Mugume is a 39-year-old married man from Uganda who has four children. He and his wife are peasant farmers, and he also does some trading to earn additional money. Even with the extra work, the family's income is minimal, making it difficult to save funds and also provide for the family's needs. Mugume has lived with left scrotal swelling since February 1996. He visited a hospital that year and was diagnosed with a hernia. Over the years, the swelling has increased, making him feel uncomfortable and weak. Mugume visited a hospital again last year and was correctly diagnosed with a hydrocele. A hydrocele is a sac of watery fluid around one or both testicles that causes swelling in the scrotum or groin. The fluid comes from the abdomen and travels along the same paths that the testes follow when they descend into the scrotum before or shortly after birth. While hydroceles may occur at any age, the cause of their development is generally unknown. Mugume will need surgery to treat the hydrocele. During the operation, the surgeon will make a small incision in the scrotum to remove the sac of fluid and then use stitches to close the path between the scrotum and abdomen so that no more fluid can accumulate. The process for Mugume to receive free surgical care has been lengthy, and his family cannot afford to pay for his treatment in a private hospital. If not treated, he will continue experiencing pain and discomfort. “The process for me to get free surgery has become very long, and I’ve lost hope that I will get treatment," shares Mugume. For $185, Mugume will undergo a hydrocele repair to decrease the scrotal swelling. Funding also covers the cost of a three-night hospital stay, an ultrasound scan, and medicine to prevent infection. Mugume hopes to have a successful operation so that he can concentrate on agriculture to earn more money for his family. "I will be glad if you help me," he says.

Two-year-old Aayush from Nepal is usually a quiet child. While playing on the porch in front of his house, Aayush fell down, fracturing his left femur. “Since the injury, he has been in a lot of pain and cries all the time,” shares our medical partner, Possible. In addition to the pain, Aayush’s leg is quite swollen and can't bear weight. “He can no longer stand on the injured leg and does not even crawl like he used to,” explains Possible. Doctors at Possible have assessed Aayush's injuries and recommended a course of treatment to help his leg heal. His treatment includes a hip spica, a type of plaster that covers both legs from the ankles up to the belly button. It will limit his overall movement allowing the fractured femur to heal. Aayush’s father works in India to support the family and his mother tends to their family farm to make ends meet. They are unable to afford the $224 treatment cost, which includes surgery, medication, a hospital stay, and casting. After treatment, Aayush e will be able to regain use of his leg and live pain free after a few weeks of recovery. Let's help Aayush walk again!

Meet Magejjo, a 28-year-old Ugandan man who enjoys listening to music and watching soccer. He is a fan of the Arsenal soccer team. Three years ago, Magejjo developed swelling in his inguinal scrotal region that has since been diagnosed as a hernia—a protrusion of the intestines through the abdominal wall. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “After eating he feels abdominal pain and feels bloated.” Magejjo works as an office messenger, but sometimes he misses work due to his medical condition. He says, “The swelling is so big that it makes me feel uncomfortable when I am with people.” Though Magejjo was advised to have surgery in 2015, he could not afford the procedure. “If not treated, Magejjo may suffer intestinal obstruction, incarceration and/or strangulation,” says AMHF. For $220, Magejjo will undergo surgery to return the herniated tissue to the abdominal cavity and repair the weakened tissue in the abdominal wall. The surgery will prevent intestinal obstruction, incarceration and/or strangulation. After surgery, Magejjo hopes to work more effectively and secure his job so that he can begin to save money and eventually start his own business.

"I am unhappy that I have ear discharge and ear pain, and it is difficult to communicate with other people,” says Sovannay, a 34-year-old wife and mother who works as a farmer in Cambodia. Sovannay came to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), seeking treatment for chronic otitis media, an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum). Sovannay has lived with this condition for 30 years, as she was always unable to afford treatment. “Sovannay began having recurrent discharge and hearing loss from both ears when she was four years old,” CSC tells us. “This condition has caused her to have a perforated tympanic membrane on each side.” The discharge that Sovannay is experiencing is fluid that drains from her ears through the perforated eardrums. For $598, Sovannay will undergo a myringoplasty on each ear to repair the tears in her eardrums. Funding also pays for up to two days of hospital care, medicine, and three follow-up appointments in the first four weeks after each surgery. “After a myringoplasty on each side,” explains CSC, “Sovannay's ear discharge will stop, and she will have improved hearing.”

