Chris is a young boy from Kenya who fractured his right hand a few weeks ago while playing with friends. The playful boy was rushed to the nearest clinic and had plaster applied. A week later, he had no improvement. His mother was advised to visit Kijabe hospital. Upon X-ray imaging, Chris was diagnosed with supracondylar fracture and had ORIF recommended. Chris is not able to move his hand and without urgent surgery, he risks having complications on the fracture and is in constant pain. Chris is the only child in his family. He comes from a humble background. His mother takes up a sales job on a casual basis while his father is a construction site worker. Their income is too little to meet the cost of surgery. The family appeals for financial assistance. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. Chris will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will reduce chances of further complications on the hand. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. “I never thought this would happen. Please help my son get treated,” says his mother.

Bo is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his two daughters and his wife in Sagaing Division. Bo and his wife are teachers and his two daughters are students. In his free time, he likes to study and read literature related to the subject he teaches at the private school. But this has also been affected by his poor health, as he can no longer study as much as he did in the past. Bo 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, Bo is anxious and worried about his cardiac condition. He stopped running tuition classes from his home, and he has had to reduce the number of hours he teaches at the school. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Bo. The treatment is scheduled to take place on August 26th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “After I recover from surgery, I will continue to teach, and I will increase the number of tuition classes I run. I will attend some training to increase my teaching skills. I would also like to play cane ball with my friends again,” said Bo.

Marthe is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in seventh grade and is an excellent student. Marthe has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her sick and short of breath. Marthe will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On September 9, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Marthe'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 Marthe's family overseas. She says, "I am looking forward to my surgery so that I can stop worrying about my heart!"

Mu Lu is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her family in Thay Ka Tay Village, Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Fives month ago, Mu Lu started to experience problems with the right side of the top of her throat, when her right salivary gland became swollen. Then the pain worsened, and she had ringing in her ear. The ringing was so loud that she could not hear people properly when they talked to her. She tried to cure herself with traditional medicine, but the pain never disappeared. Mu Lu sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. she is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on May 21. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Mu Lu says, "I am scared to undergo the surgery but there is no other option for my condition to get heal. I hope that after surgery, I will be no longer in pain."

Rithy is a 32-year-old cashew farmer from Cambodia. He likes to play football, listen to music, and go for walks with his wife. In January 2019, Rithy suffered from a machinery accident while working on his farm, injuring his right hand. He has since been treated at a referral hospital, but later developed a loss of sensation in his hand. He is unable to make a fist with his hand, and does not have any feeling in the skin around his injury. When Rithy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On April 30, surgeons at CSC will perform a groin flap procedure to help him regain feeling and movement in his hand. Now, he needs help to fund this $606 procedure. He says, "I hope that after my surgery is complete, I will be able to return back to my work and my hand will no longer give me any issues."

Mekaisi is a farmer and father to nine from Malawi. He lives with his wife and has 34 grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys watching football. Since October 2018, Mekaisi 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 Mekaisi's surgery. On April 2, 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. Mekaisi and his family are both feeling great about this surgery so he can live a normal life again. He says, "Thank you to this project, please continue to assist the needy."

Aye is a seven-year-old girl from Burma. She is a first grade student, and she lives with her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and four cousins while her parents work in Bangkok, Thailand. Aye was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which has caused fluid to build up in her brain, after a CT scan. The scan also showed a small mass in her brain. Doctors want Aye to undergo an MRI, an imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $968 to cover the cost of Aye's MRI and care, scheduled for March 5. Her grandmother says, "I am very worried for my granddaughter especially that they find a mass in her brain."

Soe is a 35-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and youngest son in Mae Sot, Tak Province. Soe has a bile duct stone. Currently, she experiences from back pain as well as lower abdominal pain. Soe has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Soe'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), Soe is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on February 13. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Soe's procedure and care. Soe says, “I want to be healthy and stay happy with my family in my own house.”

Paul is a casual laborer from Kenya. He is a father of four children. In August 2018, Paul sustained a tibia fracture. He is not able to walk on his own without pain and discomfort. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 7, Paul will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Paul says, “I hope that with the treatment, I will be able to walk.”