Marigarita is a four-year-old girl and the youngest in a family of four children. Both of her parents are farmers, growing maize for food. They get some money from doing manual labor jobs such as harvesting and looking after other people's farms. Marigarita was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. 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, she feels pain after walking a long distance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Marigarita. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 3rd. Treatment will hopefully restore Marigarita's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Marigarita’s mother says, “Please help treat my daughter so that she can walk well without difficulty.”

Vaughn is a three-year-old boy from the Philippines. He is the youngest sibling of three. He loves playing with his cousins just like any other child at his age. His father is a construction worker earning minimum wage; while his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Three months ago Vaughn's parents noticed a swelling around his belly button. They brought him to the hospital for care and Vaughn has been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes severe stomachaches. Fortunately, on November 10th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner is requesting $1,130 to fund Vaughn's surgery at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. "After the surgery, we hope Vaughn will be able to enjoy his childhood and not ever hesitate to play," shared Edgar, Vaughn's father.

Furaha is a beautiful and charming four-year-old and the eighth-born child in a family of nine children. Furaha is a Swahili word for "happiness" and true to her name she is always a happy and smiley girl. Furaha's parents are small-scale farmers of maize and rice. They get most of their food from what they harvest. Their income is not much because they can only get money when they sell their rice harvest or go out and seek day’s jobs like working on other people's farms. Furaha has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus where her legs bow outward at the knee. 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 experiences knee pain after walking or playing for a while. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Furaha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 8th. Treatment will hopefully restore Furaha's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Furaha’s mother says: “I was told that we can have her legs corrected here, please help us.”

Ashford is a jovial, 46-year-old farmer from the western part of Kenya. He enjoys playing music on his nyatiti (an eight-stringed plucked bowl yoke lute). Apart from farming, Ashford played the nyatiti to earn a living until he had an accident in December 2020. Ashford was in an accident in Nairobi, where he had moved to earn his living and sustained bilateral tibia fractures on his legs. This has caused Ashford pain and difficulty in walking, and he is now unable to earn a living as he cannot play the nyatiti without his mobility. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH) can help. On September 7th, Ashford will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The treatment will accelerate his healing process and enable him to walk again. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Ashford says, “I used to walk far and wide to entertain people while playing the nyatiti but now I am immobile and homeless. I rely on the church for survival and care. I need this surgery to be able to walk again.”

Maria is a sweet and loving 7-year-old girl. She lives with her parents and four siblings at their home in Tanzania. Maria's parents are laborers and small scale farmers and who enjoy growing mainly maize, vegetables, and sunflowers. Maria has clubfoot in both of her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Maria and her parents learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare and traveled to their care center seeking treatment. On August 10th surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery. AMH is requesting $935 to fund the surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk without discomfort and with ease. Maria’s mother shares, "Our daughter is strong and a fighter. She is always ready to help with chores. We see the challenge she is goes through due to her legs but due to lack of money we have not been able to seek treatment again for her."

Nancy is a middle-aged mother from Kawaida village in Kenya. She separated from her husband and has been raising their two children on her own. Her daughter is married and her son lives with Nancy but has not started working yet. Nancy works jobs when she can find them, such as helping in the neighboring tea farms or washing clothes, to support her family. Nancy loves singing at her church, but now her condition forces her to remain indoors and in bed. Five years ago, Nancy began experiencing worrying symptoms. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $755 to fund Nancy's surgery. On July 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Nancy will be able to resume her daily activities free from pain. Nancy is eager to recover so she can continue her working and pursuing her musical passion: “If this bleeding continues I feel like it will be more challenging for me to continue working for my family. My children look unto me and so I really hope for help so that I can be well again, take care of them and be able to sing as I used to do."

Faith is a 41-year-old woman from Kenya and the mother of two children, ages 22 and 15. She used to work as a second-hand shoe seller, but unfortunately, for the last year and a half she has not been working due to her condition. Faith and her children live with her mother who is a farmer. Several weeks ago, Faith had spinal surgery. During one of her follow-up check-ups, doctors noticed that she has purulent drainage from the wound and recommended an urgent surgical revision of her thoracolumbar spinal fusion. She is currently unable to sit upright. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 4th, surgeons from AMH will perform revision spinal surgery. Now, Faith needs help raising $1,500 to fund the procedure. Faith shared, “I am unable to walk without support. Most of the time I lay asleep on my back. I cannot take care of my kids who depend on me. I need this surgery to have my life get back to normal, especially walking again.”

