Enzo is a four-month-old baby in Haiti. He lives with his mother, father and older brother. Enzo has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid--the fluid which surrounds the brain--accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. This accumulation of fluid has caused Enzo's head to expand beyond a healthy range. Without treatment, Enzo will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, can help Enzo. The surgeons plan to use an endoscope to drain the excess fluid and relieve the pressure on Enzo's brain. This critical treatment will greatly improve Enzo's quality of life. Surgery is scheduled for November 9 at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in Haiti where this care is available. With proper treatment, Enzo will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Project Medishare is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Enzo. The family is hoping that this surgery with allow Enzo to live a healthy life.

Meet Charity, a resilient businesswoman, and mother of two children. Her educational journey was cut short when she reached class four of secondary school due to the untimely demise of her parents, leaving her without any support. Due to misunderstandings with her husband, they separated, prompting her to venture into her own business. Through sheer determination and hard work, she managed to build a two-room permanent house and provide education for her children. Her daughter is currently attending university, while her son completed secondary school up to class six. To sustain herself and her family, Charity buys and sells secondhand clothes. Three years ago, Charity noticed a small swelling on her neck. Her brother, who was in South Africa, brought her some medicine, which temporarily made the swelling disappear. After two years, the swelling returned, albeit painlessly. However, recently, she has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including neck pain while swallowing and obstruction in her airway. The strain on her neck becomes evident when she carries heavy loads on her head or bends down to pack bedsheets for the market. Upon medical evaluation, Charity was diagnosed with a nodular goiter. To prevent her symptoms from worsening, she requires a thyroidectomy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is extending a helping hand to Charity for her treatment. The scheduled thyroidectomy will take place on August 2nd at our partner's care center, where skilled surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. The total cost of this procedure is $333, and Charity and her family need assistance in raising the funds. Your generous contribution will make a significant impact on Charity's life, helping her overcome this health challenge and continue providing for her family. Charity says, “I have hope that I will live a normal life once again after surgery. I will continue with my business for my family's well-being.”

Anna Maria, who is 96 years old, is a widow, living in Uganda. She never went to school, but she went on to marry and have 11 children, seven of whom are still alive. Her children support her, and she currently lives with some of her grandchildren. Anna Maria developed a painful swelling on her left elbow one month ago. Initially, it was small, but it grew significantly over a period of days. She feels severe pain whenever she is preparing food or taking a bath, and this has affected her quality of life. Surgery has been recommended, but she cannot afford to pay for the procedure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is here to help Anna Maria access the care that she needs. On September 2nd, surgeons at Rushoroza Hospital will remove the mass. Now Anna Maria needs your help to raise the $145 to fund this procedure. Anna Maria says: “After treatment, I will continue with home activities with ease, which will help me not to bother my grandchildren who are staying with me.”

Khoeun is a 60-year-old woman with two sons, one daughter, and one grandchild. Khoeun and her husband farm rice and sugarcane together, but Khoeun spends most of her time caring for her home and grandchildren while her daughter works. She also enjoys weeding and planting small flowers and vegetables around her house. About six years ago, Khoeun developed an ear infection that caused her right ear's tympanic membrane, or eardrum, to perforate. As a result, she experiences ear discharge, fever, hearing loss, tinnitus, and cannot communicate clearly with others. Khoeun often feels unwell and cannot cook, clean, or visit her daughter's house to help care for her grandchildren. Khoeun shared that she feels as if she has let her daughter down when this happens. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help Khoeun finally heal. On April 4th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear, in which surgeons will close the perforation. CSC is requesting $464 to fund this procedure. This cost covers all medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Khoeun said, "I have tried many medicines, and I still have problems. I hope my hearing will improve, and the pain and infection will stop."

Sarah is a 73-year-old woman who is currently living with one of her four children. She used to run a green grocery shop that she closed down almost a year ago. She doesn’t have a source of income now and relies on her children for survival. Although they are supportive, she shared that all of her children don’t have stable jobs and income. In February, Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, which is a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been recommended to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $857 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Sarah. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 9th. After treatment, Sarah will hopefully be cancer free. Sarah shared, “my happiness is gone, I feel sad and demoralized. I have no reason to smile or to be jovial since I will be losing one of my breasts. I know this surgery is important but sadly I cannot afford the entire cost. I hope to get the surgery and be fine again.”

Htoo is a five-year-old boy from who lives with his parents and four siblings in a refugee camp in Thailand. His mother is a homemaker and his father used to work as a day laborer in a nearby Thai village, but has been unable to leave the camp for work since COVID-19 broke out in Thailand. Htoo will start Kindergarten this year. Their family's monthly stipend is not enough to cover their daily needs. Recently, Htoo climbed a guava tree to pick some fruit. He slipped, fell, and landed on his left arm. Htoo injured his elbow in the fall and his father immediately rushed him to the camp hospital run by Malteser International (MI). After receiving first aid, the medic referred him to another hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken elbow and referred for treatment. Knowing that Htoo needed surgery, MI staff referred him to our Medical Partner Burma Children Medical Fund for financial assistance to access surgery. Currently, Htoo is in pain and cannot bend his left arm. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Htoo will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 12th and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Htoo regain use of his left arm so that he can complete daily tasks. Htoo's father is hopeful he'll be feeling well soon. He shared that right now, "Htoo does not want to go to school or study. He loves to play football."

Suon is a 55-year-old mother of three from Cambodia, and she has a son and two daughters. She and her husband are both rice farmers. When she has free time, she likes to watch Khmer movies and listen to the news on the radio. One year ago, Suon developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her eye to produce excess tears and itch. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths that occur when the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye, is exposed to excessive sun damage and cells begin to grow abnormally over the pupil. Now, Suon stays at home because she does not feel comfortable leaving the house with her eye problem. When Suon learned about our Medical Partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there with her daughter to seek treatment. On March 3rd, Suon will undergo surgery to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $216, and will cover medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Suon shared with us, "I hope after surgery my eye will look better, I will be able to go back to the rice field without worrying about my eye."

Lucas is a playful four-month-old baby boy and the youngest child in a family of five children from his mother. His parents are small scale farmers of maize and vegetables for their food and they also keep livestock for a living, which allows them to get milk. Given the remoteness of their village, they shared that life is very difficult; meeting basic needs and access to health services are big challenges. Lucas 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, Lucas traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on April 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Lucas's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes when he grows up. Lucas’s father shared, "we have no means of raising money to afford our son’s treatment cost. We will be very grateful if you can help correct his feet."

Florence an 11-year-old girl from Kenya, and she is the firstborn in a family of three children. Florence was born with cerebral palsy, which is a condition that affects her muscles, primarily her legs. In addition, Florence also has clubfoot, and as a result she is not able to independently walk from one place to another by herself, so she currently uses a wheelchair to get around. The team from our Medical Partner's Care Center AIC Cure International Hospital met Florence at one of their mobile clinics near her home village. Florence needs to undergo triple arthrodesis surgery, which will relieve pain in her foot and provide her with more stability. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Florence to receive treatment and needs help raising $1,224 for her surgery. Florence's mother is excited that after the surgery, Florence will "be able to walk and continue with her life like other children." She added, “We are appealing to people of goodwill to help our daughter undergo surgery."