Antonia Tzaj is a hardworking woman from Guatemala. She lives with her husband and three children in a rural community. Antonia Tzaj underwent a pap smear test with the nurses in our medical partner's women's health program, and the results of her pap came back positive. Though Antonia Tzaj does not currently have symptoms, she still needs to undergo a colposcopy, which is a guided biopsy procedure that removes affected areas of the cervix. A colposcopy is often curative for cancerous or precancerous lesions of the cervix, and it is therefore is the best way to prevent the spread of cervical cancer. With $218 in funding, Antonia Tzaj will consult with a specialist who will perform the colposcopy. Even if cancer or pre-cancer is found in her biopsy results, this procedure is often curative. She will be able to continue to work and sustain her family. The procedure is scheduled for September 7. She says, "I have limited resources but I am willing to travel as many times as necessary to combat the disease."

Myint is a woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two children. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver, while Myint takes care of her children. Myint was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Myint has difficulty breathing and no appetite. She is always tired and has pain under her lower ribs. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Myint. The treatment is scheduled to take place on September 2 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably.

Linn is a 30-year-old man from Burma. In May 2017, he fell down the stairs at his house and hurt his right leg. Since then, his leg became very painful. A doctor diagnosed him with bone tuberculosis, and he was on medication for 18 months. However, his condition did not improve, so he went to another hospital, where he was diagnosed with a hip problem that needs a surgical intervention. Currently, Linn cannot walk for more than five minutes. He also experiences pain. Fortunately, Linn learned about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Linn of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for September 11, and Linn needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. He says, “I wish I can walk again with no pain in the future. I am very grateful that I will receive help for my surgery.”

Onesiforo is a young child from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two. He is an active boy who loves to play with his brother. Onesiforo’s parents are small-scale farmers. Last year, Onesiforo was sitting next to a fire when the cloth in which he was wrapped caught fire. Most parts of his stomach and hands were severely burned. The burns have turned into contractures, limiting his ability to use his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Onesiforo receive treatment. On September 6, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him use his right hand again and go back to school. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Onesiforo’s father says, “Since his arm healed and his skin contracted, he has not been able to use his right arm, making his life difficult. Please help my son get the needed surgery and be able to use his arm again.”

Mariana Coroy is a hardworking woman from Guatemala. She underwent a pap smear test with the nurses in our medical partner's women's health program, and the results of her pap came back positive. Though Mariana Coroy does not currently have symptoms, she still needs to undergo a colposcopy, which is a guided biopsy procedure that removes affected areas of the cervix. A colposcopy is often curative for cancerous or precancerous lesions of the cervix, and it is therefore is the best way to prevent the spread of cervical cancer. With $218 in funding, Mariana Coroy will consult with a specialist who will perform the colposcopy. Even if cancer or pre-cancer is found in her biopsy results, this procedure is often curative. She will be able to continue to spend more quality time with her family and see her grandchildren grow. The procedure is scheduled for September 5. She says, "I want to be able to spend more time with my family and be healthy."

Blessing is a young boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family. His mother looks after the children while his father works as a real estate agent. For two years, Blessing has been experiencing hearing loss. He is not able to speak. Fortunately, his audiologist believes that hearing aids will help. Blessing is scheduled to receive the hearing aids on August 2. Now, his family needs help raising $929 to pay for them. Blessing’s mother says, “I will be grateful to see him develop."

Mujuni is a baby from Uganda. He is the youngest of three children. Mujuni’s parents are farmers. For five months, Mujuni has had an inguinal scrotal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and if not treated, it may result in intestinal tissue damage and death. Fortunately, on August 8, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Mujuni's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. His mother says, "After surgery my son will grow up in good health and I will have peace of mind."

Nar is a four-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, grandparents, and two aunts in Mawlamyine City in Mon State. Just before she turned two, her mother noticed a small lump on her neck. The mass became larger as she grew. Her mother took her to several hospitals for possible treatment. At our medical partner's care center, her doctor recommended a surgery to remove the benign tumor. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on August 27. Her family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care.

Yasin is a baby from Tanzania. He is an only child to his young parents. Yasin was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs are bowed outward. 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 has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Yasin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 6. Treatment will hopefully restore Yasin's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Yasin’s mother says, “Thank you very much you have brought hope to us."

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. He was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Emmanuel is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 24. This procedure will hopefully spare Emmanuel from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “I am truly happy that we may get help for Emmanuel’s treatment,” says Emmanuel’s guardian.

Sambo is a farmer from Cambodia. She has two sons. She likes to watch Thai films on TV. Two years ago, Sambo developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing her irritation and burning. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Sambo learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Sambo needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for September 10. She says, "I hope my vision improves so I can return to work."

Paul is a baby from Tanzania. He is the first child to his young parents. Paul's parents practice small-scale farming in order to meet their basic needs. Paul has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Paul has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Paul 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 Paul that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 7 and will drain the excess fluid from Paul's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Paul will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Paul’s mother says, “Please help us.”