Felix is a young man from Haiti. Felix lives with his parents, older sister, and younger brother in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His father is a maintenance worker at a local hospital, and his mother is a market vendor. He attends high school and would like to become a teacher. Felix has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis. One of the four valves in his heart is severely damaged as the result of an infection he suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. Felix now has the opportunity to fly to United States to receive treatment as the care he needs is not available anywhere in Haiti right now. On October 21st, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove Felix's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $26,000 to pay for surgery, but Felix's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow up. 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 Felix's family overseas. Felix is excited for the future, and says "I am looking forward to being able to re-enroll in school once I have recovered from my surgery."

Pov is a 60-year-old loving grandmother who lives in Kampong Cham province with her husband. She has 2 daughters, 3 sons, and 7 grandchildren. Pov and her husband are rice farmers, but she has stopped working due to deteriorating vision. About 6 months ago, Pov developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, which is worrying for her. When Pov learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for 3 hours seeking treatment. On September 4th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Pov is able to contribute towards the cost of the surgery but needs help raising $253. She shared, "I hope I can have surgery so I can see around my house, and my family won't worry about me anymore. I also want to help my husband at work and be able to support my family."

Peter is a 28-year-old artisan from Kenya. He creates and sells lampshades made from recycled materials to support his family. Peter's wife stays at home with their three-year-old daughter. In his free time, Peter and his friends run a boxing group that helps keep unemployed youths around his home area busy. One month ago, Peter sustained a fracture to his right pinky while boxing. He went to a local health facility where he received pain medication. However, Peter saw no improvement in his pain. He currently can't work or grip using his right hand and is at risk for future complications. Peter sought out care again, and his doctors recommended he undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. However, Peter's medical coverage is not currently active and he can't afford the surgery on his own. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 21st, Peter will undergo surgery to repair his fracture. After surgery, he will be able to grip objects again and resume work. Now, AMH is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Peter says, “I use my hand to work. I am unable to make the lampshades because my hand is injured, this is what I use to earn a living. I hope to get treatment to be able to go back to my Jua-Kali work and feed my family

Collings, who is four years old, is the only child of his single mother. Collings lives with his grandmother in Malawi while his mother works as a farmer. Collings' grandmother is also a farmer. When Collings was about a year old, his mother noticed swelling in his left inguinal region. Collings was brought to the nearest clinic in Malawi. From there, they were referred to Nkhotakota district hospital for additional care. A diagnosis of a hernia was made and surgery was recommended. Now Collings is four and since his diagnosis, he has remained untreated. The episodes of swelling have worsened, causing Collings a lot of pain. His grandmother has had to suspend her work as a farmer as she tries to get Collings the care he needs. On May 2nd, Collings will undergo hernia repair surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $575 to fund Collings' treatment. His grandmother hopes that the operation will help Collings get better. Collings' grandmother happily said: “I can’t wait to see Collings well again; thank you, Sponsors, for coming in with support.”

Vibol, who is 12 years old, is a student living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with his parents and three younger siblings. His father works in construction, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. Vibol particularly enjoys studying mathematics and would like to be an engineer when he grows up. Four years ago, Vibol had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind his ear drum. As a result, Vibol experiences ear fullness/pain, foul-smelling ear discharge, and increasingly poor hearing. He has not had any treatment because his family cannot afford the cost of medication. It is difficult for Vibol to communicate with others due to his poor hearing and he is often absent from class. Vibol and his family sought the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 4th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy on his left ear at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma so that Vibol will no longer experience his current symptoms. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This money will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Vibol said: "I hope that my ear will stop the discharge and pain. When my hearing is better, I will feel better and do well in school."

Ravy is a happy, four year old boy, living with his grandmother in Cambodia. His parents work in a nearby brick factory. Ravy was born with cerebral palsy. He enjoys spending time with his grandmother, and watching shows on YouTube. Ravy spends a lot of time sitting in a wheelchair, and over the last year, his hip has become dislocated, causing him pain and discomfort. Because Ravy's condition is difficult to treat, he was referred to the doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On January 10th, Ravy will undergo an osteotomy, a procedure where his hip bone will be cut and reshaped, to facilitate improved sitting balance in his wheelchair, and to prevent additional stiffness and pain for him in the future. Now Ravy and his family need your support to fund the $469 cost of the procedure. Ravy's mother said: "I hope my son feels better after surgery."

Savuth is a 70-year-old rice and potato farmer from Tboung Khmom province in rural Cambodia. He lives with his wife and his grandson, who help him on the farm. He hopes that his grandson will take over the farm soon. When not working on his farm, he likes to listen to old music from when he was younger. Last April, he was accidentally cut with a knife that fell on the top of his left foot. He went to a local hospital for a laceration repair, but he has difficulty lifting the top part of his foot. The front of his foot drags on the ground when he walks, which is a sign of an underlying muscular or anatomical problem. He shared that he feels embarrassed that he cannot walk well and has difficulty when he is outside on his farm. Fortunately, the referral hospital told him to go to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where plastic surgeons specialize in this kind of care. Savuth traveled three hours for a diagnosis, and surgeons will perform a tendon repair on his foot on December 13th. He now needs help to pay for the $572 procedure, which will cover hospitalization, surgery, medicines, and post-operative rehabilitation. When his ankle has healed, he will have an improved gait and can return to full activity. Savuth said: "I hope I can walk better and not have any pain after this operation."

