Deogratious is a father of twelve from Uganda. His eldest child is married with five children while the lastborn is 11 years old and in primary school class four. Only four of his children are still in school. He does farming together with his wife and they own a four-room mud house for shelter. Deogratious developed two bilateral gluteal swellings five years ago that started small but later progressively increased in size. They were painless at that time. He has never visited any medical facility for treatment. Now, he feels severe pain and can no longer sit or sleep comfortably. If not treated, the masses are likely to get infected, making the problem even more serious. Deogratious traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 29th, surgeons will remove the mass. Deogratious needs help to raise $145 to fund this procedure. Deogratious says, “I pray that I may get well through surgery. I finally hope that I may be able to live a normal life once again. I will continue with farming to sustain my family.”

Felis is a student from Tanzania. He is the second born in a family of three kids. He is currently in first grade and loves to play football with the other kids. Felis’s parents are both subsistence farmers. Felis has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Felis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 18. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Felis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and play football without pain. Felis’s father says, “Please help my son get treatment, I would love to see him walk well and play with other kids without pain or discomfort.”

Ream is a six-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has one brother. He likes drinking coca cola and playing with his friends outside. Two years ago, he received a poorly administered injection, causing a flexion contracture of his right knee. He is unable to fully bend and move his right knee. When Ream learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 5, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of his right leg to help him walk again. Now, Ream needs help to fund this $413 procedure. His mother says, "I hope my son can bend his leg again and start school soon."

Chiwoko is a farmer from Malawi. Chiwoko lives with his wife, and they have four grown children. Chiwoko spends his days farming and caring for his goats. In his free time, he likes to chat with his wife and his grandchildren. Since 2016, Chiwoko has had an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes Chiwoko pain and often prevents him from working. Fortunately, on February 13, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $334 to fund Chiwoko's surgery. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and six nights of hospital stay. Chiwoko and his family were thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded, and he is looking forward to no longer dealing with the difficulty his hernia causes. He says, "Thank you."

Sarim is a vegetable farmer from Cambodia. She has four daughters and six grandchildren. She enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Sarim developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her irritation, photophobia, and blurred vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sarim learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On February 9, 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 $211 procedure. She says, "After surgery, I hope to visit my homeland again."

Meet Patrick, a 42-year-old father and the caretaker of the health center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Patrick is the sole provider of his family in Kenya, and cares for five children with two in secondary school. In order to raise money for public transportation to AMHF’s centre, Patrick began selling tress. “However, a tree fell on him, injuring his head and arm,” explains AMHF. The accident fractured his radial and ulna. Now, he cannot feel his right arm and is at risk of infection if he does not receive medical treatment soon. $1410 in funding will allow Patrick to receive diagnostic x-rays, physical therapy, a resetting cast for his hand, and recovery time at the centre. “Treatment will eliminate pain and numbness in Patrick’s hand," AMHF shares. "Possibility of further infections will be limited. Once recovered, Patrick will be able to use his hand and work again.” Let support Patrick in getting the care he needs to get well and support his family.

Meet Caleb, a two-year-old boy who lives with his parents and elder sibling in a single roomed house in Central Kenya. Caleb’s father works odd jobs, and his mother spends her days caring for Caleb and his sister. The couple’s unsteady income has made it difficult for them to financially support their son through his medical complications. Caleb was born without an anus, making it impossible for him to pass stool. Despite their financial straits, Caleb’s parents made sure that “right after birth he got a colostomy,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). A colostomy is a procedure during which an incision is made in the abdomen and the intestine or colon is routed to that opening, allowing the patient to relieve him or herself. However, colostomies are typically only temporary fixes for patients with Caleb’s condition. In order to achieve a more permanent means of passing stool, Caleb must undergo a procedure known as an anorectoplasty, or “pull-through” surgery. This operation will separate the urinary tract from the rectum, and create a new opening called a stoma, through which Caleb will be able to pass stool. AMHF reports that Caleb has already developed “inflammation around his colostomy site and is at a high risk of getting infections.” Thus, he needs this next surgery as soon as possible. Caleb’s parents have managed to raise $215 for their son’s operation, but need our help; their seven-year-old daughter recently fell and burned herself, so much of their money has gone towards her treatment. With an additional $1,260 Caleb will undergo his crucial “pull-through” operation, after which “he will be able to relieve himself normally and escape the risk of infection to which the colostomy site is prone,” explains AMHF. “We have only been able to raise a small amount of money, but without the whole amount, Caleb can't get treated. Please help make this treatment possible,” shares Caleb’s mother.

