Elizabeth is a woman from Kenya. She operates a small vegetable kiosk in a small urban settlement in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa. She has two sons. Elizabeth has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mandible. This is a malignant cancer which, if not treated early, has high chances of metastasis. Elizabeth is scheduled for a mandibulectomy and free flap, a long surgery that involves a fibula replacement on the excised jaw. Treatment is scheduled for April 10. Now, our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to help fund this procedure. Elizabeth says, “My prayer is to regain my health and join other cancer victors. I am hopeful that I will be okay."

Bettcherly is a student from Haiti. He lives with his mother and two brothers in a small city in southwestern Haiti. He likes attending school and listening to soccer on the radio. Bettcherly has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and aortic regurgitation. Two of the four valves in his heart are severely damaged due to an infection suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Bettcherly will fly to India to receive treatment. On February 26, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove his two damaged valves and implant artificial replacements. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bettcherly'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 Bettcherly's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is helping our son to be able to have this surgery."

Simon is a man from Kenya. He is a father of two children. He operates a small business. In September 2018, Simon was in a road accident. Since then, he has undergone four surgeries to treat injuries to his tibia bone. Now, he needs to undergo a bone transport to treat a bone infection. If not treated, Simon will be at risk of further complications, including a total bone infection that might result into amputation. Fortunately, his surgery is scheduled for March 6. Now, he needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure. Simon says, “I hope that soon I will continue providing for my family."

Evalyne is a young student from Kenya. She is the last born in a family of six children. Her father practices subsistence farming to support his family. Evalyne was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Evalyne is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on February 4. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,327 to cover the total cost of Evalyne's procedure and care. After her recovery, Evalyne will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. “I want to be a doctor when I grow up, to help children not to feel bad like me,” says Evalyne.

Nat is a mechanic from Cambodia. He is married and has one son. He likes to watch TV in his free time. Three years ago, Nat had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Nat experiences ear discharge, tinnitus, hearing loss, and itchiness. It is difficult for him to hear well. Nat traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 8, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. His wife says, "I hope that my husband's surgery goes well. I worry about his hearing loss."

Roine is a girl from Tanzania. Her parents are both subsistence farmers who also sell produce in the local market. When she was three years old, Roine suffered extensive burns on the right side of her upper body, which left her with contractures on her neck and her arm. She now struggles to use her right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Roine receive treatment. On December 7, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure to close up her wounds and prevent any other infection. Now, Roine needs help to fund this $711 procedure. Roine’s mother says, “She needs surgery to help her wounds heal.”

Joseph is a retired mechanic from Malawi. He enjoys farming on his small family farm during his retirement years. He lives with his wife and two children. Since July 2010, Joseph 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 Joseph's surgery. On November 8, 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. He is so happy to finally receive this surgery because he has been waiting for so long to be free from these health problems. He says, "I am so happy for this program which will finally bring me relief from these health issues I have been experiencing for so long!"

Than Aye is a 45-year-old single woman from Burma. She lives with her friend in Kaw Bay Village, Kawkareik Township, Karen State, Burma. Four months ago, Than Aye has been experiencing cramps and pain in her lower abdomen. She has been diagnosed with uterine myoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Than Aye's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Than Aye is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on October 2. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experiences cramps and pain, and she will be able to return to her work.

Myint is a woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two children. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver, while Myint takes care of her children. Myint 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, Myint has difficulty breathing and no appetite. She is always tired and has pain under her lower ribs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Myint. The treatment is scheduled to take place on September 2 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably.

Merline is a girl from Haiti. She lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince with her parents, two brothers, and one sister. She is in the second grade and likes math and reading. Merline has a condition called pulmonary stenosis, in which one of the valves in her heart is too small, causing blood to back up and not circulate properly. To correct this condition, she will need to undergo a catheterization, in which a catheter with a balloon on its tip will be used to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. This procedure is scheduled for August 22. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $3,500, and they need our help raising an additional $1,500 to fund the procedure. Her mother says, "I am excited for our daughter to have this procedure so that she can run and play without me worrying about her."

Stanley is a baby from Kenya. He has one sibling. His mother is a laborer, and they live in a single-roomed rental home. Stanley 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, Stanley 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 $1,097 to cover the cost of Stanley's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 9. This procedure will hopefully spare Stanley from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I want my boy to be treated and lead a normal life," says Stanley’s mother.