Meet Joyce, a mother of three children from Kenya. Joyce works as a domestic house help to earn a living. She separated from her husband in 2012, and unfortunately her children have not been able to continue with higher education due to a lack of school fees. The children stay with their grandmother, as Joyce is not able to financially support them due to her medical condition. In 2014 November, Joyce felt severe abdominal pain. She visited the hospital, where she was sent home with pain medication. However, the pain persisted and a subsequent x-ray revealed fibroids (benign growths) in her uterus. Joyce experiences pain, fatigue, and bleeding. She is not able to work consistently, especially when she is in pain, and a majority of her income is used for medical expenses. Joyce needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to treat her fibroids and return to full health. Treatment will cost $800, and includes all pre- and post-operative care. “I'd like to be relieved of the pain I am experiencing and be free from further complications," Joyce shared.

Meet Daniel, a 61-year-old father from Kenya. Daniel's youngest child is currently in college studying to become a teacher, an opportunity that was made possible with the sponsorship of the family’s church. Daniel used to work for the Ministry of Health. He has since then retired and now works as a herdsman selling cattle and milk to provide for his family. For the past two months, Daniel’s eyesight has steadily declined due to a cataract in his right eye. This condition limits his vision, prevents him from working, and makes it difficult to read or write. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “If surgery is not done, the condition could get worse and this might lead to permanent blindness in the right eye. Daniel will not be able to work.” AMHF will be able to provide Daniel with cataract removal surgery for $230, a treatment that is expected to give Daniel back his ability to see. Let’s work together and help Daniel access the healthcare he needs.

“When my feet are straight, I will join a tailoring class and start a business of my own later on,” says Imakulata. Meet Imakulata, a 14-year-old girl from Tanzania. Imakulata is the second born child in a family of three. Imakulata has never been to school “due to the fact that her peers used to laugh at the way she walks,” explains our medical partner at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Imakulata has unilateral clubfoot. Instead of going to school, she stays at home and helps her parents with everyday chores such as cleaning the house, washing the dishes, and cooking. “Imakulata’s gait has been affected due to the fact that she has to use the lateral aspect of her right foot for walking,” AMHF tells us. “She is at high risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if remains untreated.” Imakulata’s father spends most of his earned income on alcohol, which makes Imakulata’s mother the sole provider for the family’s financial needs. Imakulata’s mother works at a market selling fresh fruits and vegetables, but the income she earns can barely cover the basic needs of the family, let alone Imakulata’s medical treatment costs. For $1,160 we can help Imakulata access the healthcare she needs. Let’s help Imakulata receive a life-changing surgery and get her into the classroom.

“I hope Angel can recover. I want to see him happy, and I want him to grow like my other children,” says Angel’s mother. Meet Angel, a one-year-old boy from Guatemala who is malnourished. “He has had a series of pretty severe intestinal infections and, as a result, his weight has suffered. His appetite is poor, and his diet is also poor because his family can’t afford to provide him with high quality foods. He needs nutritional intervention to protect his brain development,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. “Angel is the youngest in a large family. When he is feeling well, he likes to play with his older brothers and sisters, but lately he’s been too unwell to interact with them much,” says Wuqu’ Kawoq. Angel’s father is a day laborer on a plantation, but his earnings aren’t enough to provide for the family. For $535, we can provide nutritional therapy to Angel so he can return to playing with his siblings. Wuqu Kawoq expects, “We’ll cure his intestinal infections. We’ll provide nutritional supplements and educational support to mom and dad. Angel will start to eat again, and his growth and development will pick up.”

“We are a large family. We cannot provide enough for all. It is very difficult for us to pay for Sandesh’s treatment if it is costly,” says Sandesh’s mother. Meet Sandesh, a seven-month-old baby who has a fractured left leg. “Sandesh was walking on all fours at his home when he accidentally slipped on a stone used for grinding spices,” reports our medical partner, Possible. “This has resulted in pain and swelling in the left leg. Sandesh will not stop crying due to pain and cannot play around,” continues Possible. Sandesh lives in a joint family of 16. “Their main profession is agriculture but it yields enough for only about three months in a year for the whole family. So, Sandesh’s father and brothers often go to India to work as wage laborers in Indian towns so that they can save for the family,” says Possible. For $205, we can heal Sandesh’s fractured leg and allow him to be play with his family. “Sandesh will be relieved from the pain and he will be able to play on his own,” concludes Possible.

“I have not given up on my daughter. I still have hope that something can be done to correct the deformity on her foot to allow her to walk properly, have the ability to walk to school and competently perform various activities as she continues to grow,” says Ebenezer’s father. Meet Ebenezer, a three-year-old girl from Tanzania who has a unilateral clubfoot. “Ebenezer limps when walking because she is using the lateral aspect of her left foot. She is at high risk of developing osteoarthritis of the small bones at an early age if not treated,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Ebenezer is the second of three children in her family and is known for her happy demeanor. “She likes to draw and pretend to be in a kitchen cooking,” continues AMHF. Ebenezer previously underwent treatment to correct her clubfoot but it was to no avail. “Ebenezer’s mother is a homemaker and her father is a small scale farmer – relying on growing maize and tomatoes. Ebenezer’s father works very hard to take good care of his family, but coming up with enough to pay for the right treatment has been a problem,” says AMHF. For $1160, we can correct Ebenezer’s clubfoot so that she can walk normally. AMHF concludes that after the treatment, “Ebenezer’s foot will get back to a normal position allowing her to walk properly and competently perform various activities.”

“I am worried because I don’t have much free cash for medical treatments and as my diabetes worsens, I’m having a more difficult time working in the fields. I wish to get better and work again growing my crops,” says Rigoberto. Rigoberto is a 55-year-old man from central Guatemala. Rigoberto has four children, all of whom are now grown, so he lives alone with his wife. He is a farmer by trade and grows a wide variety of crops, such as broccoli, beets, and radishes. Rigoberto has had diabetes for 10 years and as his diabetes worsened, the medical bills became too expensive for him to afford. He had to stop treatments and is now experiencing fatigue, dizziness, weight loss, and a toe infection that required amputation. “If Rigoberto doesn't get his condition under control soon, he is in danger of death,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. For $450, doctors can treat Rigoberto for acute diabetes. “Treatment will control blood sugar levels, resolve his fatigue and weight loss, prevent future infections, and give Rigoberto the ability to resume work,” explain Wuqu’ Kawoq doctors. Let’s work together to help Rigoberto and his family!

"Jackson was born with congenital deformity of the feet," his doctors write, "which later on will affect his gait and restrict his mobility if not treated." Jackson is a baby boy from Tanzania who was born with clubfoot, a condition which causes his feet to grow inwards instead of straight, and makes walking painful. "Jackson’s parents badly need financial support so that their son can get the help he needs," Jackson's medical team says. "They rely on farming and that does not bring in enough cash to cover their basic needs as well as Jackson’s treatment. Jackson is very active. He likes to jump on her mother’s laps and enjoys to be carried around." Jackson's mother adds, “Our hope is for our son to be able to walk when the time comes. Being able to walk properly will give him the freedom to walk to school and the ability to do other things with ease." With $1,160, we can fund Jackson's surgery, repair his feet, and enable him to get a healthy start at life -- and one day, school!