Ivan is a two-year-old boy, and the son of subsistence farmers in Uganda. He currently lives with severe malnutrition. Ivan lives with his parents and newborn sister, who is only three weeks old. His parents grow millet, sweet potatoes, cassava and ground nuts. Ivan’s favorite food is bread, and he loves to sing along to music on the radio. Last year, Uganda went through an unusual harvest season, with a prolonged dry season followed by torrential downpour. The result was the widespread destruction of crops. Ivan’s family is one of many families who are feeling the strain of low crop yield and the associated malnutrition. Ivan has common symptoms of malnutrition, such as skin lesions, edema, and diarrhea. There is also an increased risk of stunting and cognitive impairment if he does not receive the nutrition needed. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, tells us that for $375 Ivan will receive IV fluids with therapeutic nutrition for 10 days, which is enough for Ivan to return to normal development and investigate for other causes of his symptoms. Ivan's mother will also receive nutritional education to give her the confidence she needs to provide her children with the nutrition they need on their budget and with the foods they have available. The treatment will help Ivan overcome these obstacles to development, and help him reach his full mental and physical potential. “I was worried about the hospital bills so I thank you very much," Ivan's mother shares. "May God bless you.”

Mirlene is three years old, and lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with her mother, aunt, and cousins. She has not yet started preschool but likes to play with the kids in her neighborhood and draw. “Mirlene was born with a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular septal defect, in which multiple holes exist between the upper and lower chambers of her heart,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Blood flows through these holes in her heart without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving her sickly and short of breath. Because of the severity of this condition, there is a chance it may not be repairable, but the only way to determine this is by inserting a catheter into the chambers of her heart. Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring her to Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that she can have heart surgery later in the year.” For $1,500, Mirlene will receive this life-saving procedure to determine the rest of her treatment plan. This cost also covers her travel and transportation costs between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. "I am so happy that there is a way forward for Mirlene,” her mother says. “We are hoping for a good result from this test."

“Thu is a 42-year-old Burmese woman who lives with her two daughters, ages 19 and nine,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us. “Her elder daughter is recently married and her husband lives with the family. Her youngest daughter is a student in grade three. Thu also has two sons who have moved away to start their own families.” Thus has congenital circulatory malformations and heart defects. “Thu first experienced her symptoms, which include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure, two years ago,” BBP explains. “Prior to the onset of her symptoms, Thu and her oldest daughter worked together selling flowers in the market,” BBP continues. “Their combined income was sufficient for the family’s expenses, but Thu hasn’t been able to handle the physical activity of her work, so her daughter as assumed all work responsibilities.” Complex cardiac treatment and surgery for Thu costs $1,500 and will be performed in Thailand. Burma Children's Medical Fund, an organization that has a strong enough relationship with the relevant Thai authorities to facilitate the transportation to, and treatment of, Burmese people at Thai hospitals, is subsidizing the treatment with an additional $13,525. “Following successful treatment, Thu will be able to return to her family and recommence work so that she can contribute to the family finances,” BBP says. “If I can regain my health, our family situation will improve greatly,” shares Thu.

“Sreyneang works in one of the many garment factories around Cambodia," our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. "She lives alone and sends money back to her family. She enjoys listening to Khmer pop songs.” Sreyneang is 23 years old, and was sent by a neighbor to get help from CSC. “Sreyneang has had a very stiff right knee for most of her life, a result of receiving improper injections from a very young age into her quadriceps,” CSC reports. “She has serious trouble fully extending her leg.” It is also very painful for Sreyneang to walk more than a short distance. With $378 in funding, Sreyneang will receive a quadriceplasty—a corrective surgical procedure on the quadriceps muscle and tendon that releases adhesions and improves mobility. The funding will also cover medication, post-operative care, food, and a 10-day hospital stay for Sreyneang. Following surgery, CSC explains, “Sreyneang will have more mobility in her leg and will not feel pain after walking short distances.” Let’s help Sreyneang get the care she needs to live without pain.

“Akanyijuka is very grateful for any help you can give him and looks forward to getting well and helping others as you have helped him,” shares our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation (KF). Akanyijuka is a 27-year-old man from Uganda. KF tells us, “Akanyijuka and his sister were orphaned at a very young age and have been on their own since then. Because they were orphaned, they were unable to afford school fees to obtain an education. Akanyijuka has been supporting his sister as a laborer but has been unable to work for a while.” Akanyijuka was sidelined by a hernia—a condition in which an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue. Untreated for a long period of time, Akanyijuka’s hernia led to a blockage in his intestine. This blockage prevents the passage of fluid or digested food through his intestine, causing severe bloating, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. After living with the blockage for a period of time, Akanyijuka has become severely malnourished. KF explains, “Akanyijuka has been unable to absorb nutrients properly and is unable to work.” With $227 in funding, Akanyijuka will receive surgery to repair the tear in his tissue, thus treating his hernia. The funding will cover surgery, medication, and Akanyijuka’s 14-day hospital stay. Following surgery, Akanyijuka will be able to return to work and continue to support himself and his sister.