Isaya is a nine-year-old student from Tanzania and the fourth born in a family of six children. He is active and friendly. He struggles with walking due to a bilateral clubfoot condition. Due to his condition, Isaya was not able to join the school at the appropriate time. His parents fear him being discriminated. He requires treatment but the parents are not able to raise funds needed. They rely on subsistence farming in the village. Their harvest is not sufficient for the planned surgery. With successful surgery, Isaya will be able to walk with ease. The family appeals for help. Fortunately, Isaya traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Isaya's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Isaya's father says, “If there is a chance for my son to have his legs corrected to make them normal please help him he is struggling so much and we don’t have the money to afford this kind of treatment.”

Sarah has a cardiac condition called pulmonary atresia, in which one of the four valves of the heart is missing, and blood cannot adequately reach the lungs. Last year, she underwent a procedure called a cardiac catheterization to confirm that her condition can be fixed; now, she is ready to proceed with the surgery. Sarah lives with her parents and older brothers in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; she likes playing with her cousins and her neighborhood friends. Sarah's mother said, "We know this is a very big surgery for Sarah but are hopeful that when it is done her heart will be normal."

Wim is a 48-year-old monk from Burma. He lives in a monastery in Taungoo, Bago Division. He became a monk three years ago, after he got divorced. Wim was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Wim feels tired and cannot walk long distance. Sometimes, he has back pain and he feels like he cannot breathe well. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Wim. The treatment is scheduled to take place on October 06 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Wim said, “I would to remain a monk and study Buddhism. I would really like to thank the donors, BCMF and the doctors for helping me receive surgery [in the future]. I am very happy right now.”

William is a six-month-old baby boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, who looks after him, and his maternal grandparents who are retired. His father works at a non-government organisation in Rakhine State and sends them money every month. Since March 2019, William has had an inguinal hernia. William has not started talking yet and is not able to complain. He might be in pain but his mother is not sure. Fortunately, on September 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund William's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 08 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. William's mother said, “When I first noticed his hernia, I was shocked and very sad. I talked with several older people who suffered from hernia and they all said it’s uncomfortable and painful sometimes. I want him to have surgery soon so that he can grow up well like other children. I want him to be a good person someday, a person who is considerate and is willing to help others that are in need.”

Obed is a child from Kenya. Two years ago, Obed accidentally dipped his hand into hot water while crawling. Obed cannot hold anything with his right hand because his fingers are folded. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Obed receive treatment. On August 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,006 procedure. His grandmother says, “Obed is joining school next year. He will need his right fingers so that he can be able to hold a pen. I wish that he can be treated this year so that he can join kindergarten with his age mates."

Dorcas is a child from Tanzania. She 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, Dorcas traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 5. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Dorcas's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Dorcas’s mother says, "I am hoping my daughter can be able to get her legs treated and be able to walk like other normal children and be able to help me when she is all grown up."

Mu is a 45-year-old woman from Burma. Mu and her husband are farmers who own land and harvest rice and beans. They use most of their crops to sustain their family, and sell any additional harvest for profit. March 2019, Mu has been experiencing pain and discomfort in her lower abdominal area. She has been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Mu's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mu is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 10. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. “I really hope the mass is not cancerous. I am so grateful that I am able to have this surgery, but I am scared that I’ll need further treatment,” Mu says.

Eliette is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her husband in Port-au-Prince, and works as a customer representative for an insurance company. Eliette has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis. One of the four valves in her heart is too narrow to allow sufficient blood to pass through, as the result of an infection she suffered several years ago. Eliette will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On May 1, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a balloon at the tip of a catheter to stretch her valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $28,000 to pay for surgery. Eliette'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 Eliette's family overseas. She says, "I would like to thank everyone who is helping to make this life-saving surgery possible for me."

Paw San is 33-year-old man from Burma. In March, he fell into a ditch. When he got up, the left side of his jaw was swollen and he had blood in his mouth. Paw San had fractured his lower jaw. Currently his injury is getting worse and he is in a lot of pain. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Paw San will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for April 8 and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help to heal Paw San's jaws properly so that he will be able to chew and eat again. Paw San says, “When I finish receiving treatment for my lower jaw fracture, I have to work and save money to support my daughter. This coming year, she will go to school to start kindergarten.”

John is a motorbike driver from Kenya. Recently, he was involved in a road accident, suffering a closed acetabulum fracture. He is in pain and if not treated, he might heal with a malunion or suffer complications such as an infected bone or arthritis. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 14, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. After treatment, he will be able to return to work. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,042 to fund this procedure. John says, “My hope is to be treated and resume my duties. I am in pain and would not wish to be confined in bed unable to move”.

Alex is a young student from Kenya. Alex’s mother sells groceries to support her family. Alex has been diagnosed with encephalocoele, a type of neural tube defect in which brain tissues and overlying membranes protrude through openings in the skull. Encephalocoele usually results from a failure of the neural tube to completely close during fetal development. Without treatment, Alex is at risk of developmental delays, brain damage, or premature death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $929 to fund encephalocoele repair surgery for Alex. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 11. Hopefully, the repair of this condition will allow Alex to grow up healthy. “The swell was really worrying us but we are happy to know so many people have had the same issue and got treated,” says Alex's mother.

Loserian is a one-week-old baby from Tanzania. He is the youngest in family of three children. Loserian 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, Loserian 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 Foundation, is requesting $966 to cover the cost of Loserian's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 3. This procedure will hopefully spare Loserian from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Loserian’s mother says, “Please help our son, we have no money to pay for the needed surgery which he needs urgently."