Kiberian is a 3-year-old boy from Kajiado County who needs surgery to help him walk well. He comes from a large pastoralist family with many siblings. His father is a farmer/herder, while his mother takes care of their family and home. Kiberian was born with a deformity in his legs that has greatly affected his mobility. His knees bend inward, while his ankles remain apart. He cannot walk long distances and often falls while walking. Kiberian's father took him to a satellite clinic for treatment and the doctors recommend procedures that will reposition the femur and tibia of each leg into alignment. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of the surgery, scheduled for June 20th. This treatment will be impactful to Kiberian because he will be able to walk well, play with other children, and continue with his education. Kiberian’s father shared, “The joy of a father is to see his children growing well without any challenge or deformity and I would love to see my boy walking well.”

Six year old John is active and jovial. His father passed away two years ago, and now John lives with his mother in an urban area in Kenya. When John entered first grade, his teacher noticed that he had difficulty hearing him in class. He contacted John's mother, and advised her to take John in for an evaluation. However, John's mother struggles to support herself and her son with her work washing clothes, so she was not able to take John to the doctor. A benefactor offered to pay for John to be evaluated, but when it was determined that he would benefit from having hearing aids, the benefactor could not afford to pay for John to have them. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,171 to cover the costs of John's hearing aids and care, which he will receive from AIC Kijabe Hospital. With your help, John will be able to participate fully in school, and in the life around him. John’s mother says: “All I want is for my son (John) to be able to hear well. I have struggled with hearing loss since birth too, and I know how it feels.”

Steeve is a 14-month-old toddler from Haiti. He is an only child and loved deeply by his mom and dad. Steeve has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Steeve has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Steeve will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Steeve at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on September 19. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Steeve's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Steeve will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Steeve's family is hoping that the surgery will stop the progression of brain damage from hydrocephalus. They are looking forward to watching their toddler grow older and are hopeful for healthier days ahead.

Beatrice is a student in the fourth grade but has been unable to continue with her studies since she her injury on her right hand. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a one room rental house. Her parents are part-time workers with an inconsistent income and cannot afford her surgery. They are relying on well-wishers to pay her medical bills. Beatrice sustained a burn on her right hand in early June. She accidentally slipped on boiling water as she was getting out of the bed and sustained serious burns on her right arm. She was admitted to Kiambu Level Five Hospital and stayed there for almost three months where a debridement and a skin graft was done but failed. Her mother shares that the wound has been discharging pus. She was reviewed at our medical partner Kijabe Hospital and doctors agreed that she needs several debridement and skin grafting sessions to save the hand from amputation. She is in pain and unable to use her hand and has not been going to school since she had the accident. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Beatrice receive treatment. On October 11th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to aid in the healing of the wound and help her use the hand again. Now, Beatrice needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Beatrice's mother says, “My baby has not been attending school since the accident. Her hand has a foul smell, and it might be cut if not treated.”

Jaiden is a preschooler who already has big dreams and plans! He is a sharp boy who joined preschool recently. He was brought to Nyakibale Hospital by his grandmother, who is raising him. His father is a cobbler and lives in Kampala. Jaiden's grandmother wishes him to be an engineer in future. She fears that she might not be able to fund his education because her only source of income is small scale farming. Her grandmother wants to see him healthy, but is not in a position to pay for his medical needs. Since last year, Jaiden has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. The condition causes him itchiness and swollenness in his scrotum. He has difficulties urinating and he experiences pain. After visiting Nyakibale Hospital, he was reviewed by a doctor and treatment was recommended. Fortunately, on September 13th, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $146 to fund Jaiden's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jaiden's grandmother says “I really wish to see my grandson in good health, am so much worried of is health and yet I have no money to pay for his treatment."

Tabitha is a mother of four children and shared that her husband passed away few years ago. She works hard to find jobs, mostly doing laundry for people, to provide for her family. Over the years, she has managed to take care of her four children with the limited income she gets from her work. Last November, Tabitha noticed a worrisome bump and consulted with her daughters who advised her to visit a hospital. She gathered some funds and visited a hospital nearby, but was not able to receive any help. She went to another facility that referred her to our Medical Partner's care center Kijabe Hospital. There doctors have told Tabitha that she needs an urgent surgery. Tabitha has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been advised to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Tabitha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 14th. After treatment, Tabitha will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Tabitha says, "I was very shocked when I learned about my condition and up to now, I do not know what to do as I cannot afford the surgery.”

