Mwadawa is a mother from Tanzania. She has four children. Four years ago, Mwadawa was riding her bicycle when she was hit by a car. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a knee injury. She could not stand or walk for several months. Fortunately, Mwadawa learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). At AMHF's care center, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Mwadawa of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for July 13, and Mwadawa needs help raising $822 to pay for this procedure. Mwadawa says, “I will be very glad when I will no longer be in pain and able to go back to my milk business. Please help me get this treatment.”

Faraja is a baby from Tanzania. She is the second born in a family of two kids. Her parents are small-scale farmers who depend on what they harvest for their sustenance. Faraja has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Faraja has been experiencing vomiting and an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Faraja will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Faraja that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 15 and will drain the excess fluid from Faraja's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Faraja will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Faraja’s father says, “We cannot afford the cost of the surgery but we wouldn’t want our baby to grow up a disabled child. Please help us, we don’t know any where else to go for help."

Yabsira is a child from Ethiopia. He and his parents are from Sodo. His father supports the family as a farmer. Yabsira was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Yabsira is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Bikensley is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, in a river valley in central Haiti. He enjoys going to preschool and church. Bikensley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These prevent blood from circulating adequately to the lungs, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 9, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole with a patch, and remove the blockage near his valve. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bikensley's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His father says, "We are happy that our son can have this surgery so that he will be able to walk to and from school next year."

Sochan is a computational instructor from Cambodia. He is the eldest of three siblings. He enjoys reading and playing football with is friends in his free time. Two weeks ago, he was in a motor vehicle accident which caused an open wound on his foot. He cannot walk and has pain from his chronic open wound. When Sochan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 13, surgeons at CSC will perform supramalleolar skin flap (ankle) surgery to to help him regain function in his foot and to stand and walk again. Now, he needs help to fund this $606 procedure. He says, "I hope I can walk again after the operation and not be in pain all the time. I look forward to going home and spending time with my friends."

Saony is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two daugthers. She likes spending time with her family. When she was five years old, Saony 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, Saony experiences ear discharge and discomfort. It is difficult for her to hear, and she has discomfort from the ear discharge. Saony traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 12, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her 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. She says, "I am looking forward to going home and spending time with my family."

Thun is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has eight children and six grandchildren. She is a rice farmer and enjoys spending time at home with her family. Four years ago, she started experiencing pain in her knee. She is finding it difficult to work and walk. Fortunately, Thun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Thun of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 12, and Thun needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I want to be able to take care of my grandchildren."

Baw is a 40-year-old woman who lives with her family in Umpeim Mai refugee camp in Thailand. Baw works as a treasurer of a community-based organization in the camp. Her husband works as a security guard at the same organization. All of her three children are students. Baw learned about her heart condition twelve years ago after she gave birth to her youngest son. After giving birth, the doctor informed her that she would no longer be able to have children due to her weak heart. Until 2016, Baw did not experience any symptoms relating to her heart condition. It was only in May 2016 that she started to feel extremely tired after strenuous activities. She gradually lost her appetite, had problems sleeping, and lost weight. Eventually, Baw went to the camp’s clinic. Finally, Baw was brought to Mae Sot Hospital where she received an echocardiogram and was diagnosed with atrial septal defect and severe mitral regurgitation. She was told that she would require surgery and was then referred to BCMF for financial assistance in undergoing the surgery. Baw's surgery is scheduled for October 30. She needs help raising $1,500.

Michenaida is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, two brothers, and two sisters. She enjoys attending school, as well as going to church and singing hymns. Michenaida has a cardiac condition called pulmonary valve atresia. Among other defects, including at least two holes in the heart, Michenaida was born without one of her four heart valves. Her multiple conditions leave her weak and short of breath. If not treated, they would lead to heart failure. Michenaida will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 6, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which she will first be assessed with a catheter to determine the plan for treatment, and then if found to be operable will be taken to the operating room for closure of the defects. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Michenaida'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 Michenaida's family overseas. Michenaida's mother said, "Our family is all praying that our daughter's heart can be made normal so she can be healthy and active."

Zaw is a 22-year-old man who lives with his family in a village in Karen State, Burma. Zaw works as a semi-subsistence farmer with his parents, growing corn and rice. In May, Zaw started to cough a lot, experience chest and abdominal pain, and feel constant fatigue. At a local hospital, he was diagnosed with a cardiac condition but, unable to afford surgery, he returned home. His cough and fatigue have persisted, and he now requires an oxygen tank at night. On October 6, surgeons will finally perform the heart surgery Zaw needs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for his medical treatment.

Ana is a five-year-old girl from Guatemala. Her mother used to work in a neighbor’s house, doing laundry, washing dishes, and preparing meals. However, she recently had to leave her job to take care of Ana. Ana has both cataracts and strabismus. Cataracts occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Strabismus is a condition that occurs when the eyes do not align in the same direction and appear crossed. In Ana’s case, these vision defects make it difficult to see, and they worsen over time. She has had symptoms since she was born, and often complains that she has trouble seeing. Ana needs surgery to fix these conditions. Without intervention, her vision could be irreparably damaged. Ana’s mother cannot afford to attend a consult with an eye specialist, or the expensive surgery Ana needs. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ana’s eye surgery. Ana will receive further evaluation from an eye specialist and surgery to remove her cataracts and correct her strabismus. She will also receive post-op follow-up treatment and accompaniment and transportation throughout her treatment process. This surgery is safe, effective, and will positively impact Ana’s life for years to come. Ana’s mother says, “We are so grateful for this support. I hope everything will go well with the operation, and that next year Ana will go to school. She is very excited about this.”

Mu is a nine-year-old girl from Karen State, Burma. She has thalassemia, a blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, and she requires regular blood transfusions. The condition is associated with enlarged organs. Doctors recently noticed that Mu's spleen is much larger than normal, putting her at risk for a rupture. They recommended Mu receive a splenectomy to remove her spleen. Mu’s mother works as a vegetable vender, and her father feeds pigs for a living, though he recently stopped working to care for his daughter. Mu's parents are in debt from medical bills, so they simply can't pay for their daughter's operation. On July 13, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, will perform a splenectomy for Mu. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the surgery. "I hope we will defeat my daughter's condition so that she can live to become a nurse and help others in need when she grows up," says Mu's father.