Innocent is a 10-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two children. Both of his parents are small-scale farmers who depend on the vegetables they harvest for their food, and also sell some crops at the market to make a living. Innocent was born a healthy and cheerful baby, and his growth has been normal until last November. Now, his mother says he has became very irritable and cries a lot. Innocent has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Innocent has been experiencing a growing head circumference, and he cannot support the weight of his head. Without treatment, Innocent will experience severe physical and developmental delays and disability. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $765 to cover the cost of surgery to treat Innocent's hydrocephalus condition. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 20th and will drain the excess fluid from Innocent's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Innocent will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Innocent’s mother shared, “Please save my baby. His condition worsens as days go by, and we are really worried.”

Luza is a toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and several older siblings and cousins in a rural, mountainous area of central Haiti. Her parents are both farmers. Luza has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Luza also has Down syndrome. Luza will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 24, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart by sewing a patch across it. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Luza's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Luza's family overseas. Her mother says, "We are excited for this surgery so that Luza can run and play with her brothers and sisters."

Sok Heang is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She likes cooking and spending time with her friends. When she was a baby, Sok Heang had an 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, Sok Heang experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge. She just keeps treating her ear through the pharmacy and local healer, but it's not getting better. She has hearing loss and is afraid it will worsen. Sok Heang traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 11, 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 $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I want to get healthy and find a job."

Aung is a 20-year-old who lives in Burma with his family. His father runs a tea shop where Aung used to work before he got sick. About a month ago, Aung was in a motorcycle accident and sustained injuries to his head, chest, neck, and back. Five ribs on his left side and six ribs on his right side were fractured, and he cannot move either of his legs. He also sustained a perforation through his chest and back. In order to remove the abscesses that Aung had in his hip and thigh bone, doctors had to cut away Aung's left thigh bone. He has unfortunately additionally developed bedsores on other areas of his body. Aung sold one of his houses to cover some of his medical costs, however he needs further help to fund his hospital care. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $851 to fund surgery for Aung, which is scheduled to take place on July 6. Aung requires a local rotation flap surgery in order to treat his bedsores. Following treatment, some of Aung's discomfort will hopefully be alleviated. "I thought that there was no hope for my condition to get better, but I very feel happy as there is a hope to care my bed-sore and now I feel relieved as my condition is improving," shares Aung.

Joy is a two-year-old girl from Kenya. She is her parents' only child. They live together in a house near her father's shop. About one month ago, Joy's parents began to notice that she was not responding to sound. They took her to the hospital, where they ran auditory tests. Doctors recommended that Joy receives hearing aids. Her parents then brought her to our medical partner in search of assistance. The audiologist believes that Joy's hearing can be restored with the help of hearing aids. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $929 to fund Joy's hearing aids. She is scheduled to be fitted for this new assistive device on July 5. After treatment, she will be able to hear and her speech development will improve. “My happiness will be to see Joy able to hear and talk,” Joy’s mother says.

JP is a seven-year-old student from the Philippines. He lives with his parents and two other siblings. When he isn't at school, JP helps his mother do household chores and plays with his friends in the neighborhood. JP was born with an abnormal condition in a sensitive area that causes bowel dysfunction. JP needs surgery to cure his condition. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), is helping JP receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo treatment on August 24, and his family needs help raising $1,500 to fund his treatment. "Thank you for giving JP a chance to live a normal life after all the operations needed for him to be fully cured," says JP's mother.

Evelyne is a five-year-old girl from Kenya. She's the second born in a family of three children. Evelyne suffers from congenital angular deformity, a condition in which the joints or bones themselves bend abnormally. Her bones are also very weak and keep breaking. Because of her condition, Evelyne cannot walk or stand on her own, making it difficult for her to play with other kids or attend school. Evelyne has been treated with casting, but her condition has not improved. On June 22, Evelyne will undergo corrective surgery to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,165 to cover the cost of the surgery, five nights of hospital stay, medication, and medical supplies. “My joy is to see my daughter rising up and walk after surgery. I would also want to see her going to school. Due to the struggles I am experiencing, I would request for your help,” says Evelyne's father.

Dibora is a 14-year-old girl from Ethiopa. She is one of 10 children, and her parents work as farmers to support their large family. Dibora was born with anorectal malformation, a birth defect in which the anus and the rectum do not develop properly. As a result, Dibora cannot make stool and urine in a normal way. Furthermore, Dibora has had to drop out of school several times and is now many grade levels behind her peers. She has faced discrimination from other students and community members because of her medical condition, which has been very psychologically taxing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund corrective surgery for Dibora. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 11 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Dibora to live more comfortably and confidently. Dibora's father says “I lost all hope and the money I had after we returned home for the third time without a treatment. All these years, Dibora has been without treatment, facing so many social and psychological problems. I couldn’t bear to see her situation and I tried to find someone who can help us in my hometown and in other towns. I found this organization who told me about the service you are providing and they brought me here.”

Derlens is a happy 20-month-old toddler from Haiti. He lives with his mother and grandparents. He is his mother's first child. Darlens loves playing with his grandparents and cousins. Derlens was born with a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood passes through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him feeling weak and sick. On May 4, Darlens will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the cost of his treatment. Gift of Life International has contributed $5,000 towards his care. "I am so happy that Derlens can become healthy," says Darlens's mother.

Met is a 66-year-old lotus farmer from Cambodia. She is married with one son, one daughter, and three grandchildren. In her free time, Met likes to listen to monks pray at the pagoda. About four months ago, Met developed entropion of her right eyelid, a condition that causes her eyelid to turn inward. It is difficult for her to see clearly, do her work, or go anywhere outside by herself. On May 22, eye surgeons will perform lid correction surgery on Met's right eye to treat the entropion. After the procedure, Met will be able to see clearly and comfortably again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, requests $266 to cover her treatment.

Namnyaki is a 24-year-old woman who works as a housekeeper to support her family. Since birth, Namnyaki has had a large benign mass on her neck. The mass is painful, uncomfortable to the touch, and has been increasing in size. Namnyaki is worried about further discomfort from the enlarged mass. She sought treatment in the past, but these treatments were not successful in relieving her discomfort. On February 12, Namnyaki will undergo surgery to remove the entire mass from her neck. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is asking for $920 to fund the surgery. Namnyaki is excited to work without experiencing pain from the back of her neck. She says, "I hope that I will be able to live a life without worry. If this surgery is successful, I will be able to work harder in life."

Steven is a 10-year-old fourth grade student from the Dominican Republic. He lives with his mother, brothers, and grandparents. His favorite subject in school is science, and he hopes to be a doctor one day. When not studying, Steven likes to play soccer with his brothers. Steven was was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. As a result, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Steven feeling sickly and weak. On February 7, Steven will visit our medical partner's care center, Hospital Pediatrico Robert Reid Cabral, for a cardiac assessment that includes exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to fund his cardiac assessment, as well as his medications and social support. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Steven's surgical care. "I am happy to have surgery so that afterward I will be able to run as fast as my oldest brother!" says Steven.