Phouri is in eighth grade, and lives with his six year-old sister and his parents in Cambodia. Phouri's parents work at the local market, selling fish. Phouri is hoping to become a doctor after completing his studies. Phouri was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgum, also known as knock knees. This condition forces his legs to turn inwards, and makes it difficult for Phouri to walk. Fortunately, doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help improve Phouri's mobility. On January 5th, Phouri will undergo a procedure at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre to help resolve his condition. Now he and his family need your help to fund the $521 cost of the surgery. Phouri's mother said: "After surgery we hope that he can walk and play with his friends more easily."

Romduol is a 28-year old junior nurse from Cambodia. She lives in Phnom Penh and has five siblings. Her parents are rice farmers, and Romduol was one of the first in her family to go to university. She loves research, and is studying to complete her nursing degree in 2024. About two months ago, she noticed a hard mass under her tongue. She experiences swelling and difficulty swallowing. Romduol traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 8th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Romduol needs help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. She says,"I hope the pain goes away and I don't have to worry about this anymore."

On Monday night this week, Christine started experiencing pain in her abdominal area which she thought would disappear but it did not. The pain began when she was in school and her roommate heard her cry at night and went to her help. Upon learning about Christine’s pain, she immediately requested a taxi and rushed her to a nearby hospital. She was examined in the emergency department where first aid and a diagnostic scan was done. Her scan did not reveal anything unusual and she was referred to another facility where she could have a CT scan. Based on her results from the CT scan she was immediately referred to Kenyatta National Hospital. She was taken there in an ambulance, but on arrival they were asked for money which her father did not have. Their family made a decision to bring her to Kijabe Hospital for treatment with hopes that she could get the care she needed there. Christine’s family is having a difficult time right now and is requesting help to support her treatment. They need help raising $1,074 to fund the emergency laparotomy that will heal her pain.

Gift is a 31-year-old woman from Western Uganda. She is a married mother to three children, all of whom were delivered via c-section. She and her husband work as small scale farmers and her husband also fishes and raises goats to make ends meet for their family. Gift is carrying her fifth pregnancy and shared that, unfortunately, she experienced one miscarriage. She has been receiving care throughout her pregnancy and her doctor recommended she deliver by Caesarean section to avoid complications like uterine rupture. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping to provide delivery care for Gift and her baby. On October 7th, Gift will undergo a C-Section at AMH's care center to ensure a safe delivery for her and her baby. Now, she needs help raising $252 to fund her delivery and care. Gift shared, "I am afraid of the cost implications, yet I want a safe delivery. I will be grateful for your support."

Touch is a 69-year-old mother of seven. She's a widow and has three sons, four daughters, and now thirteen grandchildren. She used to work as a cleaner before she retired and she lives with her youngest daughter who is a garment worker. When she is not chasing after her grandchildren, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio or visit the local pagoda. One year ago, Touch developed a cataract in her right eye causing her blurry vision and difficulty seeing in bright or low light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Touch learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 20th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Touch shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better. I want to go outside, see all my relatives and do housework well."

Phanith is a 4-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has one sister and one brother. When he is not attending preschool, Phanith enjoys watching cartoons and playing with his siblings. Phanith has a congenital preuricular sinus skin pits on each ear, with recurrent infections throughout the year in his right ear. When he has an ear infection, he experiences pain and odorous ear discharge. His parents took him to other health centers for treatment, but the doctors recommended medicines they purchased from the pharmacies which were not effective in curing his infection. One day, Phanith's father heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a former CSC patient. ENT doctors at CSC examined Phanith and planned to perform a myringotomy to drain the fluid in his right ear drum, preventing future infections. Phanith will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. He is scheduled to undergo a myringotomy on January 20th. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $137 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Once recovered, his ears will heal and he will be able to live comfortably again. Phanith's parents shared, "We hope the surgery will allow our son to be free of pain and infection."

Rathanak is a 34-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He and his wife have been married for four years, and have a three-year-old son. His wife sells meals and fruit at a nearby factory. When he is not working he likes to play volleyball or take his son out on walks. In 2017, Rathanak was in a motor vehicle accident that caused fractures to his tibia and forearm. He went to a local hospital where doctors installed a nail to fix his fractures. The bone healed well over time, but he still feels pain in his leg where the nail is installed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On August 6th, Rathanak will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will remove the nail, relieving his pain and allowing his bones to heal completely. Rathanak shared, "I thought it would be difficult or expensive to get the nail out of my leg, but I am glad that Children's Surgical Centre can help me to heal."

