Venessa is a four-year-old girl from Kamenya village in Homa Bay County, Kenya. She is the youngest of two children and lives with her mother, a single parent. Her mother works as a casual laborer in a salon to support her children and ensure Venessa receives the care she needs. Despite the many challenges, her mother remains determined to improve Venessa’s condition and give her a better future. Venessa was born with multiple conditions, including bilateral clubfoot, hydrocephalus, and spina bifida. Over the years, Venessa's mother has made countless trips to various hospitals seeking the best treatment for her daughter. Venessa has already undergone surgeries for hydrocephalus and spina bifida, which have greatly improved her health. However, her treatment journey is not yet done. Currently, Venessa is undergoing serial casting at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, to prepare for corrective surgery for her clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where one's foot turns inward and downward, making it difficult to walk and wear shoes, She is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery on December 12th. This procedure will correct the position of her feet, allowing her to stand upright and, with time, hopefully, walk and live a more independent life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Venessa’s surgery and follow-up care. This treatment will have a significant impact on Venessa’s quality of life and help her take the next steps toward living like other children her age. “I haven’t given up on my daughter, and I will support her until she walks on her feet and lives an active and healthy life,” shared Venessa’s mother.

Three year old Tilian is the youngest of the 12 children in his family. They all live in a remote village in the Kiteto Manyara region of Tanzania. The family resides in a communal boma, consisting of small mud houses, which are just enough to accommodate them all. Tilian's parents are small farmers who depend on agriculture and livestock for sustenance and income. However, their region has been plagued by prolonged dry seasons, leading to the death of cattle and reduced harvests. As the sole provider for the family, the father has been compelled to seek day jobs to support them. Unfortunately, his income falls short of meeting the most basic necessities for their family. In September 2022, while Tilian was playing with his friends, he inadvertently came into contact with a stove, and accidentally knocked over a container of hot water. This resulted in Tilian sustaining severe burns to his arms and chest. His injuries were extensive, and Tilian was brought to the nearest dispensary for immediate first aid and wound care. After the initial treatment, Tilian was discharged and sent home with instructions for caring for the wounds, because the dispensary lacked the resources to continue caring for him. The burns on Tilian's hands took more than two months to heal, while the one on his chest required even more time for proper recovery. In March 2023, Tilian was brought to our medical partner's center. The medical team thoroughly assessed his condition, and told his parents about the availability of visiting doctors who specialize in treating similar cases. Initiating a daily wound care regimen, the medical team began to attend to Tilian’s needs. However, Tilian's father struggled to afford the transportation for multiple trips to the center. As a result, the family had to make the difficult decision to leave Tilian at the facility as a resident, while he underwent his wound care, and awaited treatment at the plastic surgery clinic. During a plastic surgery clinic this month, Tilian was evaluated by visiting surgeons. The proposed course of action is surgery to facilitate the healing of the wound on his chest. Additionally, the doctors will need to address the burn scar contractures that have developed, tightening the skin around his arm. His parents are appealing for help to ensure their son receives the proper and necessary treatment for his wounds. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tilian receive treatment. On August 15th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to enable him to use his hand with ease. With continued care, the wound on his chest will heal completely, preventing any further risk of infection, and allowing Tilian to lead a normal life as he grows. Now, his family needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Tilian’s father says: “We hope for his improvement, which would reduce the concerns about the risk of infection in his wound and allow him to play freely with his friends.”

Edwin is a young boy from Tanzania and the youngest in his family of three children. He is a friendly and playful boy. Edwin’s parents are small-scale farmers who mainly grow food crops like maize, potatoes, and vegetables. Edwin was diagnosed with genu varus, where his legs bow outward at the knee. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking and running with his agemates. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Edwin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 4th. Treatment will hopefully restore Edwin's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Edwin’s mother says “We don't like seeing his legs this way and the struggle he has in walking. It is because of financial challenges that we haven’t been able to seek treatment for him.”

Lim is a 56-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Lim's husband died ten years ago and they did not have children. She now lives with her niece and takes care of her niece's children, which she shared she treats like her own grandchildren. She enjoys taking care of her grandchildren and cooking for her family. In 2016, Lim sustained a left ankle fracture from a fall. She underwent an open reduction internal fixation surgery and the fracture and wound healed well. Now she can walk without pain but the hardware put in her left ankle needs to be removed. Since the bone is fully healed it is time for the hardware to be removed to avoid future complications such as exposed hardware or infection. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 25th, Lim will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. She will be able to walk easily and require no further treatment. Lim said, "I hope after the surgery I feel no pain and the wound heals quickly so I can return to normal life an no longer need to worry about my ankle on an infection."

Samean is a 70-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two children, four grandchildren, and enjoys reading books and listening to the monks pray on the radio. Five months ago, Samean developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her vision loss. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Samean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On August 12, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification 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, "I hope that I will be able to recognize my relatives' faces and return to the pagoda and attend the ceremonies."