The doctors have advised on one more surgery to make my son even better but am unable to afford the cost, if it’s possible kindly help us.”

Srey Nich is a third grade student from Cambodia. She enjoys playing with her two older sisters, watching television, and hopes to become a teacher when she gets older. When she was just one year old, Srey Nich accidentally walked over a burning substance on the ground. She has since had to have one toe amputated, and is unable to walk or move her foot without difficulty. She also has a difficult time wearing shoes that fit her feet properly. When Srey Nich learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On October 09, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to allow her to move her foot and flex her toes normally and walk with ease. Now, she needs help to fund this $448 procedure. Srey Nich's mother said, "I hope that my daughter will be able to walk normally again and will no longer have to suffer from her accident."

Abdulnasir is a baby from Ethiopia. He is a cute baby boy. Abdulnasir has one brother and he loves to play ball with him. He also loves cars. Abdulnasir’s father is a labor worker and he earns low income which is insufficient for their daily food. His mother is a house wife and she raises her two children full time. Sometimes she tries and bakes bread to make some extra money. Abdulnasir was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Abdulnasir is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on October 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Abdulnasir's procedure and care. After his recovery, Abdulnasir will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Abdulnasir father said, “We are worried because our child is sick. And with his wound and with all his suffering we suffer a lot. We are so poor and we struggle even to feed our boys. We can’t afford the medical bills. We are living by the support of our mosque and men from our mosque. I don’t have land to farm so I am a day laborer.”

Mary is a young girl from Kenya who is an active girl while at home but passive whenever she meets new people. She is the third born child in a family of four children. The family hails from Kenton, Flyover in Nyandarua County. Her father is a Boda Boda rider (passenger motorcycle rider) in the village while her mother is a housewife. They live in a one-roomed mud-built house in Kenton. Last year, Mary accidentally dipped her hand in hot tea sustaining severe burns on her fingers. She was rushed to the district hospital where she had dressing but unfortunately did not get physiotherapy. This resulted in Mary healing with contractures on her fingers. She is not able to stretch her fingers with ease, limiting her ability to utilize them. She was reviewed in our facility and contracture release of the left fingers recommended. The father is the sole breadwinner, with limited income. They are not able to raise the bill required for surgery and appeal for financial assistance. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mary receive treatment. On September 26, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery that will allow Mary stretch her fingers with ease and reduce chances of further impairment. Now, she needs help to fund this $799 procedure. “My prayer would be to see my daughter doing well like every father dreams.” Mary’s father says.

In October 2018, Lysa had an accident and fell off of her bed, fracturing her left elbow. She received initial treatment from a local hospital, but her bones have now become deformed. She often experiences pain in her arm and has difficulty holding anything heavy. Surgery will ensure that her bones heal in proper alignment, and will prevent any further worsening of her condition. Lysa has two older sisters, and enjoys watching cartoons and reading in her spare time. "I hope that after surgery, I will no longer have to worry about my daughter's condition, and she will be able to recover from her operation." - Lysa's Mother

Van is a 70-year-old mother of seven from Cambodia. She has thirteen grandchildren, and in her free time she enjoys listening to the news and the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Van developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry and cloudy vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Van learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 16, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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 $211 procedure. Van's son-in-law says, "I hope that my mother-in-law will be able to see clearly after her surgery and can recognize people's faces and go outside on her own."

Ellieliam is a young boy from Kenya. Ellieliam 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. Ellieliam's mother is struggling to make ends meet, hawking second-hand clothes in Nairobi. Ellieliam’s grandmother barely earns enough to feed them both and his father is not in the picture. Ellieliam's grandmother is unable to raise enough funds for her grandson’s surgical care and his mother’s studies. From her little savings, she can only raise Kes.10,000 with the hopes that he will be able to be treated. Fortunately, Ellieliam is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “Please help my son get treated,” says Ellieliam’s mother.

Royanny is a 4-year-old girl from Cambodia. She enjoys playing with her toys and playing games with her sister and brother. Two weeks ago, Royanny stuck a cotton bud in her ear, which has now become lodged inside her ear canal and is entirely blocking any access to the ear drum. She has ear pain, itchiness, and irritation. Royanny traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 10, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Royanny needs help to raise $220 to fund this procedure. Royanny's mother said, "I hope that my daughter will recover from her operation and the cotton bud will be removed."

Brianna is a young girl from Tanzania. Brianna is a beautiful, friendly and cheerful girl, the only child to her parents. When Brianna was a year old, in her playful mode, she accidentally dipped her left hand in the boiling cooking oil where her mother was cooking from. She was rushed to the hospital where the burns were attended to. However, the burns healed with contractures that have affected her ability to fully utilize her left hand. Her mother sells food at a local Swahili restaurant in order to support the family. The family was not able to fully raise the money for contracture release for Brianna. Her grandmother provided them with some funding and her fingers were partly released. She, however, needed further contracture release. She was brought to our plastic clinical camp whereupon review, she had surgery recommended. The family is not able to meet the cost of treatment and so appeal for financial assistance. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Brianna receive treatment. On September 24th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to release the two fingers allowing Brianna ability to fully utilize her left fingers. Now, she needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Brianna’s grandmother says, “Please help treat my granddaughter her parents have not been able to afford her treatment cost.”