Sorem is a ten-year-old student in grade 4. Sorem has two older sisters, the stays at home and her middle sister is a student in grade 10. Sorem's parents are rainy day rice farmers. At home, she enjoys playing with her sisters, reading books, doing homework, and cooking. Sorem's favorite meal is fried rice with fresh milk. When Sorem was six years old, she was burned by a cooking fire. She was treated at a provincial hospital for medical care, but after the wound healed, she developed a burn scar contracture. The contracture tightens the skin around her fingers, and she has difficulty carrying things or writing. When Sorem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 6th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help her to use the finger easily again. Now, CSC is helping Sorem's family raise $495 to fund this procedure. She shared, "I hope my finger will look and feel better, and I can use it in school."

Samuel is a hard working man from Kenya who gets jobs at a construction site in Narok town. He lives in his ancestral home with his siblings - his parents passed on several years ago. Six days ago, Samuel was attacked by unknown people on his way home in the evening. He has a swollen face, is unable to chew, and is also unable to use his right hand. He was taken to a nearby health center by well-wishers for emergency care from where he was referred to a government facility, and thence to Kijabe Hospital. Kijabe doctors have recommended two surgeries to heal his fractures. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help him to get the care he needs. On September 30th, Samuel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to fix the fractures in his jaw and hand. Samuel's income is inconsistent, and is not enough to pay for the surgery. He does not have medical coverage and has been depending on well-wishers to pay for his medical bill. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Samuel shared with us, “I can only take liquid meals. My mouth is painful and swollen. I am also unable to use my right hand. I cannot work to buy food, and I cannot even eat the food I struggle to get because of the injuries.”

Devid is an active 18-year-old from Cambodia who is in 12th grade. He lives with both his mother, who works as a tailor, and his grandmother in Cambodia. During his free time, he enjoys learning more about fitness via the internet, as well as exercising with friends. He shares that his best subject in school is Khmer literature, and he aspires to become a teacher in the future. At the end of 2019, Devid was in a motorcycle accident that caused injuries to his right arm. Although he had his wounds treated after the accident, both his right shoulder and elbow currently have no movement, and he has no wrist flexion or extension. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care center can help. They will perform a functional free muscle transfer gracilis of his right arm so he can regain movement. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $991 to fund Devid's repair surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to restore mobility and continue his daily activities with less difficulty. Devid says, "I am grateful that I can return to school and regain my strength after this surgery."

Othniel is a young boy and the second-born in a family of four, with one brother and two sisters, all studying. The eldest is in senior 2, and the youngest is in grade 3. Othniel loves mechanics and dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. However, his parents are not certain whether they will be able to make his dream come true because they are limited financially. They say that even paying their current school fees is a struggle. Othniel's mother is a nursery teacher and his father is in the bodaboda business (motorcycle taxi). They live in a single-room rental house in a small town in Uganda. For the last two years, Othniel has had a swelling on his arm that was never painful. Recently, however, he started feeling pain. He is not able to move his wrist easily and struggles to lift anything. This worried his parents, who brought him to the hospital. After examination, he was diagnosed with a ganglionic cyst and was recommended for excision treatment for a complete recovery. However, his parents are unable to raise the money needed for his surgery and are appealing for your support. On December 14th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Othniel's family needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Othniel's mother says, "I really hope that all will be well and my son will get better after his operation because we are so worried about his health."

Oun is a 64-year-old homemaker. She is married and has three sons and one daughter. Her family lives in Kampong Som with their youngest son who is disabled. Her husband is a motor taxi driver. At home, Oun does the cooking and cleaning, and cares for her son. Four years ago, Oun had a severe ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Oun experiences infection, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to sleep well due to tinnitus and frequent ear discharge. Oun traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 16th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She shared: "I hope after surgery my ear will get better and stop having the pus and infection, reduce the ringing sound, and improve my hearing."

