“All I wish is to be able walk with ease,” shares Titus, a 76-year-old man from eastern Kenya. “This will allow me to work again." Although he has four children, Titus has lived alone since his wife passed away 17 years ago. This has made it especially hard for him to deal with an injury that he sustained over a year ago. In May 2016, a motorcycle accident left Titus with a broken left ankle. He was taken to the local hospital, where he received basic care and was scheduled for surgery. However, he was ultimately not able to receive his surgery due to a medics' strike. As a result, for over a year now, Titus has experienced substantial pain and numbness when walking. He has had to stop tending his livestock, which used to be his livelihood. Because of the resulting dip in his finances over the past year, Titus is unable to pay for the surgery that would repair his ankle. His children have been able to collect $51 for the procedure, but they need your help raising an additional $742. This sum will pay for Titus’s operation on December 8, as well as his lab tests and five-day hospital stay. Let’s make sure Titus can return to the self-sufficient life he once knew: raising livestock and walking without pain.

Emeline is an eight-year-old girl who lives in a small town in southwestern Haiti with her parents and brothers. Both of her parents work in agriculture. Emeline is an outgoing child who makes friends easily and likes playing games and listening to music. Emeline was born with a cardiac condition known as ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. This causes oxygen-poor blood to circulate throughout her body, leaving Emeline feeling weak. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to cover the cost of Emeline's air transportation to the Cayman Islands, where she is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 5. Once there, she will receive the care that she needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. Emeline's mother says, "My family is all very happy to know that there is a chance for Emeline's heart to be healed."

U Aung is 41 years old. He lives with his wife and three children in Burma. He works as a day laborer loading rice packages. In early 2016, U Aung started to experience discomfort and some pain in his groin whilst loading the rice packages. He finds it difficult to bend his knees. A month ago, he visited a hospital, where he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the hip. The doctor explained that he would need surgery but U Aung could not afford it. Fortunately, U Aung found out about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). He was told he would need hip replacement surgery. Our medical partner, BCMF, is requesting $1,500 to fund U Aung’s surgery, scheduled for October 12.

Zin is a four-year-old boy who lives with his parents in a village near Mae Sot, Thailand. His parents moved to Thailand from Burma to look for work, and currently work as agricultural day laborers. On September 5, Zin went to the fields with his parents as usual. While he stayed by the small hut on stilts, where the workers rest and eat, his parents were out in the field harvesting corn. Zin was playing on the small ladder at the entrance to a hut when he suddenly slipped and fell, breaking his left arm. Zin’s father ran to help and stabilized his arm with a bamboo splint, but Zin remains in a lot of pain and his arm requires surgery. On September 8, surgeons will perform an internal fixation procedure to set Zin's arm bone and allow his injury to heal. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for his medical treatment.

Ganeblowza is a 21-month-old baby girl who lives with her mother, father, and grandparents in Haiti. Her father is a day laborer, and her mother currently stays at home to care for her. Ganeblowza was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare but serious heart condition that involves several related cardiac defects. Problems include a hole between two chambers of the heart, pulmonary stenosis, a thickened right ventricle, and aortic malfunction. As a result, not enough oxygen is delivered to Ganeblowza's body, leaving her sickly, weak, and at risk of fatal complications. Have a Heart Cayman is subsidizing Ganeblowza's heart surgery, however she still requires overseas transport to our medical partner's care center, Health City Cayman Islands. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is therefore requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of air transportation to the site of surgery, cardiac examinations, and medications. The treatment is scheduled to be administered on May 26 and, once complete, will greatly improve Ganeblowza's quality of life. "I have been very afraid since my daughter was born that she would die without surgery. I am very thankful for this chance," says Ganeblowza's mother.

Sophal is a 46-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married with two daughters and two sons. In his free time, he likes to go to his garden, water his vegetables, and listen to the news on the radio. In November of last year, Sophal was in a motorbike accident, resulting in a fracture of his right femur. At the time, he went to two Khmer traditional healers for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. He is unable to walk without support and has not been able to work since the accident. He traveled for four hours with his daughter to seek treatment at Children's Surgical Centre, our medical partner. On April 25, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre will perform an open reduction internal fixation procedure on Sophal's right leg for $411. The realignment with screws, rods, or plates will help his broken femur mend correctly. This will allow him to walk easily again. With the surgical intervention and healing respite, Sophal will be back on his feet in no time.

Francine is 41 years old and from a small town in the southern province of Haiti. She left school after the eighth grade because her parents could not afford to keep her in school. She now lives with her husband and is a street merchant. Francine enjoys the social interaction that comes with being a street merchant. When she can, she likes to treat herself and buy beauty products, such as lipstick or eyeliner. In April of 2016, Francine checked her breast and felt a small lump. As time went by, the small lump increased in size and became painful. The lump eventually popped out under her armpit and made it extremely painful to use that arm. In November, she went to the hospital and was diagnosed with breast cancer. The hospital referred her to our medical partner's care center, St. Luc Family Hospital. At the end of the month, Francine started her chemotherapy, which is a treatment that decreases her cancerous cells. Francine will get a mastectomy on June 1. This operation will remove all the breast tissue, and in combination with chemotherapy, can give Francine her health back. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,085 to help fund Francine's treatment. After her operation, she wants to continue selling products and live her life with her husband. She will be able to feel less pain and feel like herself again.

Alvin is a 14-year-old boy from Kenya. “I would like to be a civil engineer when I grow up,” he says. Alvin lives with his sibling and grandmother in central Kenya. Three weeks ago, Alvin began complaining of pain in his groin. At points, it was so intense that he could not walk. His uncle rushed him to the nearest pharmacy and purchased pain relievers. This, however, did not calm the situation. With time, the pain got worse, and a swelling developed. Visiting a nearby hospital, Alvin was diagnosed an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. Surgery was recommended, but Alvin and his family were unable to meet the cost. A family friend advised them to visit our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, to see if they might receive help. Now, Alvin is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 9. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $542 to cover the cost of the operation.

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.