Meet Night, a jovial and playful five year old girl. Night lives with her parents and two younger siblings in a traditional home in Kenya. Her father works selling second hand clothing, while her mother stays home to take care of the children. Shortly after she was born, Night's parents realized that something seemed wrong. They brought Night to a health facility in Turkana County where they lived, and were referred on to BethanyKids Hospital. There she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which meant that fluid was collecting in her head. Surgery was performed, and a shunt was placed to continuously drain the fluid from Night's head. A year later, however, Night's head began to increase in size, and she developed weakness on the right side of her body. The doctors at the local health facility urged Night's parents to take her back to BethanyKids Hospital for additional treatment, but Night's parents didn't have enough money to do this. With the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Night is now scheduled to undergo a craniotomy on January 5th at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, when surgeons will drain excess fluids from Night's brain. Night's father is providing as much of a co-pay as possible for this procedure, but the family needs your help to raise the remaining $1,500 required to cover all of the costs of Night's surgery and care. Night’s father said: “Night is not able to communicate well because of her condition. This surgery will help her to be able to speak.”

Nay is a 65-year-old retired rice farmer with three sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Nay lives with her husband and with her eldest daughter, who is a coffee seller. In her free time, Nay likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Nay developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. 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 Nay learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 29th, 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 $253 procedure. She says, "I hope after surgery I can see clearly. I would like to easily see my family’s faces and get around better with my husband."

Esther is a young girl from Kenya. She likes reading books and enjoys going to school. Her family lives in a rural village, and she is the youngest in her family. Esther's mother is a business woman, while her father is a laborer on construction sites. Esther's right foot is affected by clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. She was born with hemiplegic CP, which means the right side of her body is weakened. Her condition has greatly impacted Esther and has made it difficult for her to engage with her peers at school. Earlier Esther was taken to a hospital, where she was given an orthosis to help correct her condition without surgery, however, she hasn't received treatment since then. Fortunately, Esther now traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Esther's surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk more easily and proceed with her studies uninterrupted. Esther’s mother says, “I am appealing for your financial help so that my daughter can walk well like other girls.”

Chhanun is a playful five-year-old preschool student from Cambodia who has four older sisters. He currently lives with his grandmother because his parents are migrant workers in Thailand. They have not been able to visit him in two years. At home, Chhanun loves to play football and with his toys. When he was three-years-old, Chhanun had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his left ear to perforate. He now experiences ear pain, discharge, and hearing loss. His condition also makes it difficult to communicate clearly with others. Fortunately, Chhanun and his family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 13th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers supplies, treatment, and inpatient care. Chhanun's grandmother says, "I hope his hearing improves and his pain goes away after this surgery."

Krib is a 48-year-old farmer who is married with two sons and one daughter. When not outside on the farm with her husband, Krib likes to keep her house clean and cook for her family. On and off since she was young, Krib has experienced ear infections. These infections caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left side ear to perforate. Krib now feels ear and face pain with uncomfortable discharge and hearing loss. Krib has spent a lot of money at pharmacies for medications, but her symptoms have persisted. Krib now struggles to communicate with her family and shared that she feels embarrassed about her hearing loss. Krib traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 6th, Krib will undergo a procedure in her ear where surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is raising $487 to fund this procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Krib's husband shared, "I hope she stops having ear infections and her hearing will improve."

Ezekiel is a 4-year-old young boy and the second born in a family of four children. He is a charming, playful, and friendly boy. He has not joined school yet though his mother says he never stops telling his father that he wants to go to school like his older brother! In 2019, Ezekiel accidentally stepped into an open fire and sustained severe burns on both of his feet and hands. He was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted for over eight months receiving treatment and therapy. Given the long period he stayed at the hospital, his parents spent every savings they had and had to ask for support from friends and relatives. Despite the treatment, his feet have been severely deformed due to burn contractures, and Ezekiel has difficulty wearing shoes and walking. He has been scheduled for surgery to start correcting his right foot, but his parents cannot afford the treatment cost. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ezekiel receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him be able to wear shoes and walk easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Ezekiel's mother says “Wearing shoes is difficult and he complains of pain when he plays. Please help treat him."

Saing is a 74-year-old rice farmer. She is a widow and has one daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren. Her husband passed away during the Khmer Rouge regime, so she lives with her oldest daughter, who works in a garment factory. Saing used to be a rice farmer but shared that she can no longer work in the fields due to her declining vision. At home, Saing likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda. Four years ago, Saing developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. As a result of this condition, Saing has difficulty seeing things clearly and a hard time with day-to-day tasks. She used to cook for her daughter's family but finds it too difficult now. When Saing learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and half hours seeking treatment. On April 22nd, she will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent a recurrence. CSC is requesting $225 to cover the total cost of her procedure, which includes medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Saing shared, "I hope my eyes stop burning after surgery, and I can go outside and be more independent."

Koem Ang is a 74-year-old grandmother with one daughter who is a coffee seller. Koem Ang takes care of her two grandchildren at home. Two years ago, Koem Ang developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her photophobia and 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. This has also made caring for her grandchildren so much more difficult. When Koem Ang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there hoping to access treatment. On April 6th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Koem Ang says, "I hope I can see well so I can take care of myself and help my daughter sell coffee and do housework."

Neima is an adorable 16-month-old baby from Ethiopia. She loves to play and eat with her mother! She has an older sister who is eight years old. To support their family, her father works as a farmer and her mother manages their household. Neima was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Her family has taken her to different hospitals seeking treatment, resulting in them using all of their savings. This left them unable to fund her needed treatments, so Neima went without a colostomy for one year. This led to her experiencing difficulty eating, only taking breast milk and liquids. She eventually developed bowel obstruction because of her condition, and an emergency colostomy was done. However, she now needs to undergo another procedure to eliminate her bowel dysfunction. Fortunately, Neima is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on August 1st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Neima's procedure and care. After her recovery, Neima will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Her mother shares, “For my child, I am so hopeful that she will completely heal, and I will celebrate her birthday with my whole family. I will educate her, and I have hope that she will be a teacher or a doctor.”

Meet Tessy, a beautiful 4-year-old girl, living in Kenya. In March 2022, Tessy and several of her family members were involved in an accident. Her grandparents and an uncle did not survive this event, and Tessy's parents and her sister - and Tessy herself - were all hospitalized with traumatic injuries. Her parents and her sister have all since recovered. Tessy sustained injuries to her head, chest, hand and legs, and she remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for several months. While Tessy has a visible deformity of her left arm and her right thigh, her doctors shared that her overall progress since the accident is impressive. Some of her fractures are healing well, but the fracture of her right femur requires surgical intervention. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help Tessy access the care that she needs. On June 10th, Tessy will undergo an open reduction and internal fixation at AIC Kijabe Hospital. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is seeking $1,500 to fund this procedure, without which Tessy would find it difficult to walk, and would live in chronic pain. Tessy’s father says: “Her condition has greatly improved. She was in the ICU for almost two months and responded well to treatment. She needs the surgery to help with the healing and to be able to walk again.”