Kriscous is a jolly, four-year-old boy from the Philippines with cleft palate. Kriscous loves playing with his grandmother and other children. However, he become very shy because other children make fun of his appearance and altered speech. The attention from other children, and the frustration he experiences when his community can't understand him constantly puts him on edge, and he often gets into fights with other children and neighbors. In addition to worrying about his health, his family worries that Kriscous will continue to be unhappy if his condition persists. With $1,464, Kriscous will receive cleft palate repair surgery and follow-up care that will help him speak with less difficulty and give him the confidence to connect with other children. According to his grandmother, "Kriscous is very excited to be treated so he can have self-confidence and fulfill his dreams."

“Htoo was a healthy boy until a year ago he began experiencing headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, and vomiting episodes,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), shares of the 12-year-old boy from Burma. “An ultrasound revealed that Htoo was suffering from hydrocephalus.” Htoo’s family was referred to a children’s hospital, but are unable to afford the surgery to fix his condition. Htoo has continued to experience the symptoms that began a year ago, including loss of appetite and unsteadiness on his feet. His mother must now support him when he walks. “Htoo’s weakened condition requires his mother’s constant care,” shares BBP. "She is not able to spend time with her husband working in their shop and most of the household chores have fallen to Htoo’s sister.” Htoo is in the fifth grade and is passionate about learning, especially Burmese history. He has had to withdraw from school as his symptoms have prevented regular attendance. “His teachers have been monitoring his condition and his attendance and have informed his mother that Htoo will need to repeat the grade if he misses anymore classes,” states BBP. Htoo needs $1,485 to fund surgery where a shunt will be placed in his skull to drain excess fluid, and relieve the pressure on his brain. This will also cover Htoo’s hospital stay and follow-up appointments to track and ensure a proper recovery. “Successful treatment will enable Htoo to return to school and follow his dreams of becoming a teacher,” shares BBP.

Thaw is an 18-year-old student from Burma. Thaw is in the 11th grade and hopes to one day become a building engineer. His favorite pastime is playing football. "In November 2010, Thaw and his mother noticed signs that he was not healthy," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). His symptoms, often exacerbated by playing football, included shortness of breath and tiredness on exertion. After being diagnosed with a heart condition by a local clinic, he and his mother traveled to a specialist who told Thaw that he would require cardiac surgery for his condition. BBP tells us, "Thaw is suffering from lethargy, back pain, abdominal and chest pain, and sometimes has difficulty breathing. Sometimes when he is unwell with fever, his lips and fingertips turn a little blue." Due to Thaw's condition, he is no longer able to go to school. Thaw lives in Burma with his mother, aunt, and grandfather. Their combined income is just enough to cover the cost of food. $1,500 will cover the cost of complex cardiac surgery for Thaw's congenital heart valve defects. Burma Children Medical Fund has contributed $13,525 towards his treatment cost. "I hope I can get help with my problems so I can continue my studies in the future," says Thaw.

Meet 46-year-old Nou from Cambodia. “Nou is married with one son. She works as a seller at the market,” reports our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “In her free time, Nou likes to clean her house and study English.” Nou has a bilateral cholesteatoma, a non-cancerous skin cyst in the middle section of the ear. Over time, this skin growth can increase in size and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the middle ear, resulting in loss of hearing and potential facial paralysis. “When Nou was 18-years-old, she began having ear discharge on both sides, with hearing loss, tinnitus [ringing in the ears], and pain,” continues CSC. With $809, Nou can receive a mastoidectomy in order to surgically remove cells in the hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull behind the ear and relieve her unpleasant symptoms. CSC explains, “After a mastoidectomy procedure, the ear discharge will stop, and Nou will be able to have improved hearing.” Nou and her husband remain hopeful for treatment and are eager to restore her good health. She tells us, “I hope the ear discharge will stop, and I can have good hearing without pain.”

Meet 53-year-old Jane from Kenya, the first born in a family of eight children. Jane has uterine fibroids, or noncancerous growths within the uterine tissue. “For a period of about four years now, Jane has had backaches and increased bleeding,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “This condition has made Jane stop working, and it is hard for her to participate in social activities.” “If not operated on, Jane will continue to suffer pain and have bleeding, which could lead to anemia and other complications,” explains AMHF. With $790 in funding, Jane can receive a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus and resolve her painful symptoms. This cost includes surgical supplies, medical staff fees, hospital supplies, medication, and laboratory work. AMHF says, “We expect that after a total abdominal hysterectomy, Jane will be well again. She will be free from the pain, bleeding, and risk of anemia, and will be able to work again.” Jane is eager to regain her health and move forward with her life. She shares, “My hope now is to get relief from the pain and bleeding so I can regain my normal life.”

Bye Kon, a 56-year-old woman in Cambodia, lives with her husband and son. Bye Kon and her husband fish to make a living, and her son works as a religious education teacher. According to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), Bye Kon noticed an unusual mass in her abdomen about eight months ago. When the mass began to grow and become more painful, Bye Kon went to the clinic and was diagnosed with a uterine myoma. A uterine myoma is a non cancerous growth on the uterus that causes severe abdominal pain. Bye Kon's clinic was unable to perform surgery and instead administered medicine and sent her home. Since then, Bye Kon has been constantly worried about her condition and unable to eat or sleep very well. "She said in the past she was big and now she has lost so much weight. Bye Kon says that she does as best as she can with her condition, but it has become considerably more difficult for her lately," BBP adds. "She says that she wants to be healthy." With $1,500, doctors will be able to remove the mass in Bye Kon's abdomen so that she can return to a fully healthy and active life. "I cannot wait for the surgery; I want to be better soon," says Bye Kon. "I am so grateful for the treatment."

