Maxwell is a 3-year-old from Kenya. He is an only child, his father owns a small butchery, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Maxwell 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, Maxwell is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $770 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “It will be a great joy to see Maxwell’s condition fully treated,” shared Maxwell's mother.

Joshua is a 47-year-old man with renal carcinoma. About eight months ago, he started experiencing abdominal pains and was treated with ulcers. However, with persistent pain, he changed hospitals and was later diagnosed with a kidney mass. His condition kept worsening as he changed hospitals. In one of his admissions, he had a blood transfusion of 10 pints due to low blood count. When he came to our partner facility in late April, he was admitted and started treatment of acute kidney infection, renal failure and liver failure. His surgeon recommended a nephrectomy as part of his treatment. If not treated, he is at risk of cancer metastasis. Joshua used to work as a casual sculptor in the capital city. He would fend for his family with the little income he earned. His wife works in the village as a hired laborer in other people’s farms. Their two children are in secondary school. Joshua is not able to meet the entire cost of surgery. His wife shared, “Please help us with financial support. We are really overwhelmed.”

Abdiaziz is a child from Ethiopia. He is a beautiful baby boy. Abdiaziz has two brothers and a sister and he loves to play with his mom. Abdiaziz is exclusively breastfeeding. His father is an English teacher in a language school with a limited income while his mother is a house wife. They live in a rented house and Abdiaziz’s father's income is only enough for their basic needs. Abdiaziz was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Abdiaziz is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on February 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Abdiaziz's procedure and care. After his recovery, Abdiaziz will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Abdiaziz's mom said “I hope my child will heal completely after the coming surgeries. I believe he will lead a bright future and a quality life.”

Ivan is a baby boy from Tanzania. He is a healthy and jovial little baby, the only child to his parents. His father denied Ivan's pregnancy when his mother informed him and since then, offers no support to Ivan's mom. Upon delivery, Ivan's mother was informed of a congenital condition of her son. Through a Facebook post of Plaster House, his mother decided to bring him for review and Ivan was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot. Doctors recommend a treatment plan of clubfoot manipulation and casting.  Ivan's mother is a small business operator selling bananas near her village to make a living. Without financial assistance, Ivan's mother will not be able to pay for her son's surgery. She appeals for financial support. Ivan has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Ivan traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Ivan's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Ivan will be able to walk easily. Ivan’s mother says, “I would love to see my son walk like other normal children and not have to go through difficulty in walking or discriminated due to disability. Please help treat my him since the cost is too high for me to afford."

Bravel Paul is an 8-year-old student from Kenya. He likes playing football and watching cartoons. His family hails from Kajiado County. He is a class 1 pupil and likes reading books and other hobbies. His father is a caretaker for some houses, while his mother is a housewife. The family lives in a one-roomed rental house in Kitengela. Bravel has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Bravel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Bravel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes. "I would like to see my son walking comfortably and therefore any assistance accorded to us will be highly appreciated," Bravel’s father told us.

Kyi is a 58-year-old woman from Burma. She lives alone and used to sell clothing in her village. However, she stopped working since her symptoms worsened, over a year ago. She now has no income but is able to pay her daily expenses with money she has saved. Kyi was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Kyi feels tired when she walks and has a rapid heartbeat. She has also started to experience chest pain and shortness of breath. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Kyi. The treatment is scheduled to take place on November 4th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Kyi said, “I felt very sad when I was told that the surgery will cost a lot because I do not have enough money to pay for my own heart surgery. I used up a lot of my money to go to a hospital which did not diagnose me. I felt less burdened when I met Pinlon Hospital’s staff and she told me that an organization [BCMF] will support my surgery’s cost.”

U Min is a 49-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, son, and daughter. He and his son work as day laborers. His wife stays home to look after household chores, while his daughter studies in grade school. About a month ago, U Min's right heel was injured while he was getting off from the tractor he was driving at work. It was very painful that he went to a clinic in his village to receive treatment. However, his condition did not improved with the treatment, and the wound worsened day by day. He was then advised by the health workers at his village to go to Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH) for further treatment. At MCLH, the doctor did detail assessment of U Min's condition and said that because of his injury, the blood supply to his heel was insufficient. His wound by then has turned into black color, as the tissues around his heel were damaged and have died, and it causes him severe pain, especially at night. Since the doctor could no longer help to make his ulcer healed by treatments, the only option is to do a below knee amputation. U Min said, "It's so painful that I can't bear it anymore. I just want to receive surgery as soon as possible."

Genet is a playful cute baby from Ethiopia. He is the only child to his mother, a finance officer at an insurance company in the capital. Genet has hypospadias, a congenital malformation where the urinary opening is not in the usual place. This challenges the young child from peeing while standing like any other boy. If not treated, Genet will continue experiencing difficulties urinating, suffer social discrimination and reproductive challenges when he grows up. He was reviewed in our facility and surgery to correct the defect recommended. Genet's mother is a single mom with limited income to meet all the demands of city life including basic needs and that of healthcare. She was shocked to learn about the required surgery and afraid as she is not able to meet the cost of treatment. She appeals for financial assistance. Fortunately, Genet is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Genet's mother says, "I am here with a hope that he gets the surgery."

Said is an infant from Tanzania. Said is a handsome and cheerful infant. He has been in the hospital for some time being treated off bilateral club foot. He was diagnosed with the condition upon birth and treatment commenced a few weeks later. However, the mother and grandmother could not keep up with the cost of casting and manipulation. They were referred to ALMC where manipulation and casting were recommended. If not treated, Said will be at risk of permanent disability. Said's grandmother is the only provider in the family through subsistence farming. She further has the responsibility of caring for her other children. She is afraid that treatment for her grandson might be halted due to their finances. Fortunately, Said traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 11. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Said's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Said will be able to walk with ease and free from permanent disability. Said’s mother says, “I don’t want my son to grow up disabled but we are unable to afford the treatment cost, please help.”

Abiud is a baby from Kenya. Abiud was born and raised in a small village called Tuturung where most of the inhabitants work in farms or other small not very stable jobs. Abiud parents don’t have an education so they don’t speak Kiswahili but a local Kalenjin language. They live in a small mud hut with palm frawns as a roof. They fetch water from one stream that serves the whole village they live. His family gets its food from their small farm and consists mostly of cassava, millet, and sorghum. On Monday 9/9/2019, Abiud came to hospital accompanied with his parents presented with history of fall while crawling on top of a bench and sustained injury on the left hand. An He can not use his hand and is in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 12, Abiud will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The treatment will help his hand heal well and he will be able to use it again Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. His father says, “I just want my child not to be in pain anymore and be healthy and happy and have a good life.”

Than is a 57-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and her sister. Than was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Than has difficulty breathing and her heartbeat is fast. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Than. The treatment is scheduled to take place on August 12 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably.

Brian is a young student from Kenya. A few days ago, Brian fell off a tree and broke his right leg. He is in pain and is not able to walk or move about freely Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 11, Brian will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $968 to fund this procedure.