Precious is a 3-year-old girl with a contagious smile. She is the youngest of four children in her family. Precious’ father is a bus driver and her mother is a housewife. Since Precious was born, she has had difficulty breathing and difficulty sleeping. Over the last three years, she has had treatments at various hospitals, but Precious' condition has not improved. She has tried taking antibiotics and using nasal spray steroids, but there has been no improvement. A church pastor gave information to Precious' family about a hospital, and they decided to visit to see if Precious would be a candidate for surgery. Accompanied by her parents, Precious traveled for several hours from her hometown to get to the care center for consultation. She was diagnosed with hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids and deemed fit for surgery. On March 3rd, Precious will undergo a tonsillectomy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $420 to fund Precious' surgery. Precious' mother shared, “I hope for my child to get treated so that she can breathe well and sleep well."

Thol is a 49-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Thol is married with four sons and two grandchildren. He and his wife farm rice to earn a living for their family. He shared that he enjoys listening to news on the radio. Five years ago, Thol developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision, tearing, irritation, pain, and photophobia. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Thol learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours with his wife seeking treatment. On September 10th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Thol said, "I hope after my surgery I can see everything again so I can to do my work at the farm again and drive my moto to go anywhere by myself."

Chansok is a 25-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He has been married for six years and has one son. Chansok likes to listen to music. Five months ago, he was in a motor accident that caused paralysis of his shoulder, elbow, and wrist. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right 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 has no flexion of his wrist or fingers. Chansok can't go to work. Chansok traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 25th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his wrist and fingers again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. "I hope that I can use my arms again and go to work to support my family. Now, my wife must work to support us and it is difficult for me to not work. When I get better I will return to working so I can support my family," he said.

Katusiime is a farmer from Uganda. She is the third of seven children. Katusiime has had a swelling on her left cheek since 2013. The mass is increasing in size. Katusiime traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 21, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Katusiime needs help to raise $196 to fund this procedure. She says, "I like singing in the church choir."

Sombath is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons, three daughters, and 23 grandchildren. She likes visiting the local pagoda in her free time. Three months ago, Sombath developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her cloudy vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sombath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 12, doctors will perform a small incision 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. She says, "I look forward to going to the pagoda and spending time with my family."

Christina is a young child from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Unfortunately, Christina's father passed way. This left Christina's mother with three children to support without a job. She started a small business of cooking food in local hotel to support her children. Christina was diagnosed with genu varus. Her legs are bent outwards at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she experiences discomfort after walking for a short distance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Christina. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 10. Treatment will hopefully restore Christina's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Christian’s mother says, “ Please help my daughter. My financial state is not good; I am unable to afford the surgery cost.”

Kiprop is a 61-year-old man from Kenya. He is a father of five. One year ago, Kiprop developed a hydrocele, a swelling in a sensitive area. He has been using herbal medicines as treatment, but they have not been working. Finally, he decided to visit our medical partner's care center. Now, Kiprop is scheduled to undergo a hydrocele repair surgery on April 5. He needs help raising $428 to pay for surgery.

Bwe is a six-year-old boy who lives with his family in Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand. His family has lived in the camp since leaving their home in Karen State, Burma twelve years ago. Bwe’s father sometimes works as a day laborer in the cornfields outside of the camp, and his mother stays at home. When Bwe was an infant, he was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder. Bwe has to visit the clinic often, and he is underweight and pale. His frequent hospital visits have disrupted his schooling. This past month, his condition has worsened and he now needs surgery. On August 21, surgeons will operate on Bwe's spleen to help alleviate some of his symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for his treatment. Bwe looks forward to growing up healthy, saying, "I want to be a soldier or a pilot when I grow up." His mother adds, “I want to fulfill his dream. That would make me happy.”

Meet Peter, a 66-year-old farmer from the Central Region of Malawi. He lives with his wife, and together they have six children and eight grandchildren. Peter loves to sing in his free time. A year ago, he started to experience pain due to an enlarged prostate gland. He has been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Peter will undergo corrective surgery at Nkhoma Hospital on February 22. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is asking for donations to fund the $733 surgery. Peter is excited to return to his farm after surgery.

"Sokrith is a 25-year-old woman married with one son and one daughter," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). She lives in Cambodia with her family, where she earns a living farming rice and other crops. "She enjoys watching Khmer and Thai dramas on TV and watching social news," CSC says. She traveled 3 hours with her husband to reach CSC for treatment. Two months ago, Sokrith developed a chalazion, or small cyst, in each eye. This causes pain and swelling. "She is uncomfortable and worries about the cysts growing larger and ruining her vision," CSC reports. For $148, surgeons at CSC can remove the chalazions in a simple surgery. Sokrith travelled three hours with her husband seeking treatment at CSC, but cannot afford to cover the cost. With our help, Sokrith will be free of pain and irritation in her eyes and will not have to worry about losing her vision.

Kabategweta is a 28-year-old married mother of two children—ages four and two years old—who live in Uganda. She holds a Bachelor's degree, but she has no job. Sometimes she does voluntary work where she gets only a stipend. She likes reading novels in her free time. In 2012, Kabategweta started feeling pain in her upper abdomen while she was pregnant. Whenever she walked or lifted heavy items, she would develop a swelling in her upper abdomen. She visited a hospital in the same year and diagnosed as having a hernia. A hernia is a protrusion of the intestines through a weak region in the abdominal muscles. A hernia presents as a protrusion—or bulge—in the abdomen and can become painful when coughing, bending at the waist, or lifting heavy objects. At the time of her diagnosis, Kabategweta could not undergo an operation to repair the hernia because she was pregnant. She delivered her baby by C-section. Since then she has been taking painkillers. Kabategweta would have gone back to the hospital for hernia repair after her baby was born, but she did not have money to pay for surgery. Her husband, a trader who deals in maize, has a seasonal income because there are times when the harvest is poor or when the price of maize is low. The family uses their income mostly for rent, and they are constructing their house, which is incomplete. $249 pays for hernia repair surgery for Kabategweta as well as three nights in the hospital, lab tests, and medicine. After surgery, she plans to continue looking for a job and start a farming business to raise capital for a small boutique business she wishes to start. “After surgery and recovery," shares Kabategweta, "I hope to put more effort in looking for a job because I will have the strength."

Sarah or "Bebe" (her nickname) is a 5 year old girl from the Phillippines. Bebe lives with her 3 siblings and parents in a small house made of concrete near the road. They get their water from a deep well and have their own electricity. Her father Vincent works as a construction worker. Sarah loves to write and watch TV. Unfortunately, she currently lives with acute malnutrition. With $268, Sarah can receive support from International Care Ministries' (ICM)’s Home-Based Feeding program. This provides nutrient enriched food packs to ensure she will regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. Staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor her progress. To help sustain Sarah's health, ICM's professional staff will educate her mother, guardian or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and organic vegetable gardening. Sarah's mother shares, "I hope my daughter will become a teacher someday."