Meet Kunihira, a three-year-old girl from Uganda. For her whole life, Kunihira has had painful swelling because of an umbilical hernia that causes her occasional abdominal pain and poses serious long term health risks. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares that unless Kunihira receives proper care, she is “at risk of getting intestinal obstruction or strangulation of the hernia.” Kunihira's mother brought her daughter to the hospital, but was unable to afford the surgery that she needs. Because of Kunihira's condition, her mother is unable to leave her for extended periods of time or find steady employment. $220 covers the cost of a hernia repair surgery that will ease Kunihira's immediate discomfort and minimize the risk of future health complications, AMHF details. "We expect that after the surgery, Kunihira will no longer be in pain and the risk or intestinal obstruction, incarceration and strangulation would be eliminated." “Thank you in advance for the assistance you are going to give my child and me," Kunihira's mother shares. "God bless you.”

“I earnestly wish for her to have no complications because of this in the future,” shares the father of Manisha, a 13-year-old girl living in Nepal. While playing at school, Manisha was hit with a rock and was left with an open wound and a fracture in her right leg. Right now, it is too painful for Manisha to use her right leg and she needs help completing even basic tasks. As a result, Manisha had to be carried on her father’s back for two hours to reach our medical partner, Possible. While Manisha’s parents work in the field, Manisha helps out around the house by looking after cattle and babysitting her younger brother. Although Manisha’s parents work hard, they cannot afford the $579 that would pay for Manisha’s treatment. With your help, Manisha’s bones will be “aligned correctly and secured with the help of pins. Her open wound will also be stitched close,” Possible shares.

Meet Fadhili, a two-year-old boy from Kenya who enjoys drawing with the help of his five-year-old sister. Fadhili’s mother is a homemaker and his father deals in scrap metal. “When he turned two, his mother noticed swelling near his groin,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fadhili was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, which occurs when a weak part of the abdomen allows part of the intestine to protrude through the muscle. “He becomes irritable when it is touched,” says AMHF. “If not treated early, he is likely to suffer intestinal obstruction, incarceration and strangulation.” Fadhili is no stranger to the medical system. “Most of Fadhili’s life has been spent in and out of hospital,” shares AMHF. “At two weeks old, Fadhili was discovered to have a heart defect known as pulmonary valve stenosis.” Fortunately, the condition does not yet require surgery, only evaluation every six months to monitor its status. However, this has put such a strain on the family’s finances that they are unable to afford treatment for his hernia. $430 funds the surgery Fadhili needs to return his herniated intestine to its proper position and repair the defect in the wall of his abdomen. After the procedure, Fadhili should be in much less pain and at a lower risk of future health complications. “Fadhili is a very delicate boy,” says his mother. “He has been through a lot and I don’t want him to grow in pain.”

Ramila is a two-year-old girl from Nepal who recently started kindergarten. “She likes sharing the stories she learned in school at home," our medical partner, Possible, shares. "Her favorite game is gatta, played by balancing five stones on one's hand." “She was returning from school when she slipped and fractured her right elbow,” explains Possible. “She has been in a lot of pain and it has considerably swollen too." Her broken elbow has understandably made it difficult to live her normal life and keep up with school. Ramila’s family brought her to the hospital, but are unable to afford the proper care that Ramila needs. "Ramila is so young, she's just started school. I worry what will happen if her elbow is not fixed," says her mother. $579 will allow Ramila to undergo open reduction and internal fixation surgery. In this procedure, surgeons place the bones in the correct position and fix them in place with metal pins. Ramila's elbow will then be placed in a cast so the bones can heal properly, and after four to six weeks, the cast will be removed and Ramila will begin to recover use of her arm and get back to being a normal kindergartener.

