76-year-old Ruth is a mother of five from Tanzania. Her husband passed away and she currently lives with one of her children. She is a farmer in her small land, providing for her daily upkeep. Ruth began losing her hearing in 2014, but has not had any treatment yet. She was advised to get hearing aids for her case but is unable to raise the amount needed. Ruth recently had hip replacement surgery, which has further constrained her finances. She also has regular hospital visits for diabetes. For $712, we can provide Ruth with hearing aids, allowing her to interact with her children more fully. “I want to have improved hearing to be able to communicate well," Ruth shares.

Halima is an active, four-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape or position. If left untreated, Halima will be forced to walk on the lateral (or outside) parts of her feet, which will be painful and slowly affect her gait over time. Halima’s mother is a homemaker and her father is a livestock keeper, and they rely mainly on selling cattle for their income. However, “the little that they earn isn’t enough to cover the cost of the treatment that Halima needs," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). For $1,160 Halima will receive a small surgery, cast support, and a foot abduction brace. Once all this is completed, she will be able to walk normally on the soles of her feet and will no longer experience any discomfort. “I will be happy when Halima can walk normally and won’t feel different from the other children,” shares Halima’s mother.

Meet Khin Chit, a 27-year-old woman from Burma. Khin Chit and her parents earn modest wages as subsistence farmers. Khin Chit was only able to attend school until fourth grade because she had to help her parents on their farm. Khin Chit has a congenital heart disease called an atrial septal defect (ASD), which causes a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart. Blood flows through this hole without first passing through the lungs for oxygen, leaving Khin Chit constantly short of breath. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, reports, “Khin Chit is not able to walk very far without experiencing fatigue and her condition puts considerable strain on her mental well being.” Khin Chit's mother says, “I was so anxious when I discovered that my daughter had a cardiac condition. I feel so helpless because I cannot help her - we cannot afford the high cost of surgical treatment. We are so thankful that we have found this program - all I want is for my daughter to become healthy again.” After receiving surgery that will close the hole in her heart, “Khin Chit believes that, with her new found energy, she will be able to be a market vendor in Naypidaw and sell vegetables grown on her parents farm.”

“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."

Meet Klein, a one-year-old little boy from Burma. Klein has a condition called hydrocephalus -- an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain. “His mother began noticing the health condition when he would not be able to be breastfed without soon getting a headache and crying," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "His condition has gotten worse; the boy endures diarrhea, fevers, coughing, vomiting, runny noses, in addition to the gradual growth of the buildup of fluid." Klein's parents are under financial strain from supporting their large family, and Klein’s father had to take a job in Bangkok to send wages home. They are unable to fund the surgery Klein needs. For $1,485, BBP can insert a ventriculoperitoneal shunt to drain the fluid. “Treatment will allow him to sleep and eat normally which will help him develop normally. He will no longer suffer from nausea and headaches and bouts of fever,” says BBP. BBP adds that "his mother would like to see him finish higher education, so that he may become a doctor one day."

Meet Salma, a one-year old girl from Tanzania. Salma is her mother’s only child. Her father left the family when he saw that Salma has a disability. Salma has an imperforate anus, which means that the opening of her anus is blocked. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports: “Salma is currently passing stool through her vagina. To develop as a girl, teenager and a woman she needs to have this defect corrected.” For $1500, AMHF can perform a 3-stage surgery to fix Salma's condition. The surgery will allow Salma to pass stool normally, and develop without complications. “This treatment will give me the chance to improve our lives," shares Salma's mother.

"In April 2014, Htwe began to feel fatigued and developed a cough," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "Since then she has struggled to sleep horizontally, and has egg shaped mass on her neck that makes it difficult for her to breathe." Htwe is a hard working, 52-year-old mother from Burma. She is the sole caretaker of her five children, and also cares for her niece. One of her children is currently undergoing cardiac treatment. Htwe has developed a cluster of benign masses on her neck that interfere with her ability to sleep and breathe. $1500 will fund the removal of her masses, which have been diagnosed as benign. “Treatment will make her a better mother and provider to her children," shares BBP. "Without the stress of her condition she will be happier and can think about the future with less stress and worry.” "My kids need me. What will my kids and niece do without me? I need to get treatment for them,” Htwe adds.

Meet Liberte, a three-year-old girl from Haiti. Liberte lives with her mother, grandmother, and several other family members in the countryside where they grow corn and other crops. She loves to sing at church, and eat chicken. “Liberte was born with multiple holes between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of her heart," explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "This impedes normal blood flow through her body." HCA tells us that as a result of the disease, “she has been slow to develop and gain weight, and sometime ago she suffered a stroke that has affected her left side.” “She has not yet started preschool in part because of her heart condition,” continues HCA. $1,500 will fund the surgery to repair the defect in Liberte’s heart. “Following the closure of the defect, normal blood flow should be restored to Liberte’s heart and she should not have further need for surgery in the future,” HCA adds. “I want to say thank you to everyone who is helping my daughter get better,” shares Liberte’s mother.