Chan is a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has a brother and a sister. She likes to play with toys at home. Seven months ago, she received a poorly administered injection, causing a flexion contracture of her right knee. She is unable to fully straighten her knee. When Chan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 12, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of her right leg to help her walk again and improve her mobility. Now, Chan needs help to fund this $413 procedure. Her father says, "I hope my daughter can bend her knee again and walk normally after surgery."

Seketsani is farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife, and together with their five grown children, they run a small farm. Due to his illness, Seketsani can no longer farm, so he spends his days fetching wood for the family. In his free time, he likes to go to church and worship with his family. Since May 2018, Seketsani has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Seketsani's surgery. On June 5, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Seketsani was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is eager to get back to working his land and again enjoying his life. He says, "I am so happy to get this surgery and I thank you!"

Paulo is a child from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Paulo’s parents are subsistence farmers who grow vegetables for food and selling. Paulo’s two siblings are both in school, and Paulo’s parents hope to enroll Paulo in school soon. Paulo was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs bow outwards. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, walking is painful and difficult for him. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Paulo. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 13. Treatment will hopefully restore Paulo's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Paulo’s farther says, “I will be very happy to see my son walk without discomfort or difficulty. God bless you all for wanting to help my son. Thank you so much.”

Theam is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has six sons and ten grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and listening to monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Theam developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, and irritation. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Theam learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On March 12, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I worry about my vision and going blind. It is difficult for me to do my work. I hope my surgery will change this."

Kesny is a student from Haiti. He lives with his mother in Cap Haitien, a city on the northern coast of Haiti. He is in the ninth grade and enjoys school and going to church. Kesny has a cardiac condition called rheumatic heart disease. As a younger child, Kesny suffered a severe rheumatic fever, which damaged all four valves of his heart. As a result, his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body and he is in late-stage heart failure. Kesny will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 26, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will repair or replace all four of the damaged valves in his heart. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $60,000 to pay for surgery. Kesny'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 Kesny's family overseas. He says, "I am looking forward to being able to stop worrying about my heart after my surgery!"

Joseph is a two-month-old baby from Kenya. His mother is a high school student. She has no source of income and lives with a relative. Joseph has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Joseph has been experiencing an increased head circumference. Without treatment, Joseph will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Joseph that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 26 and will drain the excess fluid from Joseph's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Joseph will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. "I would like to go back to school in 2020 when Joseph is a bit older and healthy," shares Joseph’s mother.

Beatrice is a saleswoman from Kenya. She is a single mother of one child. In December, Lucy was involved in a road accident, in which she sustained bilateral tibia and femur fractures. She considers herself lucky and blessed to be alive, as only two people out of 19 survived the accident. She is currently unable to use both her legs. Beatrice has undergone a debridement on the open fractures and a repair of the left tibia and femur. She now needs a repair of the right femur and tibia. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 2, Beatrice will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. We hope after this surgery, she will regain full function of both her legs. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Beatrice says, “I would like to be able to walk again and continue providing for my son, two siblings, and dad as I used to before. Kindly help me."

Sanare is an active and happy four-month-old baby boy who lives with his family of eight in Tanzania. Sanare’s parents are small-scale farmers. They raise cattle and goats and grow maize and beans. Sanare has bilateral clubfeet, which is congenital deformity involving both feet. The feet look like they are turned inwards at the ankle. This may affect Sanare's school attendance. He will have difficulty walking, experience pain, and may be subjected to stigma. After a procedure called "manipulation and casting," which uses gradual treatments to correct this condition, Sanare will be able to walk without difficulty. His treatments are scheduled to begin on October 17. Sanare’s father says, “I will be very thankful and very happy to see Sanare get treatment. I promise to take him to school when he grows up." Watsi is requesting $890 to fund Sanare's treatment.

Four-year-old Renz lives with his parents and elder brother in the Philippines. Renz loves playing with his friends and brother. Renz was born with a defect known as congenital anorectal malformation. This means that Renz experiences bowel dysfunction. With the help of our medical partner, International Care Ministries, Renz will undergo a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty procedure to correct the malformation. This will take place on October 13 and will cost $1,500. "I want my son to be treated so that he can go to school and not have to worry about his condition," says Renz's mother. "Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity."

Mirlene is a 48-year-old woman from Haiti. She is the mother of three children, and she currently lives with her eldest daughter in Port-au-Prince. Before she became ill, Mirlene worked as a housekeeper. In her free time, Mirlene enjoys going to church and participating in church activities. She did not have the opportunity to attend school, but she made sure that all of her kids attended to school. In November 2016, Mirlene felt a small mass in her right breast. However, the mass did not cause her any pain. She asked her friends and neighbors where she should go to seek help, and was referred to St. Luc Family Hospital (our medical partner's care center) and their cancer program. In December 2016, Mirlene underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with cancer. Her diagnosis did not sadden her, and she was ready to fight. After four sessions of chemotherapy, Mirlene will undergo a mastectomy on August 26. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, has requested $1,085 to fund Mirlene's procedure. This amount will cover the full cost of Mirlene's treatment, including a two-night hospital stay, supplies, medication, labs, physician and nurse time, radiology, and travel expenses. After her surgery, she will also have four sessions of chemotherapy again. After treatment, Mirlene will be able to get back into work and support herself and her children.

Titus is a 37-year-old father from Kenya who lives with his wife and four-year-old child. Titus used to provide for his family as a bus driver, however he has been unable to work since a bus accident caused a fracture in Titus's left tibia. His wife now works on farms whenever she can. Because Titus's fractured leg has rendered him unable to walk, doctors have advised that he receive a bone transport. For his first bone transport, Titus organized a fundraiser with friends and family, however he unfortunately could not generate enough money to foot his hospital bill. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund a second bone transport for Titus, which is scheduled to take place on June 23. Without treatment, Titus will be at risk of malunion of his tibia, meaning that the fracture may heal improperly and permanently impede his mobility. “I want to be treated and be a providing father to my child," says Titus.

Katushabe is a 35-year-old woman from Uganda. She is married and has four children, all of whom are in high school. Two years ago, Katushabe noticed a swelling in her neck that has progressively increased in size. She was recently diagnosed with a multinodular goiter and requires a thyroidectomy in order to best combat her condition. Without surgical intervention, it will become extremely difficult for Katushabe to swallow and breathe. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $240 to fund Katushabe's treatment. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 27 and, once completed, will hopefully greatly improve Katushabe's quality of life. “I cannot afford surgery without your help. I hope to regain my normal appearance of the neck and have peace of mind," says Katushabe.