Win is a 32-year-old father from Burma. He resides with his wife and six-year-old daughter. Win runs a small jam shop with his wife. During his free time, he enjoys using social media and playing football with his friends. Win was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long term damage to the heart and lungs. Win experiences chest pain, palpitations, and difficulty sleeping due to night sweats. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Win. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 13th at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. Once completed, Win will hopefully live more comfortably and with such high risk from his cardiac condition. Win said, “Thank you for your assistance with my treatment. I’m glad and thankful for the support from BCMF."

Douwensky is a 3-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, brother, and sister. Douwensky has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure, resulting in an increased head circumference. Without treatment, Douwensky will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Douwensky at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on November 9th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Douwensky's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Douwensky will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. His family is hopeful that the surgery will allow him to grow up healthy.

Abraham is a 15-year-old, social and shy boy. He is the firstborn in a family of two and hails from Konyao village in Kenya. We met Abraham at our Kacheliba mobile clinic accompanied by his auntie who is raising him. His mother passed away while he was at a tender age, and the auntie decided to take care of her two children since their father married another wife. Abraham's auntie works as a vendor selling vegetables at the local shopping centre. Abraham does not attend school because his left leg is bent inside, he cannot walk for long distances and constantly complains of pain while walking. He is scheduled to undergo left leg orthopedic surgery to correct the deformity. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk confidently and continue with his daily duties uninterrupted. Their family is in need of support from well-wishers. “I am seeking for support to help this young boy undergo surgery so that he can walk like other children,” Abraham’s auntie told us.

Titus is a young man from Kenya. He and his sibling live with his grandmother in a semi-arid area and they depend on jobs whenever they can get work to earn a living. Titus shared that he knows nothing about his parents because they left him under his grandmother's care when he was little. He studied up to class 7 in primary school and then dropped out because of the state of his family. Titus recently fell from a mango tree while harvesting mangoes, and he injured his left thigh, leaving him in pain and unable to use or move his leg. Doctors determined that he needs a nail to fix his fracture and enable him to walk again as soon as possible. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On September 7th, Titus is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. AMH is requesting $1,247 to fund the procedure, which will enable Titus to walk again and return to work. Titus says, “Life has become hard for me and my grandmother at home. I have been the provider through casual jobs, and now I am bedridden. I have nobody to look up to, and I also don’t have any assets that can be sold to help me pay for my surgery. My wages are very low, but I thank you for giving me the strength to work and be able to put food on the table. Please help me fix my broken bone so that I can continue working as I did before.”

Meshack is a six-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the first born in a family of two and is currently in primary school. Meshack's father works as a casual laborer while his mother stays home to take care of Meshack and his sibling. Meshack was born with bilateral genu varus, a condition where his legs bow outward at the knees. It's difficult for him to walk, and he cannot run or play football with his friends. Due to his family's financial constraints, Meshack has never been to any hospital for review. When his family heard about Cure Mobile clinic near their home, they brought Meshack for a consultation. After their visit, Meshack was scheduled for a procedure to correct his genu varus. However, his family needs support funding his treatment Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On August 16th, Meshack will undergo Bilateral PTO and Medial Plateau Elevation at AMH's care center. After treatment, it will be easier for Meshack to walk and play with his friends. Meshack's father said, “As his father, I would love to see my son walking normally and upright like other children and continuing with his education without interruption.”

Lopiro is a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania. His father is a livestock keeper who has two wives, which is common in their culture, and six children. Due to their remote location, Lopiro has been unable to attend school. He has been living with thoracic kyphoscoliosis and bilateral genu valgus for the past five years, which has severely impacted his mobility and prevented him from participating in community activities. Bilateral genu valgus means that his legs bow inwards. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, It is difficult for him to walk long distances and experiences considerable discomfort due to the abnormal gait he has developed. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery scheduled on June 27th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lopiro's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lopiro says, "My legs have been causing me a lot of pain when I try to help at home. I hope this treatment will reduce the discomfort I feel when I walk."

Meet Fernanda: an 11 year old who is in need of heart surgery. She lives with her parents and younger brother in La Paz, Bolivia. Her father works for a paper company, while her mother is an eldercare social worker. Fernanda was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, and blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. She needs surgery to correct this condition. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to fund Fernanda's cardiac surgery, which is scheduled for May 17th, at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. After she has recovered from her surgery, Fernanda will be able to resume her schooling, and even to return to playing sports which she loves to do. Fernanda's mother said: "Our family has been waiting for this surgery for many years, and we are glad the opportunity has finally arrived!"

66-year-old Anna is a widow from Malawi where she lives with her two daughters, one of whom runs a saloon while the other sells second-hand clothing. Anna is in the business of renting houses. Last year, Anna noticed an asymptomatic swelling on the left side of her neck. She visited the nearest clinic where she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for tests on her thyroid. Anna was diagnosed with a goiter and was informed she would need surgery. Surgeons at Partners in Hope Hospital are scheduled to perform a thyroidectomy on May 3rd, during which all or part of Anna's thyroid will be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,015 to cover the costs of Anna's procedure and care. Anna is hoping to get better after surgery so that she can continue supporting her family as a caring mother. Anna believes that her two daughters are the greatest priority in her life and that she has to be in good health for their sake as their only remaining parent. Full of smiles, Anna said: “Thank you, sponsors. I did not know this day would come in my life; I can smile again.”

Allan is an eight-year-old boy from Kenya who lives with his sibling and mother. One day while playing at school, Allen fell and fractured his leg. Since the accident, he has not been able to put weight on his leg and has been using crutches. Allan and his mother were initially unable to seek medical attention for his injury due to a lack of funds. With the help of his relatives, who fundraised in order to help him seek medical care, Allan was connected with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Doctors there diagnosed Allan with an infection in his fractured left leg that requires immediate treatment. After the tibia sequestrectomy surgery, Allan will be able to use his leg comfortably once again and return to school. Allan and his family need support raising funds for the $1,500 surgery, which will take place on March 10th. Allan's mother says, "Allan stayed at home after the accident due to lack of funds. His leg has picked an infection. He is at risk of losing his leg if not treated. He needs this surgery to walk.”