Meet 33-year-old Wilson, a married man living in Kenya and a father of two young children. “Wilson used to earn for his family by riding a taxi motorbike” while his wife cares for the children, shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Earlier this year, Wilson fractured his left femur when he was hit by a car while riding his motorbike. “Wilson was taken to the nearest hospital, where he was put on skin traction" and received a plaster cast. This treatment failed to heal his fracture, and "if not operated, Wilson may never be able to use his leg," AMHF adds. Wilson is the sole financial supporter of his family, and his injury prevents him from working. “Wilson’s family is depending on friends and family members for their basic needs, and are therefore unable to raise the money required for this important treatment.” For $1,125, Wilson will receive an open reduction and internal fixation surgery. In this two-part surgery, the bone is first put back in place and then is fixed with an internal device. AMHF expects that Wilson’s leg will heal well after the procedure and he will be able to walk again. “It has been five months of pain and struggle," Wilson shares. "May God help me to see my leg healed and being able to walk again. I pray that soon I will go back to work and support my family.”

Meet Gloria, an 11-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. “Gloria lives with her older brother and her parents... She loves to play with little chickens that run around her house and even imitates the chirping noises they make,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Her mother is a dedicated weaver and also goes out into the fields with Gloria’s dad to earn money to support the family.” Gloria has acute malnutrition, a condition that is worsened by her home environment. “Gloria’s mother told us that Gloria suffers from strong allergies and has a small respiratory infection. Her symptoms flare up especially when it is cold outside,” continues WK. “Due to the location and materials of the house, it is constantly cold and misty. Clothes have difficulty drying, and Gloria has difficulty staying warm.” “These conditions paired with malnutrition create a recipe for immune system collapse,” continues WK. “Without treatment, Gloria’s immune system will continue to weaken. Her ability to develop physically and mentally will be limited, and she will be at risk of long-term effects of malnutrition.” With $535 in funding, Gloria can receive treatment for acute malnutrition, which includes growth monitoring, micronutrient food supplementation, and medication to treat her respiratory infection and recoup some of the weight and height she has lost. “Her mother will receive intensive nutrition education, thus building her confidence and ability to care for Gloria throughout her childhood, as well as assist her brother,” explains WK. Gloria’s mother hopes that her daughter will recover and enjoy a healthy childhood. She shares, “We work really hard to try and care for our children, but I don’t know how to help her grow better. Thank you for creating this program and for wanting to teach me how to help my children more.”

Meet Jaikala, a 24-year old mother from Nepal that has recently given birth to a baby girl. “Her family tends to the farm to make a living and her husband is a seasonal migrant to India who works as a labourer,” says our medical partner, Possible. Jaikala's ring finger has been swelling, worsened by a local remedy that has dried her finger to the bones and turned the skin “charcoal black,” says Possible. This has caused Jaikala immense pain as well as a burning sensation in her finger. Jaikala got treatment too late to save the finger, and she now needs the finger amputated. “Once her finger is amputated, Jaikala will have healthy skin over it. Because it's her ring finger in the left hand, she can do most of her activities without feeling pain or burning sensation,” says Possible. $220 will fund the procedure to amputate her finger. This includes costs for medicine as well as the surgical costs required. Jaikala says, “I feel so helpless seeing other people do my work. As soon as my finger heals, I want to jump to work immediately.”

Joselin is a 19-year-old Guatemalan woman, who needs treatment for cataracts. She is developmentally delayed, and started to lose her eyesight due to cataracts a few years ago. Without eyesight, her ability to work and socialize is compromised. Joselin is from a large family with many young children. As she gets older, her family struggles to support her. “Although she is mentally challenged, she is an extremely capable individual, and could potentially work or contribute to the household in some way,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “However, without eyesight life is made much more difficult, and her ability to work and assist her family is close to eliminated.” “Even though she wants to learn, Joselin has never attended school,” continues WK. “Social stigma around her appearance and weakened ability to physically see others has limited her social interactions/community acceptance, and now she spends many days sitting at home.” With $1485, Joselin will receive cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens, which will be replaced by a clear lens implant. The cost also includes antibiotic drops as well as transportation costs. Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide and only takes an hour. Just one day after surgery, Joselin’s vision will improve to 20/20.

