Justine is a talkative 18-year-old laborer from Kenya. He is the second-born child in a family of five children. He dropped out of school in grade eight after his parents were unable to pay his secondary school fees. Now, Justine drives a motorcycle taxi to help support his siblings. One week ago, Justine was involved in a road accident and fractured the second, third and fourth metatarsals on his right foot. He experiences pain and he cannot walk. He was told that his fracture would require surgery, and in the meantime, he is in a cast. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 3rd, Justine will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Justine will no longer be in pain, and he will be able to walk and work. Now, AMH is requesting $1,016 to fund his procedure. Justine shared, “if I could be walking now, I could be out there looking for a job and supporting my family. I have faith that I will walk again."

Alvis is a two-month-old baby boy from Kenya and the youngest child in a family of five children. His father is a taxi driver in their home area, but unfortunately, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he rarely gets customers. His mother has not been able to get work, but sells produce on their small farm to supplement their family’s earnings. Alvis was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Alvis is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $735 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Alvis's mother shared, “it is very difficult for us to raise the funds required for Alvis’ surgery. Any financial help is highly appreciated.”

Kembabazi is a teacher from Western Uganda. For the past three years, she has had lower abdominal and back pains and other troubling symptoms. As a result of these pains, she is unable to stand for extended periods and walk for long distances. Kembabazi came to Nyakibale Hospital and was diagnosed with multiple uterine fibroids, requiring a total hysterectomy to heal. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $219 to fund Kembabazi's surgery. On May 11th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Kembabazi will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Kembabazi shared, "I hope to be treated and the condition clears so that I can resume my teaching job and support my family again."

Yat is an 68-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She has one daughter, four sons, and 10 grandchildren. Yat lives with her husband and their second daughter who is a vegetable seller. Yat enjoys looking after her grandchildren and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Six years ago, Yat developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience blurry vision and photophobia, a sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Yat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours with her daughter seeking treatment. On March 24th, doctors will perform a small incision 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. Yat said, "I want to be able to help my daughter sell vegetables and visit the pagoda by myself."

Ku is an 11-year-old student from Thailand. Ku lives with his mother, four brothers and a sister in a refugee camp. All of his siblings also go to school, except for his oldest brother, who used to work with their mother as agricultural day labourers. However, since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, they have not been able to leave the camp easily to find work. Ku's father works as a day labourer outside of the camp, but has also been unable to find consistent work due to the pandemic. Ku's family receives some financial support from an external organisation, but it is not enough to cover their expenses, and they shared that they often borrow rice or money from their neighbors. In March 2021, Ku and his friends were playing tag that led him to have a bad fall. Ku had taken off his sandals and left them at the top of a hill. When he ran up the rocky hill to fetch his sandals, he slipped and stuck out his left hand to break his fall, breaking his wrist. Currently, Ku’s left hand and forearm are very painful. He cannot bend his wrist and can only move his fingers slightly. Before his accident, Ku was able to prepare his own meals and set up his mosquito net at night. But now, he needs someone to help him do these tasks. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Ku will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 10th and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Ku use his left hand again and live pain-free. He will be able to cook his own meals again and set up his mosquito net by himself. Now, he and his family need help raising money for this procedure. Ku's mother shared, "After he receives treatment, I want Ku to continue his studies until he graduates and becomes a medic."

Alexa is a two-year-old girl that the only child in her family. Her mother is a housewife who has dedicated her time to raising her and taking care of their home and family. Her father is a casual laborer. The family lives in their three room ancestral home. Alexa was born with a facial condition that required medical and surgical attention. The reconstruction procedure she underwent exhausted the savings that her parents had and she is now prone to infections. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alexa receive treatment. On March 31st, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to prevent further infection and help her heal. Now, Alexa needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Alexa’s mother shared, “Alexa is usually cheerful, but now she is dull and in pain. The infection is clearly making her uncomfortable and she needs this surgery. Sadly, we are unable to raise the required amount."

Caroline is a 62-year-old mother of four from Kenya. Her children still depend on her for financial support. She and her youngest daughter grow vegetables together to make extra income. With no extra source of income, Caroline cannot raise the required amount of money to cater for her surgery. Eight years ago, Caroline started experiencing pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with postmenopausal bleeding with fibroids. Now, she needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $794 to fund Caroline's surgery. On February 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Caroline will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Caroline shared, “The urgent surgery to be done is very crucial to my health, as I have been feeling weaker each day. I am requesting for any financial help you can provide."