Samuel is a shy and cautious 18-month-old boy. He is the youngest child in a family of two children. His older sibling is 13 years old and a student in primary school. His mother is a housewife, while his father is a teacher at a local primary school. In April 2020, immediately after he was born, Samuel was unable to pass stool and was admitted to a local health facility for further evaluation. Since then, he has visited the hospital often for follow-up and has had several procedures to improve his condition. However, he is still unable to pass stool and needs ileostomy surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Samuel to receive treatment. On November 4th, doctors will perform a colostomy procedure and bring Samuel's intestine through his abdomen to form a stoma. This will allow Samuel to pass stool. Now, Samuel's family needs help raising $1,152 to fund his procedure and care. Samuel father shared, "our kid is straining a lot. His life is in danger if not attended to."

Eugene is a 5-year-old student and the second born in a family of two siblings. His older brother is in grade three. His mother shared that she did not manage to further her own studies due to financial problems. Eugene's father passed away last year after a long illness and his mother is the only breadwinner for their family. She farms maize and beans on a rented piece of land. During the harvest, she sells some in order to support her children and their family uses the rest at home. She lives at her late husband’s ancestral home, in a timber-roomed house. She also keeps some hens which provide them with eggs and meat. Since two months ago, Eugene has had bilateral hydrocele. The hydrocele causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on November 11th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $733 to fund Eugene's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Eugene’s mother says, "I am the only breadwinner. Kindly, assist me to raise the hospital bill for my son.’’

Princess is an 8-year-old student and the third born in a family of four children. Princess is currently in class one and enjoys learning how to read and write. Despite her condition, she likes running around with other children. She wishes to become a great cook when she grows up. Her parents are both small-scale farmers, growing maize and beans for both food and selling. Their earnings are not enough to cover the cost of treatment needed for their daughter Princess, they need help. Princess was diagnosed with fluorosis. Her right leg is bowed. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she has a difficult time walking and running with her friends. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Princess. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 3rd. Treatment will hopefully restore Princess's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Princess’ father says, “Please help my daughter get this treatment so she may be able to walk to and from school without much difficulty.”

Joseph is a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the last born of his mother who has eight children. His father is polygamous with two wives, Joseph's mother being the first wife. The second wife has five children making a family of fourteen children. Four children in the family have been able to join school but the rest have not had a chance to attend yet. Joseph's older siblings who do not go to school help their parents to look after their cattle of five cows and five goats. Both parents depend on small-scale farming of maize, beans, and vegetable for their food and they are able to sell a goat once in a while to be able to get money to buy other commodities. Joseph was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Joseph is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,015 to cover the cost of Joseph's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 10th and will hopefully spare Joseph from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Joseph’s mother shared, “The money needed to pay our son’s surgery cost is too high for us to afford, kindly help us.”

Agatha is a peasant farmer from Kenya. She is a mother of five children. Together with her husband, they tend to their small ancestral land to provide for their children. She noted a small lump on her left breast in January 2020. The lump did not go away and she thought of visiting the hospital. She went to two facilities where she had mammogram and FNA tests done. That was followed up with a biopsy and she had a cancer diagnosis. Agatha decided to come to Watsi's Medical Partner's Kijabe Hospital where doctors have advised that she needs a mastectomy. With the right and timely treatment, Agatha will be out of risk of cancer metastasis. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Agatha has now registered for the national insurance scheme, but it is not yet available. Their monthly income is negligible to meet the cost of surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Agatha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 30th. After treatment, Agatha will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Agatha says, “My prayer is to be free from this cancer problem. I am hopeful that the treatment will be a success.”

Teresiah is a teenage girl from Kenya who has special needs. She was born into a family of 3 girls and hails from a very humble background. Her studies Limuru Cheshire Home were partially sponsored by a compassionate organization. Since she left school last year, the organization has helped her family settle in a small two-roomed iron-built house, which is a real milestone. Her dad has a health condition that requires surgery but it has been postponed several times due to funds. Her dad cannot do heavy manual jobs and so he mostly remains at home with Teresiah while her mother goes to search for casual work. Teresiah has clubfoot that has rendered her walking difficult. She was reviewed by specialists at Cure International Hospital and surgery is recommended. The surgery will be of great impact as she will finally be able to walk comfortably and help her parents at more home. She will be able to be more independent as she grows. Fortunately, Teresiah traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Teresiah's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. “Any assistance accorded to our daughter will be highly appreciated. God bless you," Teresiah’s mom told us.