Farah is 53 years old and a father of eight from Ethiopia. He lives with his family in a refugee camp in Turkana after fleeing instability in search of safety. Despite difficult conditions, he has worked hard to support and care for his family. Last year, Farah fractured his left leg after slipping during heavy rains that flooded the camp. More recently, he was injured again while trying to avoid a motorbike, resulting in a fracture of his right leg. He is now in pain and unable to move freely, leaving him unable to care for his family. Fortunately, on April 17th, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, will perform surgery to repair his fracture. Farah is raising $1,500 to fund the procedure, which will relieve his pain and help him regain mobility. Farah said, “I am unable to walk, and even sitting for long is exhausting. I long to get better and be able to stand and walk again.”

Kelvin is an 18-year-old from Kenya. His mother is single and bringing up six children. She has had to depend on small-scale farming and casual jobs in her village to meet her children's needs and schooling. She describes raising her children as the most challenging journey of her life. Kelvin was involved in a serious road traffic accident one day while riding his brother's motorbike back home. He sustained an open fracture to his leg that was initially fixated and stabilized. Unfortunately, his recovery was beset with a series of recurrent infections, leading to a long and painful recovery and many hospital admissions. After his initial discharge, Kelvin continued his recovery at home with regular wound dressings. However, his condition worsened when he developed a sinus tract (a connection between a deep infection and the skin), and it was clear that his infection was persisting. He was readmitted to the hospital and eventually needed a skin graft and further antibiotics. The cost of this was provided by SAFE and this procedure was successful. Through it all, Kelvin endured chronic pain and disability, repeated surgeries, long hospital stays, and uncertainty became his daily reality. His mother has been by his side for all his procedures, but this has caused her considerable financial hardship. After many months Kelvin's wound is finally healed with no signs of infection. It is a remarkable recovery considering everything he has been through. But his recovery journey is not yet quite complete. The cost of his multiple surgeries has already exhausted all available resources, and his mother is unable to fund the last stage of Kelvin's recovery and treatment. Despite the substantial progress made, Kelvin’s leg remains unstable due to his partially healed fracture. He cannot walk without crutches, and even then, movement is painful and limited. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 18th, Kelvin will undergo a fracture repair procedure. For him to regain full function and return to a normal life, he now requires internal fixation with a bone graft, a crucial procedure to ensure proper bone healing. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,014 to fund this procedure. Kelvin says, "I have been through a lot of surgeries and am looking forward to a day when I will walk without support. Please help me achieve my dream of helping my mother."

Fabiano is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third child in a family of eight children. His parents depend on small-scale farming and seasonal work to support the household, which makes it difficult to afford advanced surgical care. Despite these challenges, Fabiano remains active and motivated. He attends primary school and performs well in class. He enjoys reading and participating in group discussions, and he hopes to become a religious leader in the future. When he was one year old, Fabiano sustained a burn injury to his hand in a household fire. He received first aid at a nearby clinic, but as the wound healed, thick scar tissue formed and tightened, limiting the movement of his fingers and thumb. The contracture in his hand makes it difficult for him to write for long periods, grip objects firmly, and participate fully in practical school activities. His doctors recommend an amputation of the forth finger on his right hand and contracture release for the other fingers. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Fabiano's surgery. After recovering, Fabiano is looking forward to doing his daily tasks such as holding tools, carrying items, and helping with chores. Fabiano says, “I want to use my hand like other students—to write well in class and hold things without pain. Treatment will help me continue my studies with confidence.”

Surafel is 20 months old and a cheerful little boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his brother and watching animated shows. His father works as a security guard, while his mother is a homemaker who occasionally takes on domestic work to earn extra income. After Surafel was born, he experienced several health problems, which placed a significant financial burden on the family. His mother had to borrow money from neighbors to cover medical expenses and is still working to repay it. One year ago, Surafel was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Surafel has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Surafel will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 15. AMHF is requesting $1,073 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Surafel's mother said, "I pray that my child comes through the surgery safely. I am incredibly grateful for all the support you've given me. With God's grace, I will take home a healthy child, and may God bless you all."

Ar is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and their six children in a refugee camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Ar and her family have been living in the camp for around nine years. Her husband helps his brother as a shopkeeper, while their children go to school in the camp. During her free time, she enjoys watching movies on her phone and spending time with her children. Ar is pregnant, and the doctors at the camp recommend she deliver via a c-section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ar undergo a C-Section on December 16th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Ar needs your support. Ar said, “When I heard that my baby is in the wrong position and needs surgery to deliver him, I started feeling worried and stressed. I asked my brother-in-law to let me borrow money, but he told us that he cannot, as he does not have much either. I do not know what to do, which makes me more stressed and worried when it is closer to my due date. Finally, I am very happy to hear that there will be an organization that will help pay for my surgery cost. Thank you so much to BCMF and all your donors for your kind support. I still do not know where to look for money without your support. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Roth is 32 years old and lives with his parents in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. His four siblings have all married and moved out of the family home. Roth helps his parents in the rice fields. In his free time, Roth likes exercising and checking his social media. One year ago, Roth began experiencing pain in his right hip, which has made it difficult for him to walk and to go about his daily activities. The condition appeared to develop naturally, without trauma or accident. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his left hip in 2012 at our medical partner's care center, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Roth decided to travel back to CSC for treatment on his right hip. On November 10th, Roth will undergo a hip replacement procedure. His family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $1,400 more to fund his procedure and care. After his surgery, Roth should be able to walk without pain and return to work. Roth said: “I hope that I will be able to walk easily and no longer have hip pain, so I can help my parents in the fields again.”