“All I want is for my grandson to be able to breathe normally and sleep well at night,” shares four-year-old Daudi's grandmother. Daudi and his family are from Tanzania, he is the fourth born of five children, and his parents are livestock keepers. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares that Daudi "likes to play with other children, especially in the mud making different shapes of things." Daudi's grandmother brought him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with adenoid enlargement, which is an enlargement of lymphatic tissue between the back of his nose and throat. This condition affects his breathing, especially at night. Daudi often breathes through his mouth, which has exposed him to more sickness and infection. In order to help him breathe easier, Daudi needs an adenoidectomy which costs $488. The procedure will remove his adenoids and help him breathe with ease. AMHF shares that once he receives care, "Daudi will be able to breathe well through his nose and he will sleep well at night."

Three-year-old Ester lives with her mother, father, and her three older siblings in Tanzania. Her father is a self-employed carpenter, and her mother sells the vegetables she grows in her garden at an open market in their village. Ester loves to play with her dolls, and will carefully carry her biggest doll to meals and feed her doll during mealtimes. Ester was born with genu varus, or "bow legs," a condition that is fairly normal during early child development. Ester’s mother became concerned about Ester’s legs when she turned 18 months old and still had unusual gait and instability. "Ester wiggles when walking. She often falls down when she tries to run and she can’t keep up when running with other children. Ester will be at risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if not treated," explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Ester’s mother took her to various hospitals and attempted to treat her legs with adjusting her diet and adding multivitamins, but it did not help. Since Ester still has bow legs at her age, it must be rectified with surgery. Ester needs $940 to have her bow legs surgically repaired. The total cost will cover the surgery, three days of inpatient care, and two weeks of outpatient care. The surgery will give her better gait and reduce her risk of developing osteoarthritis. Ester’s mother is excited for Ester’s full recovery. “I will be happy to see my daughter with straight legs and able to walk properly,” she says.

11-month-old William is the youngest in his family of three children. His family resides in a single-room house in Western Kenya. William’s parents make money washing clothes, farming, and helping with construction, but don’t have a constant source of income. The little money they earn goes towards education for William’s two elder siblings and food for the family. When William was two-months-old, “his head circumference had greatly increased in comparison to his body,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “With no funds to get them to the hospital, William’s parents let it be, and, day by day, their son’s head got larger.” This past Christmas, a neighbor paid for William’s transportation to the hospital for specialized treatment. William was formally diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus occurs when abnormal amounts cerebrospinal fluid accumulate in the brain’s cavities, called subarachnoid space. “If not treated, William is at risk for having delayed milestones,” AMHF says. “The accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid may cause brain damage. He is also at risk of becoming visually impaired.” William's surgery costs $615. “The surgery will help reduce the excessive pressure on William’s brain, prevent blindness and death,” AMHF explains. “I am begging for the life of William,” his mother shares. “Let it be the best I can do for him.”

“I just want her to grow normally,” share the parents of Christy, a 13-month-old girl living in Guatemala. Christy is currently afflicted with acute malnutrition and, as a result, is much below the healthy height and weight for a girl her age. Due to her weakened immune system- a symptom of malnutrition- Chrisy has been getting sick often. Although Christy loves playing with her favorite toy - a play dish set - she has had trouble reaching other developmental milestones, including walking and talking. If not treated soon, the negative effects of malnutrition could affect Christy for the rest of her life and she will have a greater chance of developing chronic diseases as an adult. Christy lives in a rented adobe house with her parents and two older siblings. Christy’s father works as a farmer, cultivating corn and coffee on the plot of land that they own. Christy’s mother takes care of the family and occasionally weaves traditional Mayan textiles to earn extra money for the family. Although Christy’s parents work very hard, they do not have the resources to provide Christy or her siblings with the fruit, vegetables, or eggs that they need to be healthy. For $512 Christy will receive treatment for her malnutrition. This treatment will provide food supplementation and deworming medication that she needs to gain weight and grow taller. Additionally, her parents will receive nutrition education so that they know which foods to buy for Christy and her siblings in the future.