Nathan is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his mother and grandparents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He attends preschool, and loves learning about trucks and planes. Nathan has a cardiac condition called severe pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in his heart is too narrow, causing blood to back up into his heart and leading to hearth failure. If left untreated, this could be fatal. Nathan will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery. During the procedure, a balloon will be used to stretch Nathan's valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $15,000 to pay for surgery. Nathan's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Nathan's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family is so excited that Nathan can have this surgery and will no longer be in danger!"

Alex is a baby boy who lives in the rural highlands of Guatemala with his family. He is a smiley child and thoroughly enjoys playing with his toy car. His father is a laborer and his mother stays at home to take care of household needs. She also weaves traditional Mayan textiles to earn additional income for the family. Alex was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that occurs from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Alex has little energy to grow, and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to diseases that could further compromise his growth. If left untreated, he may also face the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as increased risk of chronic illness and a lowered IQ. Concerned for his well-being, his mother took Alex to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, for treatment. Beginning June 22, Alex will receive micronutrients and food supplementation, as well as regular growth monitoring. Community health workers will also teach his mother how to create a nutrient rich diet using limited resources. The $492 requested will cover all expenses of his continued treatment, allowing him to gain weight, strengthen his immune system, and catch up with other children his age. "Thank you for this support. Because of our scarce resources, we cannot provide enough for our son in order for him to grow better," says Alex's mother.

Jolly is a 46-year-old woman living in Uganda with her husband and six children. She enjoys weaving tablecloths, works as a subsistence farmer to feed her family, and grows coffee to sell for additional income. For the past seven years, Jolly has been experiencing uncomfortable gynecological problems which have caused her severe pain and discomfort. To treat her condition, doctors have recommended a total vaginal hysterectomy. Jolly's symptoms have made it difficult for her to work, which has been very hard on her and her family. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, is requesting $321 to fund Jolly's hysterectomy, which is scheduled for May 26. Jolly is excited to have her surgery so she can get back to supporting her family. She would like to tell donors how much she appreciates the help they have her given her.

Sunday is a hardworking father of five from the countryside of Uganda. At 53 years old, he has worked as a farmer most of his life to support his family. He and his wife, Jennifer, grow beans, potatoes, and cassava. For the last eight years, Sunday has lived with an inguinal hernia—a protrusion of the intestines through a weak point in the abdominal muscles that presents as a bulge in the groin. Treatment for an inguinal hernia is an operation to push the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sew together the weakened muscle with pieces of synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue grows into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. In the last year, Sunday has not been able to work due to the pain from the hernia. He has difficulty walking even a few meters and prefers to rest most of the time. He has gone to different health facilities seeking medicine for pain relief because he cannot afford the cost of the surgery that he needs. Without having Sunday to work with her on the farm for the last year, Jennifer has not managed to grow enough food to support the family or to have extra to sell for school fees of their five children. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, requests $229 to pay for Sunday's surgery, five days of hospital care, lab tests, pain medicine, and antibiotics. Sunday is scheduled to undergo surgery on June 5. After his recovery, Sunday hopes to join his wife on their farm to grow more food for the family. "I thank the donors for the support to be able to get this surgery," shares Sunday. "I have suffered with pain for many years due to failure to raise money to have a surgery. May God bless the donors abundantly and continue this program for helping the needy."

This nine-month-old girl is Hanisha. She is an only child and lives with her parents in Tanzania. "Hanisha is a quiet baby and eats well. She especially likes ugali with buttermilk," shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "She likes being held in a certain way, if held differently she cries." Shortly after birth she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes a buildup of cranial fluid in the skull and causes the head to swell, but also affects her vision and mobility. AMHF shares that Hanisha’s head is gradually increasing in size and affecting her mobility. “If not treated, Hanisha is at high risk of losing her vision and ability to sit, crawl and eventually walk." "Hanisha’s mother used to be a waitress before conceiving and now she is unemployed," AMHF adds. "Hanisha’s father is a tailor earning very little to afford the cost of operation which Hanisha needs." For $775, Hanisha will undergo surgery to remove the excess fluid from her skull and alleviate the pressure on her brain. This operation will alleviate the stress on her vision and prevent her head from increasing in size so that she can regain her mobility, and independence.