“Wai is an 18-year-old Burmese man who suffered burns over half of his body six months ago in a work-related accident,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. Wai worked in a gas station where he was moving supplies in the storeroom, when an explosion from fumes in the room went off. “When he regained consciousness, 18 hours later, he found himself in a critical care ward. The owner of the gas station and a friend had transported him there,” shares BBP. Wai has third degree burns on his arms and legs, but luckily his head was spared and he suffers no pulmonary damage. “Wai was in the hospital for two months and the doctors recommended a longer stay, but the gas station owner, who paid the bill for two months, refused to take on any further hospital expense. The owner didn’t extend any further compensation to his former employee,” adds BBP. “Wai has largely lost the use of his left hand and his right hand. He is capable of walking, although slowly and with a deliberate pace. He can no longer play cane ball, his favorite pastime, as he can no longer run,” BBP says. Wai needs surgery to remove the damaged tissue from the burns. This procedure will cost $1,500 and will give him increased motion and flexibility in his hands, legs, and joints. “I want to get back to helping my family," Wai shares.

38-year-old Dah lives in Burma with her husband, her 18-year-old niece, and her three children. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), says that both Dah’s niece and 13-year-old daughter are in school. To support the family, Dah’s son earns a modest income working as a hunter. This past August, Dah felt a palpable mass in her abdomen caused by ovarian cysts. When her symptoms persisted, Dah initially sought medical care locally, but her condition was misdiagnosed and left untreated. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled masses that develop within the uterus. BBP explains that without treatment, “Dah's abdomen is growing bigger everyday and she suffers from back pain. She did not want to seek treatment for her condition in Burma, because she knows that she would not be able to afford the medical costs.” For $1,500, Dah will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy--removing her uterus, cervix, and painful masses during a single operation. This treatment will alleviate Dah’s immediate symptoms and prevent her condition from recurring in the future. “Following surgery for ovarian cysts, Dah will no longer have bloating of her stomach and back pain,” BBP states. “After recovering, she will be able to commence looking for work in a local clinic.” Burma Children's Medical Fund, an organization that facilitates the transportation and treatment of Burmese people at Thai hospitals, is subsidizing this surgery by $1,421. "I want to get surgery for my condition so I don’t have to worry about that anymore," Dah shares. "When I have recovered from that, I would like to start working in a clinic and helping people. My first priority now is to get healthy and feel better. Then, I can continue with my dreams.”

Five-month-old Stella lives in Tanzania with her parents and three siblings. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that "when Stella turned two months, she had severe fever and fits." Despite a few weeks in the hospital, "her mother noticed the size of her baby’s head was getting bigger. Stella’s activity slowly started to diminish and crying became normal for her." Stella’s symptoms are caused by hydrocephalus, a condition where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain, causing the head to swell. According to AMHF, “Stella is at risk of losing her vision if not treated. She may also not be able to sit, stand or walk due to the size of her head.” Stella’s condition can be treated with hydrocephalus shunt surgery. During surgery, excess CSF will be drained, relieving her of the swelling and pressure in her head. This will eliminate the risk of vision-loss, and give Stella the chance to reach her developmental milestones. To support their family, Stella's mother does bead work and her father works as a livestock keeper, but they are unable to afford treatment for their daughter. Treatment costs $775, which includes surgical fees, wound dressings for two weeks, pain management, a five day stay in the hospital, and two weeks at a rehabilitation center. “I pray that my baby will get better. I will be very happy to see her grow up like other children,” says Stella’s mom.

Meet Ryan, a two-year-old boy from Kenya. This smiling toddler is the youngest of his family and lives with his parents and older brother. A month ago, Ryan’s mother was bathing him and noticed that his scrotal sac looked abnormal. After a trip to the doctor, Ryan was diagnosed as having an undescended left testicle. “Ryan’s left testis did not drop in the scrotal sac as expected in a baby boy soon after birth,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Normally, testicles naturally descend about six months after birth. Occasionally, this process does not happen on its own and medical intervention is required to prevent further health complications. If left untreated, Ryan is at higher risk of developing an inguinal hernia, testicular cancer, or experiencing infertility in the future. Ryan’s mother runs a hair salon business while his father sells scrap metal within their community. Their modest combined income is not enough to afford Ryan’s surgical needs. With $540, Ryan will receive treatment for his condition. He will receive an orchidopexy, a surgery that involves moving his left testis into its proper place within the scrotum. After this procedure, Ryan will stay at the hospital for an additional three days, ensuring he has access to all of the medical care he needs to safely recover. This operation provides a long-term solution for Ryan’s condition, greatly reducing the likelihood of experiencing further complications as he continues to develop. Ryan’s mother shares, “My son’s condition caught me by surprise, and I had no idea it would require surgical care. I hope he gets treated to prevent the effects of his condition.”

