Kundi is a sweet 5-year-old girl. She is the second-born child in her mother’s family of three children. Kundi was diagnosed with left genu valgus, a condition in which her leg bows so that her knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Kundi has difficulty walking and playing. On December 10th, Kundi will undergo corrective surgery at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Treatment will restore Kundi’s mobility, allowing her to participate in various activities and significantly decrease her risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $880 to fund Kundi’s surgery. Kundi’s mother shared, “We are struggling a lot because we have been moving from one hospital to another seeking treatment for our last born child who has sickle cell. We cannot afford Kundi’s treatment. Please help her; she is struggling a lot in walking.”

Razack is a 1-year-old baby boy and the first child in his small growing family. He's a very charming and friendly little boy. Razack's parents are subsistence farmers who farm maize, sunflower,s and beans. They are not able to afford the medical treatment that Razack needs. Razack has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Razack traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on November 18th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Razack's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Razack’s mother says, “Please help my son get this treatment so he can be able to walk properly. He tries to walk but you can see the difficulty as he is walking.”

Mony is a 12-year-old student who is in 8th grade. She has three sisters and her parents work as grocery sellers. In her free time, Mony likes to read books. This has become more difficult for her because about two years ago, the retina of Mony's right eye detached. When Mony's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled there hoping for treatment. On October 14th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. Now, her family needs help to fund this $648 procedure. Mony shared, "I hope I can see well again. I want to do well in school and improve my reading and writing."

Hai lives in Kandal province in southern Cambodia. He is married and has a son who is one year old. Hai's wife was a factory worker, but she stopped when their child was born. Hai enjoys playing football and listening to music in his free time. Hai was involved in a motor accident in October 2020 and experienced trauma to his back and lower limbs. After the accident, Hai went to a government hospital where he received X-rays and medications and was then sent home. Hai still feels poorly, continues to feel pain in his back, and has difficulty walking. He remains in a wheelchair and cannot work. Surgeons plan to use posterior instrumentation to stabilize his spine. A posterior instrumented fusion involves the placement of screws and rods in the spine. This procedure will provide realignment and stabilization of the spine allowing fusion to occur. Hai is seeking $1,500 to fund his surgery, as he is unable to pay for this treatment on his own. Hai shared, "I hope that I will walk again and can get my job back to support my family."

Lemayan is a young three year old boy and the last born child to his mother of five. His father has two wives and a total of seven children in their family. Lemayan's parents are livestock keepers who depend on the sale of milk for their livelihood and once in a while, they are able to sell cattle, however their income is limited. Lemayan was diagnosed with Bilateral Varus. He is having difficulty walking and has pain when he stands or walks for a short distance. His mother noticed the condition when he learned to stand and walk. It began as a slight curve, but over the years the curve has increased significantly. His condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, it has led to Lemayan not wanting to stand or walk by himself, thus forcing the mother to carry him on her back most of the time. Through a visit of doctors to their village, his parents learned that he could get treated at Watsi's medical partner's care center. Lemayan's parents cannot afford the treatment cost and are asking for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lemayan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 19th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lemayan's mobility, allow him to participate in all kinds of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lemayan's mother says, “It was a slight curve back then when he learnt to stand but over the years the curve has increased significantly and now he is scared of walking. Please help.”

Bright is a very charming, friendly, and playful 2-year-old boy. He's his mother's only child. Bright's mother works at a shop as salesperson while his father owns a small liquor shop. The two parents live separately and his mother is single, though his father does try to provide for his son when he is able. Bright was diagnosed with genu varus, a condition typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Bright's legs bow outward so that his knees do not touch. He has having difficulty walking and experiences pain when he walks for a short distance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Bright. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 15th. Treatment will hopefully restore Bright's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Bright’s mother shares, "My son falls down when walking and needs to be supported most of the time, his age mates are running about but not my son, please help."

Guadalupe is an one-year-old baby from Colombia. She is an only child, so she is regarded as the little princess of the family, which consists of her mother, grandma, and uncle. She is already sympathetic and friendly, and loves to play with stuffed toys and with other kids. Guadalupe has clubfoot on 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, Guadalupe's family traveled to visit our medical partner, Clínica Noel, where they can offer treatment. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 13th. Our medical partner is requesting $1,422 to fund Guadalupe's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to start walking and running without pain. Her mother shares a story and her hopes for Guadalupe, "I would really love to see her walk and run normally, she is not the first person with this condition in our whole family, I have a cousin who received treatment when he was 8 years old and it was really hard to see him asking why he couldn't run like the other kids."