Vumilia is a 2-year-old girl from Tanzania. She has a beautiful smile and is very charming. Vumilia is the third born in a family of four children. Her parents come from the northern part of Tanzania known as Serengeti, which is close to the Serengeti National Park. Most of the people living in this region depend on small-scale farming for a living. Vumilia's parents grow mostly maize, sorghum, and vegetables, selling part of their harvest to make a humble income to support the family. Vumilia was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, or bowleggedness. Her legs bow inward so that her knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Vumilia has a difficult time walking and often feels pain after walking for a while. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Vumilia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 22nd. Treatment will hopefully restore Vumilia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Vumilia’s mother shared, “My daughter is struggling so much that she can no longer play well with her siblings and is forced to sit by herself most times which saddens me as her mother. Please help correct her legs."

Shamra is a 3-year-old baby girl from Tanzania. She is the firstborn of two children in her family. Shamra has clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes her difficulty with walking and wearing shoes. She needs surgery to help re-position her foot correctly. Currently, Shamra and her sibling are being looked after by their grandmother because their mother has been sick for a long time and is unable to care for herself and her children. Given her age, their grandmother shared with us that she is really struggling to provide and care for both her daughter and and her grandchildren. Shamra’s grandmother sells boiled maize and groundnuts by the roadside in order to feed and care for her sick daughter and her grandchildren. Shamra's father has been absent for some time and does not provide support for their family. Their family appeals for financial support for the care that Shamra needs. Fortunately, Shamra traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery and ongoing treatment starting on January 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Shamra's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk and play easily again. Shamra’s grandmother shared, “Please help my granddaughter as we are going through a very challenging situation and we have no means to raise the money we need. Thank you for any support you can provide.”

Jedidah was feeling very unwell while she met with our local Watsi representative. She is a 52-year-old woman from Machakos County in Kenya. Married with five children, she is a farmer along with her husband. Since 2018, Jedidah has had upper abdominal pains, a constant feeling fullness and heartburn, plus bitter saliva and regurgitation. Her symptoms make it hard for Jedidah to eat. She has visited many hospitals, but without help. They recently decided to come to Nazareth Hospital where our partner doctor ordered for an oesophagal-gastro-duodenoscopy, which finally showed that Jedidah has a hiatus hernia. The surgeon advised a laparotomy is needed to cure her condition, but Jedidah's family is not able to meet the cost. If not treated, Jedidah may have hernia strangulation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or future lung problems as her stomach contents are moved up to the oesophagus. Jedidah said quietly, “This condition has made it difficult for me to work in our small farm, to interact with friends and even take care of my children. I plead for help and God will bless you.”

Samrith is a 27-year-old delivery man from Cambodia. He is the eldest ins his family and has two brothers and one sister, all of whom are students. Samrith's mother works as a clothing seller and his father is a taxi driver. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, playing on his phone, and meeting up with friends in the evening. On September 23rd, Samrith was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture and paralysis of his right arm. His family took him to a private clinic to treat the fracture, which has now healed. However, the nerve damage remains. Samrith has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He has no sensation or mobility in his right arm, which prevents him from working. Samrith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 12th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will regain full range of motion of his arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Samrith shared, "I hope after my surgery I am able to use my right arm again and return to working without pain."

Parani is a young boy from Tanzania. He is now seven years old and the firstborn child in a family of three children. Parani is a very social boy and used to spend time looking after his father's cattle. His parents are small-scale farmers and livestock keepers, and sell milk to supplement their income. Parani has yet to enter school. In 2018, Parani experienced a tragic accident. After a long day, he was warming himself by the fireplace and dozed off, falling on open fire. Parani sustained severe burns on his neck, chest, and abdomen area. He was rushed to the hospital and admitted for two months, but soon his family was unable to afford the high cost of his treatment. Parani's doctors referred him to our medical partner for help with funding. At the time, he had just undergone a surgery that released skin contractures around his neck, which were preventing easy neck movement. Post surgery, his wound took a long time to heal due to multiple infections. Thanks to Watsi donors, he was able to receive funding for a skin graft surgery that covered his wound and accelerated the recovery process. Parani has since healed from this procedure, but still has contractures around his groin area that are limiting his upright gait and cause him to lean forward while walking. With the help of plastic surgery doctors, he has been scheduled for another surgery that will release his left groin contracture. His parents are unable to meet the cost for surgery and ask for your help. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Parani receive treatment. They are requesting $639 to fund his procedure. On October 14th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery that will allow him to walk with ease. Parani’s father says, “You have been of great help and support in treating our son for all this period without getting tired, something that has changed his life. He needs to have another surgery which will help him walk with ease. Please help us once more.”