Jilungu is a child from Tanzania. His parents are farmers. Jilungu has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Jilungu traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 5. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Jilungu's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk. Jilungu’s father says, “Please help my son.”

Mafken is a father to six children and a grandfather to many grandchildren. from Malawi. He enjoys farming and relaxing at home with his family. Since April 2017, Mafken has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Mafken's surgery. On October 18, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. He says, “Thank you for funding my surgery, as I am unable to pay for it myself and I am looking forward to being better soon.”

Linn is an 11-month-old baby boy from Thailand. He lives with his parents and two uncles in Mae Sot, Tak Province. His family moved from Karen State, Burma to Thailand just a month ago for better job opportunities. Linn has been diagnosed with a scrotal hernia. Fortunately, on September 26, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Linn's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 26 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. His father says, "My plan for him is to keep him in school when he recovers. Then, I want him to either become a doctor, a teacher, or a boxer.”

Chan is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has one daughter. She likes to watch TV and play games. A few months, Chan 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, Chan experiences ear discharge, pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss. It is difficult for her to hear and communicate. Chan traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 7, 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 hope I have no more ear pain after the surgery."

Esther is a single mother of two from Kenya. She is under the care of her mother because she has epilepsy. Esther 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 Esther. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 8. After treatment, Esther will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Esther says, “My hope is to be treated and help my mother raise my children."

Bryan is a young student from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Bryan's father depends on odd jobs as a constructor, while his mother is a stay-at-home mother. Bryan was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs bow outward at the knees. 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 complains of pain especially after walking for a long distance or after playing with his friends. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Bryan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 6. Treatment will hopefully restore Bryan's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Bryan’s father says, “We really want to help our son have his legs straight but our efforts haven’t helped much, we don’t know what to do next. Please help us."

Kennedy is a casual laborer from Kenya. He sells hats along the streets to make ends meet. Kennedy has a closed femur fracture. He is not able to walk or move and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 5, Kennedy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable Kennedy to heal and walk again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Kennedy says, “I would like to be treated and resume my duties to secure my future."

Suom is a vegetable farmer from Cambodia. She is married and has a daughter. She likes to cook, watch TV programs, and listen to the radio. In January 2018, Suom fell down and fractured her left leg. It causes her chronic pain and she cannot walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 30, Suom will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. This procedure will help her walk easily again. She says, "I hope after the surgery is over, I can walk without pain again."

Jameson is a young student from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and siblings in the mountains of central Haiti. He previously attended elementary school but has not gone this year due to his heart illness. Jameson has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related conditions including a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent his body from getting enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Jameson will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 12, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Jameson'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 Jameson's family overseas. His father says, "Our family thinks it is a miracle that Jameson will have a chance for this surgery!"

Kyaw is a 68-year-old cow herder from Burma. He lives with his wife in Karen State, Burma, earning just enough to cover their daily expenses. In January 2018, Kyaw experienced a sharp pain in his stomach. Since there are no clinics or community health workers in his village, he tried to treat himself with herbal medicine. When this did not work, he was brought to Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center, by a friend who was visiting his village. Due to his illness, he is not able to work anymore. Kyaw has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, Kyaw's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyaw is scheduled to undergo his biliary obstruction repair on March 8. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kyaw's procedure and care. “After my recovery, I would like to stop working, and go to the monastery to become a monk, and live an easy life," says Kyaw.

Tha Zin is a 21-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, three brothers, and three sisters in Pha-An, Karen State. She likes school but has had to stop attending due to her symptoms. Tha Zin first noticed her symptoms in 2014. She started to have difficulty breathing, especially while lying down or sleeping. She also experienced nausea and vomiting after every meal. She underwent surgery for a benign tumor on her face at our medical partner's care center, Chiang Mai Hospital. She felt a lot better after her surgery, but now she feels that her symptoms have returned. Doctors want Tha Zin to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $469 to cover the cost of Tha Zin's CT scan and care, scheduled for February 1. Tha Zin says, "I just want to recover and flee from the disease."

Linah is a happy and gentle two-month-old baby. She lives with her parents and four siblings in Tanzania. Linah’s father is an entrepreneur, and her mother is a secondary school teacher. Linah was born with a left clubfoot. The foot looks like it is turned inwards at the ankle and upwards. This may cause Linah difficulty when attending school or engaging in life activities when she grows up. Doctors have recommended clubfoot repair surgery, scheduled for October 17. Her parents have contributed $45 towards her treatment. However, her father is the only one working at this time, so her parents cannot afford to pay the full treatment cost. She still needs $890 to fully fund her treatment. Linah’s father says, “I will be very grateful to see Linah get treatment and I promise to take Linah to school up to a university graduate level one day when she grows up”. When treated, Linah will be able to walk without difficulty, and she will be able to attend school..