Hnin is a determined 5-year-old girl from Burma. In her free time, she likes to draw pictures. Hnin lives with her grandmother and brother in Mon State. She goes to kindergarten, her brother goes to primary school, and her grandmother is a washerwoman. Hnin's parents, who work as day laborers in Thailand, also send them money every month to help support basic needs. Hnin was born with club foot of her left leg. With the help of Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), she underwent casting at Mawlawmyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH) to straighten her foot. Hnin's family was told to bring her back when she was five years old as she would need another surgery to fully correct her clubfoot. Currently, Hnin still has a cast on her left leg. When she walks, she walks on the side of her left foot. Because of this, she cannot play on the playground or keep up with her friends. Without treatment, Hnin's condition will continue to cause her discomfort and will further limit her movement. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of surgery for Hnin, which is scheduled to take place on November 18th. This procedure will elongate her Achilles tendon, allowing increased motion at the ankle joint. Hnin said, “My left leg is so heavy with the cast, but I am not scared to have the operation on my leg. I want to have surgery."

Josephina is a young woman from Tanzania. She is the last-born child in a family of seven children, and lives with most of her siblings and both parents. Her parents are small-scale farmers who depend on agriculture to meet their basic needs. Though times have been hard, they are trying to manage. Josephina is hard-working and enjoys helping her mother with home chores like cooking, cleaning dishes, and washing clothes. She completed her primary school education, but unfortunately, she has not been able to continue with further studies because of financial challenges. In 2011, as she was helping her mother in the kitchen, her dress caught fire, burning her around the thighs. She was taken to the hospital where she received treatment for the open wounds. All the wounds healed, leaving her pain free for some time. She has now developed contractures and has pain and discomfort. Josephina came to our health center seeking treatment, but her parents cannot afford to pay for it. They appeal for support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Josephina receive treatment. On October 19th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her be pain free and live a comfortable life. Now, her family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Josephina’s mother says, “My child has had to endure pain for a while because we did not know that her condition can be treated. We hope that she won’t have any pain after this.”

Primer is a father of three from Haiti. He lives in a small village in southwestern Haiti with his wife and three children; he is a farmer and sells produce in the local market. Primer has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart is severely damaged as the result of a rheumatic infection he suffered a number of years ago, and cannot adequately pump blood through his heart and body. The surgery that Primer needs is not available anywhere in the country so he will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On September 13th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove the damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is contributing $9000 to pay for surgery. Primer'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 covers travel expenses for the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Primer's family overseas, as well as the cost of obtaining Prince's passport. Prince says: "I am very grateful to be having this surgery so I can take care of my family and see my children grow up."

Gedion is a happy and talkative 16-year-old from Kenya who is currently a student in standard eight. He is the thirdborn in a family of six. Since their mother left them a few years ago, he and his siblings live with their father in their rural home on a small piece of land. Gedion's father works as a casual laborer and burns charcoal for sale to provide for their family's basic needs, as well as to pay for the children's school fees. His family also plants maize and beans on their small piece of land to feed themselves. During holidays and on the weekends, Gedion and his siblings usually work on other people's farms to provide additional income. He shares that life for his family has been very difficult, but they have been working hard in order to fight poverty together. This past Saturday, Gedion was brought into our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, via an ambulance from a facility near his home after being involved in a road traffic accident. While Gedion was on his way home from a nearby shopping center, a tractor passed by. He hopped onto it in order to reach home faster since he was still far from home and it was already beginning to become dark. There were some people already on the tractor, so they continued with their journey together. While they were on their way, the tractor lost control and fell down. The people riding were all rushed to a nearby facility. While those with minor injuries were able to be treated at the local facility, three of the riders, including Gedion, had to be referred to our medical partner's care center. During the accident, he sustained a fracture of his right femur and is currently experiencing a lot of pain. He is also unable to use his leg. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 12th, Gedion will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which is called an open reduction and internal fixation. After treatment, he will be able to use his leg again, attend school, and help out at home. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Gedion shares, "This state has really pulled me down. I don’t know what to do. Kindly help me so that I may be able to pursue my dreams and change the state of my family.”

Lenny is a beautiful eight-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She is a happy and bubbly girl who loves to smile and play with her mother! Lenny has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Lenny has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Lenny will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Lenny at Hospital Bernard Mevs, where she will receive treatment for her hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the whole country where this care is currently available. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 5th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Lenny's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Lenny will hopefully grow to be a strong, healthy young girl. Lenny's family expressed that they are hoping for a successful surgery that will help Lenny to grow and develop without complications.