Makara shared, "I hope this surgery can help me return to work in the future so I can support my family. My life will change if I can use my arm again." Makara is a 31-year-old man who has been married for four years and has a three-year-old daughter. Makara's wife works in a garment factory near their home in the province. In April 2021, Makara was in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his left arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm and he cannot work. Makara traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 21st, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm normally again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure.

Guadalupe is an one-year-old baby from Colombia. She is an only child, so she is regarded as the little princess of the family, which consists of her mother, grandma, and uncle. She is already sympathetic and friendly, and loves to play with stuffed toys and with other kids. Guadalupe has clubfoot on her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Guadalupe's family traveled to visit our medical partner, Clínica Noel, where they can offer treatment. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 13th. Our medical partner is requesting $1,422 to fund Guadalupe's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to start walking and running without pain. Her mother shares a story and her hopes for Guadalupe, "I would really love to see her walk and run normally, she is not the first person with this condition in our whole family, I have a cousin who received treatment when he was 8 years old and it was really hard to see him asking why he couldn't run like the other kids."

Kasande is a farmer and mother of three. She and her husband work on their own farm as well as doing working on other people's farms to make ends meet. For the past four years, she has been having an inguinal swelling that has been on and off. However, in the last three months, the swelling started to become more painful and she cannot comfortably farm or carry heavy items any longer. She also struggles to sleep on her right side. She was reviewed at the hospital and a surgery called herniorrhaphy and excision were recommended. Without the surgery, the mass might become cancerous and the hernia might present with associated complications. Fortunately, on May 11th, she'll undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $230 to fund Kasande's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Kasande says, “If my health is compromised, my family will suffer, since I am even the one who pays the school fee. I hope to regain my health and resume farming once I have fully recovered.”

Htoo is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her parents, two older sisters, an older brother and a younger brother in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Htoo’s father works as a construction worker while Htoo's mother is a homemaker and looks after Htoo's younger brother who is too young to go to school. Htoo and her older siblings study in the camp. Every month, the family receives oil, rice and charcoal rations, but they shared that the rations are unfortunately not enough to cover their daily needs. They also receive free basic health care and education in the refugee camp. In her free time, Htoo likes to play with her friends and help her mother clean. Htoo was born with a small mass in a sensitive area. At the time, Htoo's mother was told not to worry about the mass. However, beginning in 2016, Htoo noticed the mass increasing in size and she could no longer pass urine comfortably. A medic at the camp's hospital examined the mass and determined that it is benign and recommends it is surgically treated for Htoo's comfort and peace of mind. Htoo is receiving treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) and she is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on June 6th. Now, their family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Htoo shared, “in the future, I want to finish my schooling and become a teacher in the camp. I want to teach Karen [language].”

Jackson is an eighteen year old and the firstborn child in a family of six children in Tanzania. He never had a chance to go to school since his parents could not afford the cost of educating him. He is hardworking and helps his father in looking after their cattle and working on their farm. Jackson started having leg problems four years ago. Over the years his legs have curved inward making him struggle to walk and go through pain when he walks for a long distance. He can’t go too far with his father’s cattle or work on the farm. His father didn’t have the money to take him for a check-up in a hospital. They tried herbal medicines but none have helped to straighten his legs. When our outreach team visited their village they got to know about Jackson’s condition and referred him for treatment at our hospital. He has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus which need to be corrected surgically but his parents can’t afford the treatment cost. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Jackson. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 10th. Treatment will hopefully restore Jackson's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Jackson says, “I will be so happy if I can get this treatment and be able to walk normally again without the difficulty I am going through.”

Saron is a 53-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She is the youngest of eight siblings, and enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television in her free time. Saron has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. She is unable to see clearly and she cannot work. Saron traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 20th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align her eyes. Now, Saron needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. Saron said, "I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to see clearly and I can return to working on the rice farm."

Brandon is a child from Kenya. Brandon’s father repairs phones while his mother is a stay-at-home mom. The firstborn of two children lives with his parents in Central Kenya. A few weeks ago, Brandon has had a hydrocele. This hernia causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on October 07, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Brandon's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I want to be a driver when I grow up,” says Brandon.