Sary is a 34-year-old man who was born and raised in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. His mom has always worked as a cleaner, and his dad is a vegetable farmer. Sary currently lives with his younger brother but hasn't been able to work in years due to his deteriorating condition. He enjoys watching Cambodian comedy shows on television and spending time with his brother. From the age of 12, Sary and his parents noticed his spine was curved. By the age of 20, he lost some function in his right hand. He did not seek treatment due to fear of the costs. Since that time, the condition has worsened. He experiences back pain, ankle pain, and weakness in his right leg and arm. He needs a scoliosis corrective surgery to improve his function and decrease pain. He has presented to our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) to seek intervention for his disability. Surgeons plan to do a spinal fusion with implants on August 3rd. Sary was able to contribute $100 to the cost of the surgery and needs help with the remaining $1,500, which will cover the costs of radiology, medications, surgery, and post-op physiotherapy care. Sary shared, "I hope I can walk better, not have pain, and help my brother at home."

Vanila is a 17-year-old girl. She comes from a sizable family that includes five siblings, with her being the second-to-last born. She is a student and recently completed her secondary education with the hope of going further in her education. Her parents work as farmers, relying on their harvest for sustenance. Additionally, her father engages in casual day-to-day jobs to supplement their income. Three of Vanila’s siblings are independent and working, and they occasionally assist their parents in covering household expenses. Vanila’s journey began when, as a baby, her parents noticed both of her legs twisting inward and downward. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented them from addressing her medical needs. In September 2023, Vanilla’s family learned about Kafika house, and the services offered. They visited, and she was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot, a condition that significantly limited her mobility. With both legs affected, she commenced treatment for her left foot first, starting with manipulation and casting. In October 2023, she underwent surgery, and her treatment progressed well, showing positive results. Currently, Vanila is on the verge of beginning treatment for her right foot. She will undergo a similar process to correct the defect in her right foot. The team will begin clubfoot treatment for Vanila on December 29th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Vanila's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her mobility will significantly improve. Vanilla says: “I’m looking forward to the day that I will be walking comfortably.”

Jeremy is a two-year-old toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who run a small grocery kiosk in Port-au-Prince. He is their only child. Jeremy was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD). VSD is a cardiac condition where there is a small hole in the wall that separates the heart's lower chambers. Due to this hole, oxygen-rich blood mixes with oxygen-poor blood, causing weakness and shortness of breath. On June 12th, Jeremy will undergo cardiac surgery in the Dominican Republic. During this procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Jeremy's heart so that his blood can't leak through it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is contributing $8000 to pay for surgery. However, Jeremy's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transport. Jeremy's family is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and preoperative and postoperative appointments. This sum will also support passport obtainment and the social workers from HCA who will accompany Jeremy's family overseas. Jeremy's mother said: "Our family is very excited to know that our son has been chosen for surgery. We're all praying for him."

Leonard is a 41-year-old lumberjack from Kenya. He is a bachelor, has no children, and lives alone in his grandfather’s place. His work as a lumberjack is seasonal and he sometimes works on peoples' farms to earn money for basic needs. His relatives live in faraway places and are of limited socio-economic status. Leonard has no medical coverage and cannot raise the money required for his needed medical treatment. Leonard was injured while felling trees. One of the trees fell on Leonard, hitting him on his right hip. He fell, and the people with him ran away, thinking he had died. Leonard was unable to walk and slept at the scene. Luckily one of his neighbors passed by and found him. Leonard's neighbors carried him to the hospital for treatment as he could not stand or walk. An x-ray revealed that he had a complete fracture of the upper end of his right femur. He is now admitted to the surgical ward on bed rest because his fracture is at a weight-bearing joint. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 2nd, Leonard will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. A surgeon will make an incision, realign the bones, and insert hardware to hold the bones together. Subsequently, after recovery, Leonard will be able to walk again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Leonard says, “It is so sad that I cannot now walk but I thank God that I am alive because that tree was big. Please help me so that I may be able to work and be able to sustain myself because I have nobody to depend on.”