At three years of age, Brian's parents realized that something was not okay; he cried when passing urine. When swelling appeared on his groin, he was rushed to the nearest hospital and treated for an inguinal hernia. The swelling did not disappear, but the pain was gone. Brian is now 11 years old and lives with his family in Kenya. He still has the inguinal hernia, which is again causing pain and discomfort, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting anything. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), "if Brian is not treated, it can result in painful restriction of blood supply to his intestinal tissues that could be life-threatening." Weeks ago, Brian felt a sharp pain and his doctors determined that the hernia had re-occurred. Brian’s parents were distraught as they pondered where to get the funds they would need for his surgery - they work as casual laborers and cannot afford his care. They tell AMHF, "we will do anything to see to it that our son gets treated and fulfills his future dreams of becoming a pilot." For $430, Brian can have surgery to correct his hernia. This operation will prevent the hernia from growing and obstructing Brian's blood supply, interfering with his intestinal tract, and causing pain. Brian's mother says, "I am in need of your help because raising such an amount is completely out of reach for us. We want our son to grow normally and have a bright future.” Let's support Brian and his family achieve the future they desire.

Eduardo, a baby boy from Guatemala, is only a month old, but is already having developmental trouble and has lost significant weight since he was born. At birth, his mother was unable to produce enough milk for him grow at a normal rate. More recently she has been able to breastfeed for 30-45 minutes at time, but Eduardo, unsatisfied, still cries afterward. His mother is doing everything she can to force production of breast milk, but Eduardo still hasn’t been receiving as much as he should. His mother cannot afford formula, so in some instances when she cannot provide milk, she gives her son water to stop him from crying. Eduardo is the youngest child of a single mother: he has a 4-year-old sister and a 2-year-old brother. They all live together with one of their mother’s friends. Eduardo’s mother has limited access to education; she stopped after her first year in secondary school because her family could not afford it. Now to earn money, she washes clothes for her neighbors. Eduardo is at risk of dehydration and starvation. “His mother is ashamed and afraid that she cannot produce sufficient breast milk to feed her child,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). With $1,016, medical intervention will be possible for Eduardo. His mother will be given formula to provide her son with the calories he needs to grow. She will also receive one-on-one health education to prepare her the time when Eduardo will begin eating solid foods. The doctors are certain that the simple treatment will strengthen Eduardo’s immune system and allow him to become a healthy, energetic baby. “I just want him to grow,” Eduardo’s mother shares.

Kriscous is a jolly, four-year-old boy from the Philippines with cleft palate. Kriscous loves playing with his grandmother and other children. However, he become very shy because other children make fun of his appearance and altered speech. The attention from other children, and the frustration he experiences when his community can't understand him constantly puts him on edge, and he often gets into fights with other children and neighbors. In addition to worrying about his health, his family worries that Kriscous will continue to be unhappy if his condition persists. With $1,464, Kriscous will receive cleft palate repair surgery and follow-up care that will help him speak with less difficulty and give him the confidence to connect with other children. According to his grandmother, "Kriscous is very excited to be treated so he can have self-confidence and fulfill his dreams."

This is Ngae, a 58-year-old widow from Burma who has three daughters and two sons. Ngae sells a variety of vegetables to support her family, making about $2-4 a day. With a daughter married and living in Bangkok, Ngae works hard to put her young son through school and manage the rest of the family as well. Starting in November of 2015, Ngae’s health began to limit her ability to carry vegetables in a basket and sell her goods by the roadside. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) shares that at one point while selling corn, she suffered an unexpected uterine prolapse. For quite some time, Ngae has been ignoring her prolapsed uterus due to an inability to pay for, or access, treatment. But now, she is experiencing back pain, lower abdominal pain, and frequent urination. With $1,500, Ngae will receive the surgical treatment she requires, which may include a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or repairs to prevent her uterus from falling out. Surgery will better illuminate a solution to her health condition through examination of the pelvic or apical reattachment ligament points. Pelvic examinations, blood work, and post-surgery respite are all included. BBP expects that Ngae will be able to return to her normal routine. Ngae says, “I want to have the surgery as soon as possible and I hope that my surgery will be successful. I want to return to selling vegetables on the roadside.”