Lengai is a 7-year-old boy and the last born of four children. Lengai is a friendly and playful boy who is of age to attend kindergarten. He wants to go to school like his siblings, but due to a deformity on his right foot, he is not able to walk the long distance to and from school. Lengai's parents work as livestock keepers to make a living for their family. Lengai was born with a congenital deformity called syndactyly on his right foot and the fingers of his right hand. As a result, he cannot walk without pain, and is not able to move and use his fingers easily. Lengai's parents noticed his condition early on in his life, but due to the distance from their village to the nearest clinic, and the high cost of care, they were not able to seek treatment for him. Through a mission organization, Lengai was referred to our medical partner's care center, the Plaster House, for treatment. Lengai has been scheduled to have surgery on his right fingers so that he can use his hand in carrying out his daily life activities. Soon after, he will undergo treatment to correct his right foot. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Lengai receive treatment. On May 7th, surgeons at their care center will perform his hand surgery. Once recovered, he will be able to use his fingers with ease. Now, Lengai needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Lengai’s mother shared, "We were unable to seek treatment for our son not because we were okay seeing our son struggling to walk and use his right-hand fingers, but instead because of life's hardships. Please help our son."

Naw Mu is a five-year-old girl who lives with her family in a refugee camp in Northern Thailand. Naw Mu, her older brother and older sister are all primary school students. Her mother is a homemaker and her father works as a day laborer outside of the camp when he can. Her parents also look after a small shop in the camp. Her family's combined income is just enough to cover their family expenses and are grateful they can receive basic healthcare and education in the camp. On April 8th, Naw Mu was playing with her friends when she fell to the ground and injured her left arm. Her mother immediately took her to the hospital in the camp, run by Malteser International Thailand. When the medics examined her arm, they suspected that Naw Mu's forearm was fractured and referred her to another hospital to confirm her diagnosis. After Naw Mu received an x-ray, the doctor confirmed that Naw Mu's radius and ulna bones are broken. Currently, Naw Mu is experiencing pain in her left arm and has to take pain medication to have comfort and to sleep. She cannot lift her left hand or move it around. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Mu will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for April 9th and will cost $1,500. With this treatment, she will no longer be in pain and she will be able to move her hand and arm fully again in the future. Naw Mu's father shared, “my daughter loves to play outsides with her friends and watching cartoon clips on the phone. After she receives surgery, I hope that she is able to play with her friends again.”

Nehimia is a 1-year-old from Ethiopia. He is a sweet, playful boy and the first child to his parents. Nehimia loves listening to music, and watching animation movies. His dad is a gym trainer, but his income was affected as a result of the closure of gyms during the pandemic. His mom is a housewife and also has been unable to work during the pandemic, though she used to work in a small boutique. His family lives together in a government house and they pay a small fee for rent. Nehimia 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, Nehimia is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nehimia's mother shared, “I hope my child will heal and grow and become a minister in the house of God.”

Guyo is a 2-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has three siblings. Guyo's parents are from a rural area and make a humble living. His uncle, who brought Guyo to Watsi's Partner Care Center BethanyKids Hospital, helps to raise Guyo. Guyo is a sweet, outgoing boy who loves to play with his friends and siblings. He also loves playing with dogs. Guyo 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, Guyo is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Once recovered, he will no longer have any pain or discomfort and can return to happily playing with his friends. His uncle shared, “I believe if he is treated well, he will be good psychologically in the future. And all the family will be happy. I hope he will be a doctor in the future and help his community.”

Hun is a 19-year-old vehicle repair mechanic from Cambodia. He and his wife were recently married, and have one son together. They live with his parents, who are farmers, and his wife helps with the farm work. When he is not working, he takes care of his son, helps his parents and his wife with their work, and enjoys listening to music. In July 2020, he was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in his left wrist. He went to a hospital in his home province after the accident, but he did not receive treatment. It is difficult for him to use his hand or arm, and he is still in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 8th, Hun will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will allow him to use his hand and arm easily again. Hun told us, "I hope that my wrist will heal quickly and I can return to work. I need to twist my arm a lot in my work, so it is impossible with my injury."