Hol is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He has three sons, three daughters, and twenty grandchildren. He enjoys going to the local pagoda and praying with the monks. One year ago, Hol developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Hol learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On March 14, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $398 procedure. He says, "When I can see clearly again, I want to go my local pagoda."

Naserian is a student from Tanzania. She is nine years old and in second grade. She lives in a family of six people, with one brother and two young sisters. Her father is a cattle breeder, and her mother is a stay-at-home mother. In December 2016, Naserian was burned by the gas stove in their home. Her clothes caught fire, burning her back and stomach. Her parents brought her to the hospital, where she stayed for three months. She now requires surgery to release the contractures that have formed around the burns. The contractures cause her constant pain and have prevented her from returning to school. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Naserian receive treatment. On March 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. After recovery, Naserian will return to school. Now, her family needs help to fund this $832 procedure.

Marko is a young boy from Tanzania. He lives in an extended family of twelve people. Marko’s father is a security guard, and his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Marko has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Marko traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 14. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Marko's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without difficulty. Marko’s mother says, “I would really like to see Marko get treated and attend school and reach up to university level."

Alex is an infant from Kenya. He was born three days ago after a prolonged labor. Alex’s mother is a stay-at-home mom, while his father is employed at a construction site. Alex 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, Alex 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 Alex's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17. This procedure will hopefully spare Alex from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. "I hope all goes well with my son," shares Alex’s mother.

Pawt Sue is a bright and active four-year-old boy from Burma. He lives in a village with his mother and seven-year-old brother and two-year-old sister. His father works in a restaurant in Thailand and sends money to the family every two or three months. Since he was a week old, Pawt Sue has had an inguinal hernia. Whenever he cries, his scrotum became swollen. As the time went by, his condition seemed to worsen. The more active he became, the more pain he experienced. Fortunately, on December 18, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Pawt Sue's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 18 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. His mother says, "My son says he wants to be a surgeon when he grows up. He wants to help other children who are in pain."

Meet 13-year-old Kwan from Thailand. Kwan is an avid basketball player and he also enjoys going motorcycling with his friends. Kwan is currently in year five at school. Kwan recently fractured his forearm during a basketball game. Doctors at a local hospital advised Kwan that he has a broken bone in his left forearm, for which he requires surgery. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has arranged for Kwan to undergo surgery on October 4 to reposition the bone into its normal alignment. Kwan's parents are day laborers and cannot afford their son's $1,500 surgery. Kwan shares with us, "I want to be a singer when I grow up!" Let's help him to achieve his dreams.

Brayan is a nine-month-old boy from Tanzania. He is very active and loves playing with other babies. He is one in a family of four, and Brayan’s parents are small-scale farmers and business operators. Since he was born, Brayan has had trouble breathing. His mother took him to the hospital, where the doctor diagnosed him with congenital pharyngeal tonsils. This means that his adenoids, the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity, are enlarged and blocking his airway. The doctor gave him medication, but he did not recover. If left untreated, this condition can cause difficulty breathing and swallowing, sore throats, recurrent infections, and sleep apnea. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $609 to fund Brayan's surgery. He is scheduled for his operation at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, on October 19. After treatment, he will be able to breathe properly and engage fully in life and school moving forward. “I and Brayan’s father will be very happy when Brayan gets treated," his mother says. "We promise to take good care of him and to help him reach his goals in life by taking him to school when he grows up."

Wilson is a happy and active five-month-old boy who often pulls at his mother in order to get her attention. He lives with his parents and grandparents in Eastern Kenya. They are subsistence farmers and have no cash income. Wilson was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. Spina bifida is a condition in which the spinal cord does not close all the way, causing cerebrospinal fluid to emerge in a pouch-like fashion from the back along the spine. If left untreated, this condition will put Wilson at risk for serious infection and hydrocephalus, and potentially prevent him from learning to walk. Surgery has been recommended. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to fund Wilson's surgery. He is scheduled for treatment on October 19 at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. After treatment, he will be able to grow and develop normally. “I would wish to see my son well and thriving,” Wilson's mother says.

Susan is a student at secondary school, and she is the second child of a family of five. Her mother says, “Susan is a hardworking daughter. She passed well in her primary school final examinations, and that earned admission in a good high school. She is the light of the family." Susan’s father is a carpenter, while her mother stays at home to take care of the kids. They both strongly value education. Three years ago, Susan started experiencing discomfort and fatigue. She was brought to our medical partner's hospital by her parents. She was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid. Her family was able to raise some money for treatment, but they need additional help raising $641. She is scheduled to undergo thyroid surgery on August 23. Susan says, “I am a hardworking student because I have a dream of becoming a doctor when I grow up. I hope that I get treatment so that I can return to school and continue with my studies.”

Meet two-year-old Gustavo. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and aunts and uncles in rural Guatemala. Gustavo loves eating vegetables and porridge. Gustavo has been diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a medical condition in which the testes remained undescended. Without surgery, Gustavo is at risk of developing a hernia, infertility, or testicular cancer. On September 6, Gustavo will undergo an orchidopexy surgery to correct his condition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $1,500 in donations to fund Gustavo's surgery and hospital stay. This amount will also cover travel and accommodation costs for his mother. "I have no doubt that Gustavo will feel better after his surgery. I thank you with my entire heart for all this help you have given us. May God bless you all," says Gustavo's mother.

Geneme is a 17-month-old baby girl from Ethiopia who was born with anorectal malformation, a condition in which the anus or the rectum does not form properly. This condition caused Geneme to develop an obstruction in her bowels, and an emergency colostomy had to be done. She has been facing multiple issues with post-operative colostomy care and is in a great deal of pain. Because Geneme cannot make stool normally, she has become the subject of social discrimination among community members. External pressures have burdened Geneme's parents, and they worry about their daughter's long-term health. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Geneme's corrective surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 30 and, once completed, will hopefully allow Geneme to live more comfortably and confidently. Geneme's father says, “I am a grade 8 student and her mom is in grade 5. My parents support us financially so we don’t drop out of school. When we learned about the condition of our child we were troubled a lot because we know that we couldn’t afford for her treatment and it’s really hard to ask for our parents' help since they are already doing so much for our family. When we heard about this project from a social worker we were so happy. It’s our hope that our child get the surgery.”

Joseph is a 14-month-old baby who lives with his parents in Kenya. His mother is a subsistence farmer, and his father is a motorbike taxi driver. At birth, Joseph was diagnosed with spina bifida, which has led to the development of hydrocephalus. Spina bifida refers to an incomplete closure of the spinal cord, which puts Joseph at risk of infection of exposed nervous tissue, a tethered spinal cord, loss of muscular function in his lower limbs, and intensification of his hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to fund spina bifida closure surgery for Joseph, which is scheduled to take place on June 21. A local NGO, APDK, is subsidizing $206 of Joseph's treatment. Joseph's mother says, “I am devastated. I wake up every morning to the painful reminder that this isn’t a dream. I go to bed every night hopeless, exhausted from worry and despair. My one lingering thought is, 'Why my baby?'”