Salim is an 18-year-old student and the oldest in a family of two children, with a younger sister who is seven years old. His mother hawks mandazi (fried dough) for a living and sometimes sells cosmetics to supplement the family's income. Their family lives together in a single room. Salim has profound hearing loss in his right ear and severe sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear. When he was two years old, Salim's mother discovered that he was unable to speak well and that he had a small wound on his right ear. Salim has visited several healthcare facilities through the years for treatment and speech therapy, but he still has difficulty hearing and communicating. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Salim to get a hearing aid for his left ear. He is scheduled to receive his treatment and be fitted for the hearing aid on March 23rd. Now, his family needs help raising $748 to fund the cost of this care and device. Salim's mother shared, “his hearing condition and speech problem are affecting his studies, and he is always sad and secluded. He is suspicious and scared of making friends. He needs this hearing aid to hear his teachers in school.”

Sok Thorn is a 66-year-old rice farmer with two daughters, five sons, and seven grandchildren. Sok Thorn lives with her husband and her eldest daughter who is a garment worker. Nowadays given her vision, Sok Thorn does not work in the rice field and instead stays home to take care of her grandchildren. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Sok Thorn developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and irritation. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sok Thorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled with her grandchild seeking treatment. On April 6th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Sok Thorn shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see clearly so I can see things well and go to the pagoda by myself."

Alex is a three-year-old boy and the youngest of two children in his family. Alex's mother works at home taking care of their family. His father used to work as a mechanic, but unfortunately had a stroke and is currently bedridden at home. When Alex was two years old, his mother noticed that his gait was becoming abnormal. He began tiptoeing while walking and experienced difficulty with his balance. He was taken to a hospital in Nairobi where his family was told that his condition would improve as he grows. Instead, his condition has deteriorated. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alex to receive life-changing treatment. On May 9th, Alex is scheduled to undergo bilateral achilles tendon lengthening surgery at AMH's care center. Now, AMH is requesting $1,224 to fund Alex's surgery. Alex's mother shared, “I am appealing to the people of goodwill to assist me so that my son can undergo surgery and walk normally like other children.”

Alamunyaki is an 11-year-old boy and the fourth born in a family of five children. Alamunyaki is a very social and hard-working boy. He has not had the chance to join school due to his parent’s financial challenges. There is hope for Alamunyaki joining school because one of his uncles has offered to take him and support him in school next year. It is also Alamunyaki’s uncle who decided to seek treatment for his nephew who has burn contracture on his right hand from the elbow all the way down to the wrist and fingers, making it impossible for him to hold things with the hand. Alamunyaki’s parents are small scale farmers of maize and vegetables, which they mostly use for their own consumption and sell what they can of the harvest in order to get money to buy other commodities. They also have a few goats which Alamunyaki and his siblings help their parents in grazing. Alamunyaki was involved in a fire accident when he was two years old. He was at the fireplace with his siblings warming themselves while their mother was preparing dinner. Alamunyaki was dressed in his traditional maasai clothing which caught fire by accident. Alamunyaki sustained a severe burn and needed to be taken to the hospital but due to his parent’s financial constraints they couldn’t take him and treated him at home using herbal and traditional medicines. The skin around the burns has contracted making it impossible for him to use his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Alamunyaki receive treatment. On March 3rd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to he will be able to use his. Now, their family needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Alamunyaki’s uncle says: “I would like my nephew to go to school next year but I understand it’s not going to be easy if he does not have his right hand correct. Kindly help him because his parents cannot afford the cost.”

Melvin is a 3-year-old boy and the third and last born child in his family. His father is a security guard at local gas station and makes a humble income. To supplement his earnings, Melvin’s mother does laundry and farming for their neighbors. Occasionally, she's able to sell some farm produce she gets from their small farm. When Melvin was born, he was not able to breastfeed. After some referrals and unsuccessful treatments, Melvin went to the national hospital and was diagnosed with Hirschprung disease, a birth condition affecting his digestive system. He had several surgeries to correct the condition, which were fortunately covered by his family's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) coverage at the time. One of the surgeries Melvin underwent was a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Melvin's case, his colostomy requires closure in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. However, to undergo the colostomy closure at the national hospital, he and his mother had to take COVID-19 tests, which were too expensive for their family. Fortunately, a family friend referred them next to our Medical Partner's Care Center BethanyKids Hospital, where doctors conducted tests and scheduled Melvin for the colostomy closure. Melvin's family normally has NHIF coverage, but they have depleted their yearly surgical allocation so this procedure is not supported. Melvin’s parents appeal for financial support for their son. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $650 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Melvin. The surgery is scheduled to take place on April 27th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Melvin’s mother shared, “We have been through a lot with Melvin and stopping now is not an option for us. We would like Melvin to live a healthy life just as our other children but our financial state has been a big hindrance for us.”

Ramadhani is a boy from Kenya. He has two siblings and lives with his grandmother. He is in third grade. Ramadhani has an ear perforation that has affected his hearing ability. This has in turn impacted his academics. Now, it has been recommended that he undergo a tympanoplasty. If not treated, Ramadhani risks total hearing loss. Surgery is scheduled for February 12 and will cost $591. Ramadhani’s grandmother says, “My prayer is to have my grandson treated and be able to hear. Its will give me joy and progress."

Lim is a rice farmer with ten grandchildren from Cambodia. She has five children and enjoys listening to the monks pray. Three years ago, Lim developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, burning, irritation, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On January 22, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. "I hope my mother-in-law's surgery is successful so she can see everything clearly and so she can easily work and walk outside. I hope to not worry about her vision loss anymore," says Lim's son-in-law.

Salman is a young boy from Kenya. He is a happy and curious boy. Salman’s parents are pastoralists and live in the North Eastern region of Kenya. He is the second born of three children. Salman was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Salman is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $700 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I do not know what I will do should my nephew gets assistance. It will be an answered prayer for me and for his parents,” says Salman’s uncle.

Ea is a farmer from Cambodia. She has one daughter, four sons, and ten grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. A year ago, Ea developed entropion of the eyelids. This means that her eyelids turn inward, causing her eyelashes to scrape the surface of her eyes. It is difficult for her to open her eyes and see clearly Ea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 8, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to repair her eyelids. Now, Ea needs help to raise $212 to fund this procedure. Her son says, "I hope my mom's vision improves so she can recognize our faces again."

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest of two children. The family hails from Kayole, Nairobi, Kenya. His mother is a single parent and works as a vendor. Emmanuel has a rare condition called an amniotic band that requires surgery. He is unable to walk, and his mother that his condition will worsen as he grows. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 27. The procedure will cost $1,165. His mother says, “I will appreciate any kind of support I receive. And God bless you for creating time to listen to me.”

Ma Kyin is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two daughters in May Pala village, Kyain Seikgyi township, Karen State. She and her husband provide for the family by farming rice fields near their home. For about three years, Ma Kyin has been experiencing discomfort and pain in her abdomen. She has been diagnosed with a uterine mass. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ma Kyin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ma Kyin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on January 29. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will be no longer be in pain and she will be able to help her husband with farming again. Ma Kyin said, “I was nervous about surgery at first, but I know that I must get the surgery for my children so I can continue working to provide for my daughters. I want them to attend school and complete their education."

Basigirenda is a farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of two children. Seven months ago, Basigirenda has been experiencing pain and abdominal discomfort. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $268 to fund Basigirenda's surgery. On January 15, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Basigirenda will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She says, "I like listening to radio during my free time."