Jackson is a young student from Tanzania. He is the firstborn child in a family of five children. His father says he is a hard-working working boy at home and school. Jackson helps look after his siblings when his parents are not around and he also goes out with his father’s cattle to seek green pasture during the weekends when he is not at school. His parents are small scale farmers and livestock keepers with a limited income. For the past week, Jackson has had an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and if not treated may result in intestinal tissue damage Fortunately, on October 16th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $539 to fund Jackson's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jackson says, “The swelling is causing me so much pain at night and walking has been difficult. I look forward to feeling better.”

“Pista is our only child with problems of the feet. It is our prayer that her feet can be straightened so that she can walk like other children and have the same opportunity to go to school and efficiently perform other activities,” Pista's parents tell us. Meet Pista, an active and talkative five-year-old girl from Tanzania. Pista is the youngest in the family and “everybody loves her,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “While at home, she has a special place which is her imaginary kitchen and where she prepares meals for her dolls,” AMHF continues. “Pista likes humming while ‘cooking’ and carrying her dolls on her back.” Pista has bilateral clubfoot. As AMHF explains, “Pista walks by using the lateral aspect of her feet, which terribly affects her gait. If not treated, Pista will never be able to walk properly and chances of developing osteoarthritis at a young age will be high.” Pista’s parents are small-scale farmers and work very hard to ensure their four children have the opportunity to attend school. However their earned income is not enough to cover all of their needs, as well as pay for the treatment Pista needs. $1,160 will cover the entire cost of Pista’s treatment, from the surgery and hospital stay to her painkillers and physiotherapy. Let’s help Pista access the healthcare she needs to grow up and lead a healthy life.

Birendra is a sweet nine-year-old boy from Nepal. He fell into a pot of hot oil when he was just a year old, sustaining serious burns on his head. The burns were never properly treated. Now, the resulting scar tissue is preventing the skin on his head from fully healing, and his hair from growing. Birendra is in fourth grade and lives with his mother, grandmother, siblings, and uncle’s family. As is common in Nepal, his father works in India and sends money home. Birendra is well loved - his grandmother confided in our medical partner that he is her favorite grandson! For $1,415, we can pay for surgery that will repair the skin on Birendra's head and allow him to move past this childhood accident.