Paulo is a farmer from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and siblings. His parents are farmers, cultivating maize and groundnuts. Paulo has keloid growths on his neck, back, and right hand. They cause him discomfort and pain. Doctors plan to surgically remove the keloids and follow up with steroid injections to ensure that they do not return. Paulo traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons will remove the keloids. Now, Paulo needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. “I would like to continue with my farming and one day get married,” Paulo says.

Kyay is a 52-year-old farmer from Burma. She has four children. She owns a farm with her husband, where they grow rice and beans. Currently, Kyay is in a lot of pain. She has a bile duct stone, which prevents her from sleeping, eating, and walking comfortably. She is very worried about her condition and how it will affect her family. Kyay has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, Kyay's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyay is scheduled to undergo her biliary obstruction repair on February 8. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kyay's procedure and care. Kyay says, "I’m happy I will be able to take care of my son and daughter, cook, and clean the house again.”

Zaw is a 22-year-old man who lives with his family in a village in Karen State, Burma. Zaw works as a semi-subsistence farmer with his parents, growing corn and rice. In May, Zaw started to cough a lot, experience chest and abdominal pain, and feel constant fatigue. At a local hospital, he was diagnosed with a cardiac condition but, unable to afford surgery, he returned home. His cough and fatigue have persisted, and he now requires an oxygen tank at night. On October 6, surgeons will finally perform the heart surgery Zaw needs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for his medical treatment.

“I want to help other people when I grow up,” says Malyne, a seven-year-old girl from Kenya. Malyne had a happy childhood until August of this year, when she began complaining of headaches. Her parents gave her over-the-counter painkillers, but these did not help much. After several hospital visits failed to resolve the issue, Malyne also began to develop what seemed like symptoms of a mental problem: she would talk to herself and wander for long distances if not looked after. Her right limbs became numb, and her eyesight dwindled. Frightened, Malyne’s parents obtained CT and MRI scans for Malyne. These tests revealed that Malyne has a brain tumor. She urgently needs a surgical procedure known as craniotomy, in which the surgeon will temporarily open her skull to remove the tumor. If not treated, Malyne is at risk of undergoing brain damage, permanent vision loss, or death. Though this operation is essential for Malyne, her parents cannot afford it. Malyne’s mother sells groceries while her father works in road construction. Nearly all of their combined income goes towards the daily needs of their three children, and so they are only able to contribute $51 towards their daughter’s surgery. We need your help to raise an additional $1,500 for Malyne’s operation on December 6, as well as her lab tests and medications. Let’s make sure Malyne has the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong—so she can one day help others, as she hopes to.

Joel is a one-month old baby boy from Kenya. He is the youngest of three children and lives with his parents. His mother is a farmer, and his father is a construction worker. When Joel was born, doctors noticed a swelling on his lower back that was leaking fluid. They diagnosed him with spina bifida, a condition in which there is an incomplete formation of the spine and a leaking of cerebrospinal fluid through the gap. If left untreated, this condition can lead to the development of a tethered spinal cord, infections of the exposed tissue, scoliosis, and a rounding of the back. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097, on top of the $52 subsidized by Joel's family, in order to cover the cost of Joel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 29 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Joel to grow and develop in a healthy manner. “This was so unexpected and quite devastating," says Joel's mother. "But I am encouraged to know that there is a solution to his condition."

Lwin is a 38-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and their two children. Lwin looks after her mother and children while her husband works as a day laborer to make a living. Four years ago, Lwin started experiencing chest pain, fatigue, and breathlessness. She was diagnosed with heart disease and told she would need surgery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Lwin's surgery, scheduled for July 17. After treatment, Lwin hopes to find a job to help support her family.

Grace is a 43-year-old farmer who lives in a small village in Kenya. As a single parent of four children, she supports her family by selling her farm produce. In 2004, Grace noticed a small swelling on her neck. She went to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a goiter, or enlarged thyroid gland. She was advised to have surgery, but Grace decided not to go ahead with it. However, her condition has now worsened, and she is experiencing chest pains, increased blood pressure, and inability to walk long distances. Doctors at AIC Kapsowar Hospital, a care center affiliated with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, have diagnosed Grace with a hyperthyroid goiter. Grace will undergo surgery on May 9 to remove her enlarged thyroid gland. Grace needs our support to pay for her $641 medical bill. Let's help Grace get back to work so that she can continue to look after her children.

Rottana is a 24-year-old vendor from Cambodia. He likes to watch TV, listen to music, and play badminton with his co-workers in his free time. Back in April, Rottana fractured his forearm in a motorbike accident. He visited a traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. Rottana continues to experience difficulty using his arm and is constantly in pain. Rottana traveled two hours to receive treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). His bone fracture repair procedure is scheduled to take place on May 25, and the $411 will cover all surgery costs.

Yun is a 72-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married with four sons and six grandchildren. Yun likes to go to the nearby pagoda to listen to monks pray in his free time. He developed a cataract in each eye about one year ago, which caused him blurred vision and tearing. It is difficult for him to see things clearly, do any kind of work, and walk on his own. Yun heard about medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his daughter. He traveled for three hours with his son for treatment. After a small incision cataract surgery and a lens implant in each eye, Yun will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 for the procedure, which is scheduled for May 26.

Yan is an 82-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married with one daughter and eleven grandchildren. He likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and read books on Buddhism. About two years ago, Yan developed cataracts in each of his eyes, causing him partial blindness, tearing, and cloudy lenses. Because of his eye condition, he has difficulty seeing clearly, which impacts his independence and ability to do work. Yan learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), from his neighbor. He traveled for three hours with his grandson to reach CSC for treatment. On March 27, Yan will undergo small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and intraocular lens implantation in each eye. After recovery, Yan will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund this procedure.

Sim is a 64-year-old mother and grandmother from Cambodia. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda to help cook food for the monks. Three years ago, Sim developed cataracts in both eyes, causing her blurred vision, tearing, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any type of work, and go anywhere outside by herself. Sim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), on the radio. She traveled for four hours with her sister-in-law to reach CSC for treatment. On March 28, surgeons will perform small incision cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in both eyes. After the procedures, Sim will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund her surgery.

Roeun is an 82-year-old married woman who has three sons, three daughters, and twelve grandchildren. In her free time, she likes to go to the pagoda and listen to monks praying on the radio. Three years ago, Roeun developed blurred vision and itchiness in both eyes, making it difficult for her to see things clearly or work. She and her daughter visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Her doctors recommended that she undergo a surgical intervention to alleviate her symptoms. They proposed a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace her internal lenses with artificial lenses and restore her vision to full clarity. In total, the procedure, supplies, drugs, and three days of inpatient care will cost $292. Roeun's procedure is scheduled for February 24.