Meet Ezekiel, a 31-year-old man from Kenya with a wife and three young children. Ezekiel and his family live on ancestral land where they plant tea. Ezekiel has a brain tumor and is a patient with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Ezekiel began experiencing severe headaches in January this year. The headaches would persist for about a month and then go away for another month before he would have another severe headache," AMHF explains. "After a few months, Ezekiel started experiencing shaking in his right hand and losing his sight gradually. Currently Ezekiel is not able to hold anything steady with his right hand and can only make out shapes but has no ability to identify people or things. This has forced him to stop working and he has to be constantly accompanied by a family member wherever he goes.” They continue, “if not treated, the tumor could cause brain damage and total blindness. The pressure on Ezekiel’s brain may also result in death.” For $1,205, we can fund a surgery called a craniotomy, which will temporarily remove a bone flap from the skull in order to access the brain. This will allow a surgeon to find the brain tumor and remove as much of it as possible. Ezekiel's friends have kindly come together and agreed to fund $300 of the cost of treatment. “We expect that after the treatment and recovery, Ezekiel will be able to see again and the shaking will stop so he can get back to work,” says AMHF. In Ezekiel's words, “I can no longer see. My life has changed drastically over the last couple of months. I thank God that my condition can be treated and I can go back to work to support my family.”

Meet Sucely, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), describes Sucely as an “active and well-tempered child,” who laughs frequently and enjoys playing with dolls. Sucely lives on a compound-style property with her extended family. “Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother all participate and contribute to the general well-being of family and spend lots of quality time together,” says WK. Recently, Sucely’s parents have been extremely worried about their youngest daughter, who hasn’t been growing like her two older brothers did. After examining Sucely, WK diagnosed her with acute malnutrition. Sucely does not consume enough food, and she is unable to retain nutrients due to parasitic disease and bacterial infection. If left untreated, Sucely’s malnutrition could lead to extreme dehydration, a compromised immune system, and death. According to Sucely’s mother, “We have a lot of family and so our resources are spread very thin.” Sucely’s father is a part-time carpenter, but he does not make enough to cover the costs of her treatment. For $535, we can help Sucely get the life-saving help she needs. “This treatment will supply Sucely with growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to recoup some of the weight and height she has lost and increase her overall caloric intake,” says WK. Moreover, her parents will receive “intensive nutrition education, thus building their confidence and ability to care for Sucely throughout her childhood.” Sucely’s mother shares, “Thank you so much for finding us. I am worried because our other two children were not like this. We are excited to learn.” Let’s help give Sucely the opportunity to develop normally and live a healthy, happy life!

Ofelia is a sociable 61-year-old woman from the Philippines. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), shares, “Since all of her kids are already married, she devotes her time helping in the tasks in their local church.” Three years ago, Ofelia experienced sudden weight loss and was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. This condition is caused by the overproduction of a hormone in the thyroid. According to ICM, “She experiences sore throat, choking sensation and palpitations often thus affecting her daily activities and her ministry in their church.” Ofelia has undergone treatments in 2013 and 2014. However, her physician has now advised her to undergo a thyroidectomy—a surgery to remove the thyroid gland. Unfortunately, Ofelia and her husband cannot afford this treatment, as Ofelia does not work and her husband only earns $70 a month—barely enough for their daily expenses. ICM continues, “Her children also can't help with her surgery because they, too, have financial difficulties.” For $525, we can help fund Ofelia’s thyroid surgery, providing medication and a three-day hospital stay as well. The surgery will help correct her hormonal imbalance and eliminate the symptoms and discomfort Ofelia is currently experiencing. “She is very excited to undergo surgery so that she can continue to serve in their local church and sing without any difficulty,” adds ICM. “I’m always praying that there could be somebody who could help me with my surgery. It would be a great help if you could be God’s instrument to answer my prayer,” shares Ofelia.

Meet Puth, an 80-year-old man from Cambodia. "Puth is married with three sons, a daughter and four grandchildren," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "He enjoys listening to the monks who go around his village to pray." "Puth has had a cataract in his right eye for the last three years," CSC continues. "He cannot see well and it is hard for him to go outside alone, and he cannot see faces well." For $150, CSC can perform cataract removal surgery on Puth's right eye, fully restoring his vision. This brief surgery will replace his clouded lens with an artificial one, which will enable him to see clearly again. "After surgery, he is looking forward to riding his bike to the pagoda and visiting his children in other provinces," CSC adds.