Meet Moisa, a two-year-old toddler from Haiti. Moisa was born with a congenital heart disease called Tetralogy of Fallot, which causes a hole to form between two chambers of the heart and causes a muscular blockage in one of the heart valves. “As a result, blood cannot circulate normally through her body, and she is at constant risk of sudden death,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). Moisa was born with down syndrome, and she lives with her parents and three older brothers. “Although she has special needs, she is fully involved in the life of her family and has many friends in the neighborhood,” shares HCA. Moisa likes to wear pretty dresses and play, especially blowing bubbles. For $1,500, Moisa will receive the cardiac surgery she needs. Following the surgery, she will no longer have cardiac symptoms or be at risk of sudden death. "Moisa makes everyone smile when they are around her,” expresses her mother. “We are so happy she is getting the surgery she needs!"

Meet Moses, a sweet three-year-old boy from Kenya, who was born with a left undescended testis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), introduces Moses as “the last born in a family of two children. He lives with his parents and elder sister in a two-room house at his grandparents’ home. Moses’ parents inherited an acre of land where they practice mixed crop farming. Due to delayed rainfall in the region, their crops have not been doing well. They have no other source of income, so raising funds to help support Moses’ treatment has been an uphill task.” When Moses was born, his left testis was absent from the scrotal sac, which is abnormal for baby boys. It remains in his abdomen, thus increasing his risk for testicular cancer, hernia, infertility, and more. For $540, Moses will undergo a procedure in which an incision is made and the testis is brought down into the scrotum. This highly effective surgery will protect Moses from the many health risks that an undescended testis poses, and will also allow him to “have a normal and healthy life." In many ways, this treatment will protect Moses’ future and ensure an improved quality of living. “I believe it’s not too late for my son to get treated. I still have hope,” Moses’ father says.

Meet Joshua! Joshua is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, describes him as “very shy... but he always has a smile on his face.” Joshua’s father died years ago, and as the second oldest in a family of six children, it’s up to him to look after his mother’s cattle. The cattle are his family’s primary source of income, and he feels that he is contributing the most to his family by herding cattle rather than attending school. Joshua has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgum, a physical condition in which the knees curve inwards. Right now, Joshua is unable to walk without knocking his knees, affecting his gait and ability to walk or run. If left untreated, Joshua risks developing early osteoarthritis. For $940, we can help cover the three surgeries that Joshua needs, along with two weeks of hospital stay and medication. “I feel pain on my knees especially after walking a long distance. I don’t want to fail helping my mom herd cattle; so I hope that my legs can be straightened so that I can walk properly,” Joshua shares.

“Phyllis first noticed a lump in her left breast two years ago,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. “She did not pay it much attention. A year later, while hospitalized with pneumonia, the lump was biopsied and she was informed that she had breast cancer." Phyllis, a 61-year-old mother from Kenya, visited several hospitals after receiving her diagnosis. But after extensive consultation, "she lost hope due to the high cost of the treatment," says AMHF. Phyllis is married with five children. She works on a farm with her husband to support her family, but has been unable to work recently due to pain on her upper left side. Phyllis needs a mastectomy to remove the mass, and prevent the cancer from spreading to other organs. “If not treated soon,” AMHF continues, “the cancer could spread to other vital organs in Phyllis’ body and this could result in death.” A mastectomy will cost $740. “I did not know that the small lump in my breast could be such a serious issue,” Phyllis tells us. “I thought I had been bitten by a spider. I thank God that it is not too late for me to get treated. Thank you for helping my family with the cost of my treatment.”