Lightness is a sweet, seven-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She is the youngest of five children in her family. Her parents are small-scale farmers who depend on what they grow for the family's daily food. Her father also does casual laboring day jobs to help supplement their income. Lightness was born with a bend at her ankles and has been diagnosed with clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Her family needs financial assistance with her medical care and brought her to our medical partner's hospital. On July 5th, surgeons perform clubfoot repair surgery to help her walk easily as she grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $935 to fund this surgery. Lightness's mother said: "I was told through this program my baby's feet could be treated. Kindly help us if it is possible."

Wayen is an 8-month-old baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His mother works as a market vendor. Wayen has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, which means that a hole exists between two major blood vessels near his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. The surgery he needs is not available in Haiti, so Wayen will travel to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On September 13th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter into the hole and expand a device to plug it, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,000 towards the cost of the surgery, and Wayen's family needs help with the remaining $1,500 to cover the cost of labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. This money will also support passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance who will accompany Wayen's family overseas. Wayen's mother shared, "I will be praying for everyone who is helping my son to become healthy."

Marites, who is 50 years old, is a dedicated wife and mother, living with her husband and two children in the Philippines. Currently, Marites is facing a challenging situation, as she deals with a painful mass in her left breast. While the mass was only mildly uncomfortable in the beginning, Marites did not seek medical attention because of her family's financial struggles. When she did finally meet with a doctor, she opted not to undergo the recommended surgery, because of the financial burden it would impose on her family. Over time, as Marites has lived with the breast mass, she has been left to endure sudden bouts of numbness, sleepless nights, and feelings of hopelessness. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer, it is imperative for Marites to undergo surgery, to prevent the cancer from spreading. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Marites receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on July 19th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP needs to raise $1,058 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Marites will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Marites said: "It's a tremendous help because we don't know where else to turn to for the operation. I also want to extend my life for the sake of my children and my husband, who is also ill and relies on me. He's already 62 years old. I hope the assistance for people like us who are truly in need continues, and I hope you can help many others too."

Lucy, a 3-year-old girl, is shy with a heart full of joy. As the third and youngest child in her family, Lucy brings delight to her loved ones. Her mother shared that Lucy enjoys singing, spending time with her friends, engaging in playful activities, and assisting with household chores. Lucy's father is a farmer, while her mother oversees the household. During our medical partner's encounter with Lucy at the Nyahururu clinic, she was accompanied by her mother, who expressed concerns about a leg deformity. Her mother mentioned that Lucy has recently been limping and frequently complains of pain when walking and playing with her friends. Lucy was diagnosed with clubfoot on the right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Lucy's family visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,286 to fund Lucy's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she can walk without pain, continue her education and play with friends. "It would bring me joy to have Lucy walking and playing like other children," Lucy's mother told us.

Caleb is a playful and talkative 3-year-old boy from Kenya. He is an only child, and his mother works as a casual laborer at a local hotel. Currently, due to his clubfoot, Caleb cannot stand without assistance. He can roll over, but cannot yet walk or crawl. Caleb has clubfoot in both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This can cause difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Caleb traveled to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for treatment. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 14th. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to fund Caleb's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk and continue playing with other children. “I am appealing to people of goodwill to help my son undergo surgery to gain strength and walk on his feet,” Caleb's mother said.

Isaac is a 37-year-old husband and father to three young children ranging from 2-8 years old. He works as a laborer at a construction site in Nairobi. However, income is tight, as Issac's job has an inconsistent need for laborers and his wife is a stay-at-home mom. On the 13th of April, Isaac was involved in a bad car accident and rushed to our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital for emergency care. The car Isaac was in swayed off the road and hit a wall that caused a severe fracture in his right leg. The fracture has made it difficult for him to walk and causes him pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On April 14th, Isaac will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him regain the ability to walk. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund his medical procedure. Isaac says, “My family depends on me. I am scared of how to fend for them with this condition. I need the treatment since I cannot work with a broken leg."