Praxidis is a farmer from Kenya. She is a mother of four children and lives with her husband. Praxidis has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Praxidis. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 4. After treatment, Praxidis will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Praxidis says, “I am optimistic that soon I will be treated and go back to the village to help my husband in the farm.”

Jane is a widow from Kenya. She is a mother of four daughters. For one year, Jane has been experiencing troubling gynecological symptoms. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $718 to fund Jane's surgery. On May 30, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Jane will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She says, “I kindly request for support because the doctor explained to me the risks. I hope this surgery will be done soon successfully so that I can have hope of living.”

Irene is a young girl from Tanzania. She is an only child to her parents. She loves school and making new friends. Irene is currently in grade four. Her parents are both subsistence farmers. Irene has clubfoot of her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Irene traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 3. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Irene's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Irene says, “I am grateful that I will be able to walk well like all of my friends. Thank you for getting me treated.”

Jean Emile is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and two brothers in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He has been attending preschool, and likes playing with cars and action figures. Jean Emile has a cardiac condition called large ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Jean Emile will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 6, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Jean Emile'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 Jean Emile's family overseas. His mother says, "I have been praying for years that my son could have this surgery. I am very excited the time has arrived!"

Beth is a small-scale farmer from Kenya. She has four children and works with her husband. Beth has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Beth. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 5. After treatment, Beth will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Beth says, “I wish I could be treated and no longer be in pain. Kindly help me."

“Please help my granddaughter get treatment,” says Lightness’s grandmother. “She is in pain.” Lightness is a three-year-old girl from Tanzania who loves to play. She is also very curious about school, and her grandparents hope that she will grow up to be a successful teacher someday. Recently, while Lightness’s whole family was sleeping, a snake got into their house through a hole in the wall. It climbed into Lightness’s bed and bit her middle finger. She woke up with a cry of pain. Lightness’s father treated the snake bite with herbs. Although these lessened the pain, the child’s hand kept swelling, and she developed a fever. By the time Lightness’s parents rushed her to the hospital, the tissue in her finger had already begun to die. Now, the best course of treatment for Lightness is to amputate the finger in order to prevent further complications. However, Lightness’s parents cannot afford the operation. Her father supports his five children’s school fees and daily needs with the income he earns from farming. There is no extra money for unexpected costs. But with your help, we can raise the $1,035 needed for Lightness’s operation on December 22. This total will also cover the costs of her lab tests, three-day hospital visit, and stay at a recovery center for children. No toddler should have to live in pain. Let’s do what we can to help Lightness.

William is a student from Kenya. He is 15 years old and the youngest in his family. William’s mother is a single parent who works as a farmer. William 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. William crawls to move around. Fortunately, William traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on November 13. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund William's clubfoot repair. After treatment, William will be able to walk and move around more easily. “I will appreciate if you help my son undergo surgery,” William’s mother says.

Aung is a 31-year-old man from Burma. When Aung was 20, he began to experience inexplicable weakness in his lower limbs. After walking for even a short distance, he would fall down. By the time he turned 22, he could no longer walk. Aung's paralysis has caused him to spend his waking hours sitting, which causes pressure sores, also called ulcers. Sometimes these sores become infected and Aung is required to seek antibiotic treatment. He hopes to find a way to heal this sore. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $851 to fund Aung's treatment. Surgeons will remove the ulcerous tissue on July 6, relieving Aung of his infection and pain. "I hope to open up a shop where I will repair broken TV, VCR, and DVD-players and can generate income for my family," Aung says.

Tin (BB), a 14-month-old girl from Burma, was born with a large teratoma, a tumor, protruding from her groin area. The teratoma is about half her body size. Tin (BB) already had one surgery for her teratoma. However, for her last follow up, the doctor did an ultrasound and found an abnormal mass in her big intestine. At first, the doctor said the tumor was big and too dangerous to operate. However, the doctor injected the tumor, reducing its size. On October 5, Tin (BB) will undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 to help fund the treatment. Tin (BB)'s mother says, "I am worried for my daughter and I hope that the surgery will be successful and she will grow up well like other children."

“I have always loved working with children,” explains Mercy. “My dream is to one day open a children’s home where I can take care of abandoned children.” Mercy lives in Kenya with her husband and three children. Mercy tends to the children and household while her husband works as a farmer on land he’s rented to grow potatoes for sale. Mercy and her family live with her husband’s parents, and rely on what they can produce from their small farm and four goats to provide for the family. “Mercy started experiencing lower back pain and a foul smelling discharge months ago,” report our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “A scan revealed the [uterine prolapse] condition. If not treated, Mercy could develop a severe infection which could affect her kidneys.” For $800, we can fund a total abdominal hysterectomy to treat Mercy’s back pain and repeated infections. Let’s help Mercy pursue her dream of caring for more children free from the social stigma and health risks associated with her symptoms.

“I hope the mass on the back of my daughter’s neck can be removed. I think once the mass is out, my baby will be able to grow normally. She will be strong and grow up to become an independent young lady,” says Riziki’s mother, Agnes. This is Riziki, a two-year-old girl from Tanzania who was born with a small lesion on the back of her neck. Over time, it has gotten larger, and Agnes worries that her daughter will not be able to develop properly. “Riziki is delaying in all of the developmental stages,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “The mass on the back of her neck can rupture at any time and leak cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). It is life-threatening to have an open lesion and lose CSF.” Currently, Riziki’s mother works as a small-scale farmer. Her husband is looking for work in a neighboring country but has not returned home since before Riziki was born. Agnes cannot afford the cost of surgery, which is where we come in! $1,100 will fund the surgery to remove the mass on Riziki’s neck. “Riziki will have a better chance to grow normally and become independent,” explains AMHF.

“I am still young and I hope to be able to work and have my own family,” says James, filled with hope. Meet James, a 33-year-old young man from Kenya. James used to work as a bus conductor, a job that took care of his basic needs. In 2014, James was involved in a hit and run road traffic accident, which resulted in a fractured tibia. He is in pain and is unable to use his right leg. James was taken to a hospital where the surgeon advised he undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. The surgery has not been done because James cannot afford it as he is no longer working due to his broken leg. If not treated, the bones will fail to unite completely and James will be unable to walk and earn a living. For $1,125, James will receive the ORIF surgery. “We expect after an ORIF, the bones will unite and James will be able to use his legs again,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, begins to explain. “James will be able to work so that he can support himself and also achieve his dream of raising a family.” Let’s give James the treatment he needs to continue living his life!