Isaya is a nine-year-old student from Tanzania and the fourth born in a family of six children. He is active and friendly. He struggles with walking due to a bilateral clubfoot condition. Due to his condition, Isaya was not able to join the school at the appropriate time. His parents fear him being discriminated. He requires treatment but the parents are not able to raise funds needed. They rely on subsistence farming in the village. Their harvest is not sufficient for the planned surgery. With successful surgery, Isaya will be able to walk with ease. The family appeals for help. Fortunately, Isaya traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Isaya's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Isaya's father says, “If there is a chance for my son to have his legs corrected to make them normal please help him he is struggling so much and we don’t have the money to afford this kind of treatment.”

Veronica is a student from Tanzania. She is the third child in a family of six children. Veronica has clubfoot of both her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Veronica traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 14. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Veronica's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily to school and when helping her. Veronica’s mother says, “Please help my daughter, I feel as if my family has been cursed with this condition. We had lost hope of any kind of treatment but now you have rekindled our hope.”

Trust is a student from Tanzania. He is an active, happy, and self-confident fourth grade student. Trust likes studying mathematics and English and playing football. Trust’s father is a pastor, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. The family lives in a rented house. For five years, Trust has been experiencing difficulty swallowing and sleeping. This leads to breathing obstruction and chest pain. Trust was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Trust, which is scheduled to take place on December 28. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Trust of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Trust’s father says, “I believe that Trust will get treatment and he will be able to continue with his studies as required. I promise to lead him through his life till he grows up so that he can be a famous and successful football player in the world.”

Kassim is a 46-year-old man from Tanzania. He has fourteen children and many grandchildren, and he has tried to send as many of them to school as possible. Five years ago, Kassim began to experience pain in his knee. He can walk only a short distance using crutches. This means he cannot work on the farm or even walk to the nearest village. Instead, he sits inside. On November 18, Kassim underwent a total knee joint replacement. After rehabilitation, he will enjoy greater joint flexibility and overall mobility. He should be able to walk independently without pain. Now, he needs help to raise $960 for this treatment. "I hope that my pain will end," Kassim says, "and that I will be able to return to my farming work."

Eight-year-old Samweli is a happy, talkative second grader who lives with his parents and older sibling in Tanzania. He enjoys running around with his friends and playing with his large wooden car. “Samweli has been experiencing stomach discomfort for a long time now,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “His appetite is low, and he is often constipated. The stomach discomfort forces him to miss school every time he wakes up feeling bad.” Samweli has Hirschsprung disease, a congenital condition in which the colon’s regular muscle contractions are disrupted due to the absence of nerve cells that control those contractions. As a result, Samweli is unable to pass stool, leading to chronic constipation, gas, and a distended belly. Treatment for Hirschsprung disease is surgery to bypass or remove the affected portion of the colon. Without treatment, Samweli is at risk for enterocolitis, a potentially life-threatening infection of the colon caused by the accumulation of stool in the colon and subsequent overgrowth of bacteria. To support the family, Samweli’s mother runs a small business selling fruits and spices, and his father works as carpenter and also does some farming work. “They have spent a lot of money on their son Samweli without really getting proper treatment,” explains AMHF. “Now that their son needs immediate surgery, they do not have enough cash to cover the cost of operation.” $975 covers the cost of Samweli’s surgery as well as five days of hospital care, lab work, imaging, medicine, and two weeks’ accommodations at The Plaster House, where he can continue his recovery. “Samweli will feel better, his stomach will get back to normal, he will regain his appetite and resume schooling,” says AMHF. “Our son has suffered for a long time,” says Samweli’s mother. “We hope he gets better and resumes classes without having to miss school so much.”

Juna is lying down in this photo because she cannot stand up. She is a 14-year-old girl from Nepal who recently fell from a tree and fractured her femur. She needs immediate treatment in order to walk again. Juna is currently in the sixth grade and lives with her mother, as her father has passed away. They don't have much money, and despite her overwhelming love for her daughter, her mother cannot afford the necessary procedure. Juna says she wishes to continue her studies and "be a good human in life." For $1,040, Juna’s femur will be surgically corrected, granting her wishes and providing her with a life without disability. Let's rally and get Juna back in stride!