For 54-year-old Kingsley, farming has always been an important part of his life. It is how he feeds his family, pays for daily needs, and provides for his wife and four children in Malawi. Every planting season has depended on the strength of his hands. But earlier this year, one unexpected moment changed everything. Kingsley was traveling in February when he was involved in a road traffic accident. Among the injuries he sustained, the most severe was his fractured right arm. He was admitted to hospital and began what he thought would be a short journey to recovery. Instead, it became months of moving from one health facility to another, searching for treatment that never seemed to come. Each hospital visit brought another referral, another delay, or another disappointment. His family spent what little they had on transport, consultations, and the cost of simply trying to find help. As the months passed, his arm failed to heal, and the frustration began to weigh heavily on him. It was Kingsley's eldest daughter, who works as a nurse, who finally encouraged him to seek care at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital. There, an X-ray revealed that the broken bone had failed to heal. Doctors explained that he now requires Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery. During this procedure, the broken bone will be realigned and secured with metal plates and screws to encourage proper healing. Leaving the fracture untreated could result in permanent weakness, loss of function, chronic pain, and difficulty performing even simple daily activities. For a farmer whose livelihood depends on physical strength, surgery treatment will offer the best chance of regaining the use of his arm and returning to the work that supports his family. Hearing that surgery was finally possible filled Kingsley with relief, but it also came with another obstacle. After months of hospital visits and travel expenses, the family's savings had been exhausted. The treatment he had waited so long for was now beyond his financial reach. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare can help. Kingsley is scheduled for surgery on July 9th. He and his family need help raising $525 to fully fund the procedure. The surgery should allow the wound to finally heal so that he can return to his work of farming to support his family and live a more comfortable life. Kingsley shared, "I have waited a long time for someone to tell me there was still hope for my arm. I believe this surgery is my chance to work again, provide for my family, and live without the frustration I have carried since the accident. I am grateful that the donor program has given me hope when I thought I had run out of options."

Seom is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three daughters, four sons, and eight grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and watch Indian TV series. One year ago, Seom developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her partial blindness, irritation, pain, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Seom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two and a half hours ago seeking treatment. On April 25, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. She says, "I hope my eye surgery is successful so I can continue my work at the farm and support my family. I hope to be able to go outside by myself and lead an independent life."

Abibatu is a girl from Sierra Leone. Abibatu lives in Freetown, the capital, with her parents and two older brothers. She likes to dress up and to go to church with her family. She has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage in one of the heart's valves. As a result, not enough oxygen is delivered to her body, leaving her sickly and weak. Without surgery, the condition would be fatal. Abibatu will fly to the Narayana Institute Of Cardiac Sciences in Bangalore, India to receive treatment. On July 27, she will undergo cardiac surgery. Abibatu's family also needs help to fund the costs of travel. The $1,343 bill covers her flight to the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, will also provide support to the family as they travel overseas. Her mother says, "Our family is all very excited that there is hope for Kamara to become healthy!"

Coming from a village in Kenya, Jecinta is the youngest of 24 siblings. Her mother is the third of three wives, with six biological children of her own. Jecinta’s mother is a housewife who takes care of her children. His father is a pastoralist, who, unfortunately, lost the majority of his livestock to the drought that swept the region dry. The entire family depends on ten acres of land with is not producing well due to the drought. Jecinta was born in perfect health. Apart from a small bump that never seemed to disappear everything was well. She continued on in that state until she went in for her three months old clinical review. The doctor observed that the bump was abnormal and had grown to a big swelling. Over time, it began to impact her vision. Jecinta has a frontal encephalocele - a neural tube defect that causes visible, sac-like protrusions of the brain. Specialized treatment is now required, but Jecinta’s parents cannot afford the cost. Her father sold one of his cows but they are not able to raise the rest of the funds needed. If not treated, Jecinta may have mental and growth retardation, seizures, uncoordinated movement of voluntary muscles. Encephalocoele repair surgery will allow Jecinta to avoid these long-term consequences and grow up healthy. “I am now very aged and want to see my children to grow up with nothing affecting them whatsoever," Jecinta's father said. "I will appreciate if we can get help for her surgical care."

At 16 months old, Eliseo is the youngest of ten children. He lives with his parents and siblings in a small adobe house in Guatemala. Eliseo loves to play with his brothers, especially with toy cars and balls. However, due to acute malnutrition, he often has low energy and stamina, and is frequently sick with fevers and diarrhea. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us that Eliseo's mother first brought him to a local health clinic where a nurse told her that Eliseo was not getting the calories he needed. Without a healthy diet, "Eliseo is far below the average height for age and weight for age and if intervention does not occur, he will be physically and mentally stunted," his doctor says. Eliseo's immune system is also weakened--increasing his risk of chronic disease. Eliseo’s mother does household chores and collects firewood to sell. However, the family is primarily dependent on Eliseo’s father’s modest income earned as fieldworker. WK tells us “Eliseo’s family does not have enough money to afford the amount of food and the quality of calories that Eliseo needs.” For $535, Eliseo will undergo intensive nutrition therapy. He will receive micronutrient food supplementation as well as medication to prevent infections during his treatment. Combined, this intervention will improve Eliseo's immunity and overall nutrition--allowing Eliseo to regain the height and weight he has lost. He will also have improved long-term health, including reduced risk of chronic disease. Eliseo’s mother will also receive the education she needs to support her children. She adds, "with the help of God and the institution, kids like our son will begin to get the food and care they need to grow. This is such a blessing.”