Samai is a 62-year-old motor taxi driver. He has six daughters, six sons, and many grandchildren. Samai lives with his wife. Nowadays, Samai stays home and helps to take care of his grandchildren. He likes to listen to the news and to the monks praying on the radio. Five years ago, Samai developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Samai learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there with his daughter seeking treatment. On May 13th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Samai said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can drive my motor taxi again to support my family."

Deborah works as a helper at a house and for a family in Kenya. Her husband passed away 11 years ago and she has been raising their three children on her own. Her children are now adults and, although they are supportive, they don’t yet have stable jobs. One year ago, Deborah began experiencing severe lower abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She needs to have a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $794 to fund Deborah's surgery. On March 18th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Deborah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Deborah shared, “I am in so much pain and the discomfort has made me unable to work. My savings cannot cover the required cost of surgery.”

Isack is 34-year-old from Tanzania and the youngest in a family of six children. One of his older brothers passed away last year due to COVID-19, leaving the family in a tough situation. Before his accident, Isack was working as a driver’s assistant in a truck with his brother, who was the driver. Working as a driver's assistant helped Isack make a living and he was able to support himself. In 2019, however, Isack was involved in an accident which left him with an open wound on his right leg. On the day of the accident, Isack was checking on the truck that was being serviced. As the mechanics were working, gas was unknowingly spilt on Isack's trousers. Afterwards, a match stick caught on Isack's right trouser leg starting a fire. Since then, Isack has not been able to work or support himself due to his leg injury. The wound is not healing, making walking very difficult. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Isack receive treatment. On March 19th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure to heal his wound and infection. Now, Isack needs help to fund this $747 procedure. Isack shared, "I am not able to work and support myself because of my leg. My family is currently struggling and they too cannot help due to lack of money. Please help me have my leg treated so that I can work."

Lonyori is a 6-year-old child from Tanzania. He is the first born child of two in his family. Lonyori has a young sister, Mengori, who also has a similar health condition. Lonyori's parents are small scale farmers of maize and vegetables. They make extra income by selling these crops and also working casual laboring jobs when they can. Lonyori was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, or knock knees. His legs bow inward so that his knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he is unable to walk for a long distance and he complains of pain after a long day. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lonyori. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 9th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lonyori's mobility and allow him to walk comfortably again. It will also prevent his risk of future complications with his legs. Lonyori’s uncle shared, "My nephew is struggling a lot and his parents can’t afford this treatment cost. They are struggling to make ends meet, and they did not have enough to travel to this hospital with Lonyori, so I helped to bring him. Please help my nephew get this treatment.”

Saidi is a 23-year-old from Tanzania who was born with spina bifida. He was able to have his spina bifida corrected when he was younger, which saved his life and allowed him to grow up to a strong young man. Saidi was able to go to school until class seven but was not able to continue with his education due to his parents' financial challenges. Saidi’s parents are small-scale farmers and have six children, of which Saidi is the third born child. Saidi used to join his parents in farming, but he had to stop and seek treatment because his legs and feet are bowed, which makes standing and walking very challenging. In 2014, Saidi came to our medical partner's care center to seek treatment because he had limb external rotation, which was causing him difficulty with walking and carrying out daily life activities. Through funding support, he was able to have his feet and legs corrected, and was able to resume normal life once more. Since then, over the last few years Saidi’s left foot has developed a serious infection that has struggled to heal. The infection would repeatedly start to heal but would return within five to six months, which makes it difficult for him to work and make a life for himself. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 19th, Saidi will undergo a left leg amputation below the knee to save him from the pain and suffering he is going through as doctors noted his foot can no longer be saved. Through this surgery, Saidi will eventually be able to use a prosthetic leg which will enable him to walk with ease and return to his daily life activities. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund this procedure. Saidi shared, “Please help me as this foot has taken me through so much suffering and pain. I would like to be able to work and make a living for myself, but due to this infection I haven't been able to do that. Kindly help me.”