Three-year-old Sitotaw lives with his family in Ethiopia and loves watching animated movies. He is a generous boy and likes to share his belongings with other children. “Sitotaw was born with congenital anomaly called bladder exstrophy,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “His bladder is exposed to air and leaks urine directly outside his abdomen.” Bladder exstrophy is a rare birth defect, occurring in approximately three out of every 100,000 live births. The condition is slightly more common in males than in females. Sitotaw needs surgery to repair his bladder, bladder neck, and urethra to enable normal urination. “Sitotaw's bladder is exposed to dirt,” explains AMHF, and without treatment, this exposure “will cause infections and direct injury.” Sitotaw’s father works in horticulture industry but does not earn enough money to pay for his son’s medical care. $1,500 pays for surgery for Sitotaw as well as imaging, lab work, and medicine as he recovers in the hospital. After surgery, “Sitotaw will no longer be at risk of infection and direct injury to his bladder,” says AMHF. “I always wait for God’s provision to see my child’s problem get solved,” shares Sitotaw’s father. “And now, I believe this is the time for that provision, and I am so thankful for that.”

"It's a desire of every mother to see our children be in good health and happy and to feel accepted in the community, especially by their fellow children," Jon Michelangelo's mother says of her ten-year-old son. Jon lives with his family in the Philippines and was born with a congenital digestive tract malformation, which makes it difficult for him to go to the bathroom normally. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), shares, "Jon felt ashamed of his condition. In fact, right now he [has] stopped schooling because his classmates don't want to mingle with him." Jon should be in grade five but has missed a year of schooling because he says the anal malformation makes him feel alone. Despite the setbacks at school, Jon comes from a loving and supportive family. He shares, "I love my family very much, especially my siblings." ICM also points out that "his mother made an effort to pay more attention on Jon Michel to build his self esteem and confidence." As the sole-provider for her family, Jon's mother cannot afford the cost of his surgery. For $965, Jon will receive an operation to repair his intestine and colon so that he can eliminate waste without needing a colostomy. This surgery will allow Jon to return to school with confidence. Jon's mother says, "I am very grateful to know that there are people who have the heart to help the unfortunate like us. I am hoping that my son will be given a chance to live a normal life like other children."

“It's heartbreaking to hear the painful cries of Christina. Sometimes I wish I had the pain instead because she is so innocent,” shares Christina's father. Christina, a five-month-old girl from Kenya, has a condition called hydrocephalus, where she has an abnormal head size due to the accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in her head. If Christina, a patient with the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), is not treated, the fluid might cause brain damage. She is also “irritable due to the high intra-cranial pressure exerted on the brain,” shares AMHF. $615 funds a treatment that will place a shunt into Christina's head to drain the excess fluid. The surgical care will “regulate the intra-cranial pressure in her head and lessen irritability.” Christina is the youngest in a family of seven children, and her father works as a security guard while her mother stays at home and takes care of the children. Her parents cannot afford this treatment, but “hope that Christina will be able to get the surgery she desperately needs.”

Meet Hak, a 17-year-old student from Cambodia. Hak has two brothers and one sister. “He enjoys playing games online, watching Chinese movies, and playing football,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “Hak recently fell down from a chair and fractured the radial head and dislocated the elbow of his right arm,” says CSC. A radial dislocation occurs when the elbow bones become displaced from their original position, causing discomfort and a restricted range of motion. This injury can affect the surrounding bones, ligaments, and nerves. “I can't go to study and my parents spend their time and money traveling for me to get treated,” says Hak. For $405, Hak can undergo open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. This procedure will rebind the fractured bones in his elbow using steel plates and rods. “He will regain use of his right arm and be able to return to school,” says CSC. "I hope my arm can be better soon so I can go to study normally again,” says Hak. “I will go to study properly again once I am healed. I hope I can help do some housework too."

“Chara enjoys playing football, drawing pictures, and watching Chinese and Khmer movies on TV,” shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). “He is a student in grade seven, and has two brothers and one sister.” The 17-year-old student from Cambodia recently fractured three fingers on his left hand. “He was hospitalized for more than one week, but his three fingers can still not flex or extend,” CSC tells us. Chara adds, “I can't go to school now and my parents are spending their time and money finding me treatment.” For $405, Chara will undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure. “After an ORIF with plating, Chara will be able to regain movement in his fingers,” CSC explains. “The fractures in his left hand will be healed.” "I hope after I am healed I will go home and go to study properly again,” says Chara. “I hope I can help do some housework and that my fingers will be better soon."