Meet Louise, a 75-year-old grandmother from Kenya! When she was younger, Louise worked very hard to save enough money to purchase a small plot of farmland. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Louise now uses this land “to plant potatoes for her own consumption and sell any surplus at the local market.” However, due to breast cancer, Louise is no longer able to farm as much as she would like to. After discovering a growing lump in her right breast, Louise visited AMHF’s clinic and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, although the exact causes of the disease are not known. This cancer—which usually originates in the innermost part of the breast (where milk is produced)—may present itself in the form of a lump, a rash, redness or other unusual changes in the breast area. In addition to her cancer, Louise is also experiencing shoulder pain that “makes it difficult for Louise to work on the farm,” AMHF states. “Luckily, tests have shown that the cancer has not progressed aggressively over the last few years,” AMHF reports. “If treated soon, there is a very high chance that all of the cancer can be removed and Louise will not be at risk of the cancer spreading to her other organs.” With $740, Louise will receive a mastectomy to remove her right breast. As Louise has locally advanced breast cancer, this is an effective treatment to remove the cancerous tissue and prevent the problem from returning. Included as part of her treatment, Louise will receive six days of intensive hospital care to ease her into a safe recovery. Following her treatment and recovery, “We expect that Louise will be able to work on her farm again,” states AMHF. Indeed, after regaining her strength, Louise fully plans to return to farming her land once again. She shares, “I like being able to take care of myself. However, with this increasing shoulder pain, I can no longer work on my farm.”

Meet Donex, a baby boy from Malawi. Donex was born with hydrocephalus—a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. In an infant, too much CSF can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head and developmental delays. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM), tells us, “Donex has a very big head, poor sight, and cries all day.” Doctors recommend surgical placement of a shunt in Donex’s brain to drain the excess CSF. The shunt is connected to a tube that runs under the skin and empties into the peritoneal cavity (in the abdomen), where the excess CSF can be resorbed by the body. Donex’s family earns money from a small business but cannot afford to pay for the surgery that he needs. $992 covers the cost of shunt placement as well as food, travel, and lodging for Donex and his mother pre- and post-surgery. WAM explains that, after surgery, Donex, “can regain sight and start talking.” “I have high hopes that my child will get better after the surgery,” shares Donex’s mother.

Meet Anderson, an adorable one-year-old boy from Haiti and younger sibling to his six-year-old brother. According to our medical partner, Project Medishare (PM), “Anderson was normally born but after three months his head started getting abnormally large.” This was followed by symptoms of fever and the flu, prompting Anderson’s family to take him to the nearby hospital for a CT scan. “The results revealed excess fluid in his brain,” shares PM. Anderson was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition where cerebrospinal fluid pathways in the brain become blocked, causing increased pressure. If left untreated, Anderson could experience seizures and premature death. This diagnosis was particularly difficult for Anderson’s 26-year-old mother, who “stopped going to school when she became pregnant for the first time” and currently has no source of income, PM shares. Anderson's father is handicapped and cannot provide support for the treatment. Anderson's mother has lost her appetite and become frail since learning of her son's diagnosis, having no means of supporting his treatment. With $1,260, we can help Anderson and his family and fund surgical care to drain the excess fluid from Anderson’s brain. He will be able to grow up healthy, attend school and continue bringing joy to his family. Anderson’s mother is also excited to return to school once her son recovers.

"Since 2010, Jane has been suffering from this condition. She went to a hospital and a scan was done which showed she has uterine fibroids and required surgery to treat," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "However, Jane did not have money for treatment." 44-year-old Jane is a single mother of three children from Kenya. She works as a tailor, but her small income is not enough to cover any additional expenses beyond basic needs. Jane needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to treat her uterine fibroids, and we can help make it possible. The surgery will cost $790. Included in the cost is Jane's hospital stay, meals, laboratory testing, imaging, and anesthesia. "I have been in pain for a long time and it is having a negative effect on my small business," Jane shares. "I look forward to the day when I will get well and be able to work and support my family.”

“While working in the fields, Saw Dit was driving a tractor and lost control while driving up a steep bank,” explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “The tractor rolled backwards, throwing him from the seat and he then collided with a tree." As a result of the accident, "his back was punctured by a bamboo cane. The pole entered just above his hip and put a whole in his intestines causing severe pain and internal bleeding," continues BBP. 23-year-old Saw Dit was transported to a clinic, where he received a temporary colostomy and had his wounds cleaned. As he is the main source of support for his wife and two children, Saw Dit has been struggling to fund his care while also supporting his family. He needs to have his colostomy reversed to continue his healing process. $1,500 will fund the reverse colostomy procedure, so Saw Dit can care for his family and get back to work. "By returning to work, Saw Dit hopes to save money and provide the opportunity for his boys to attend school," BBP explains. "He was unable to attend school himself and therefore cannot read or write. Saw Dit understands the importance of education and dreams that his boys will receive the education he was unable to pursue due to finances."