Chit Sandar was born at the Hpa-an General Hospital in Burma. At six months old she became sick with a fever. Her mother took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain. Burma has one of the most under-funded healthcare systems in the world, with little government assistance. The Burmese government spends approximately $37 per person per year on healthcare in contrast to, for example, the US which spends $9,146. Chit Sandar's mother could not afford to pay for her surgery, which meant they had to return home from the doctor without receiving care. After they returned home, Chit Sandar's condition continued to worsen. The circumference of her head expanded as a result of the fluid buildup in her brain and she started experiencing loss of consciousness, sunken eyes, and sometimes she would lose control of her head movements all together. Chit Sandar needs a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, which will drain the fluid from the brain and cure her hydrocephalus. $1,485 will cover the cost of Chit Sandar's surgery which will be provided at the Chiang Mai Hospital in Thailand. Chit Sandar's mother wants her daughter to survive surgery, receive a good education, and grow up to support a family of her own.

Boran is a 21-year-old construction worker who lives with his wife and children in Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Boran developed a chalazion on his left eye 3 months ago. This causes him irritation, burning, and his eyelid is swollen.” A chalazion is an eyelid cyst caused by a blocked oil duct. Initial symptoms include redness and swelling of the involved eyelid, followed by the formation of a firm bump that can become as large as a pea. If the chalazion is large enough, it can cause tearing of the eye or blurred vision. For a large, painful, or recurring chalazion, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the bump, as is the case for Boran. “It is hard for Boran to see clearly, do work, or go outside,” continues CSC. “He doesn't like going outside because it causes him burning and he is embarrassed about his appearance.” For $150, Boran will undergo surgery to remove the chalazion and spend two nights in the hospital as he recovers. “After a chalazion incision and removal surgery,” explains CSC, “Boran will feel less burning, irritation, and his appearance will improve.”

Roeun is a patient with our medical partner in Cambodia, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), and has four sons, three daughters, and 23 grandchildren! “Three months ago, 74-year-old Roeun developed a cataract in each eye. This causes her blurred vision, tearing, irritation, and she is afraid of sunshine. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work very well, or go outside,” explains CSC. Cataracts occur as proteins develop in the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Without treatment, the cloudiness increases over time and results in slowly deteriorating vision. They can ultimately result in total blindness, and are especially common in regions near the equator due to high UV exposure. $225 covers the cost of a treatment to repair her cataracts. In each of her eyes, doctors will make a small incision to surgically remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new, artificial lens. Let’s help restore Roeun’s sight!

“Three months ago, Tim developed a cataract in each eye,” our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), shares. “This causes him blurred vision, tearing, and some pain.” Now, he can no longer see clearly, go outside on his own, or continue working. Cataracts occur when proteins develop on the lens of the eye, causing cloudiness. Untreated, the cloudiness will continue to impede Tim’s vision. Because he is no longer able to work, Tim stays home with his wife and three daughters. "In his free time he does work around the home, cares for the yard, and visits the pagoda to listen to the monks pray." Tim looks forward to getting his vision back, and traveled four hours to seek treatment. Cataracts are easily treatable, but Tim can't afford treatment on his own. $225 will cover the cost of a short operation to give Tim his vision back. Doctors will remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens that will allow him to see again. Tim and his wife look forward to the change that this surgery will bring.

Kyaw is a 39-year-old farmer who lives with his wife and four children in Burma. He was referred to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and kidney stones. “Two years ago, Kyaw started to feel back pain and pain when he urinated,” explains BBP. “He also felt some numbness, and it was difficult to pass urine.” At that time, Kyaw borrowed money to pay for diagnostic tests, but he was unable to pay for the recommended procedures. Since then, Kyaw has been hospitalized twice and had the larger of two kidney stones removed. “Kyaw recovered well from this surgery,” BBP tells us. “He is now scheduled for removal of the kidney stone in his other kidney.” In addition to farming, Kyaw also works as an agricultural day laborer, raises and sells chickens, and grows rice and vegetables for his family. Despite his hard work, the family is not able to save money and will sometimes borrow money for unexpected expenses. For $1,500, Kyaw will undergo surgery to remove the kidney stone. An additional $3,099 from Burma Children Medical Fund will help to cover the costs of transportation to and from the hospital, pre-surgical consultations and tests, eight days of hospital care, and a follow-up visit after surgery. “Following surgery, Kyaw will not have recurring urinary tract infections, fever and back pain,” says BBP. “He will be able to work without pain and continue to support his family.”

“Fifteen-month-old Nahimia was born with a congenital anomaly, where his bladder is outside his body and leaks urine directly to his abdomen,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Nahimia’s bladder is exposed to dirt, which will cause infections and direct injury. He suffers pain from the irritation, infection and bad smell from the continued urinary leakage.” Nahimia lives in Ethiopia with his two siblings and parents. His father began working as a farmer when he was in grade seven, shortly after the death of both his parents. Due to a lack of funds, Nahimia’s parents have been unable to get their son medical treatment. $1,500 funds a bladder extrophy repair for Nahimia, which will surgically reconstruct his bladder, allowing him to pass urine normally. “The risk of infections and irritation will be eliminated and his urine will be contained,” says AMHF. “I wouldn’t have sought medical care if not for an NGO that has brought us this far,” shares Nahimia’s father. “This is because I have no money for transportation, let alone medical bills." Nahimia’s father has a strong desire to see all of his children attend school. Let’s help make it happen!