Jarso is is a talkative and lively boy from Kenya. He is an aspiring soldier who has a severe wound on the right leg. He has not been able to go to school for more than two years now because of his condition. He is the youngest of two children. His mother passed away in 2015 and his father is a casual laborer in a dense urban part of the city that has a lot of poverty. He does not have medical coverage and already has a bill that his family is unable to pay. The stress on his family has also lead his father to seek psychological therapy in the facility. Jarso's father shared that two years ago, Jarso was pricked by a sharp object on his right leg but never reported it. He started experiencing extreme pain and abnormal swelling and was taken to a health facility in their hometown where he was treated for pain and swelling. His condition did not improve and his father opted to take him to his grandfather in Ethiopia where he was put under herbal and traditional treatments. The wound only worsened to the extent that he was constantly bedridden. He returned to Kenya where his neighbors advised him to visit Kijabe Hospital for care. On June 13th, Jarso was reviewed by the plastic surgery team and urgent care was recommended. He has so far undergone two major surgeries (Sequestrectomy and a debridement). He still needs another debridement and flap cover procedure to heal. His father cannot afford the surgery, he is appealing for financial support. Jarso is unable to walk without support and risks an amputation if the wound is not well treated. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jarso receive treatment. On July 13th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to heal his chronic wound and the risk for amputation will be significantly reduced. After complete healing, he will be able to return to school. Now, Jarso's family needs your help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Jarso's father says, “I am almost giving up! I thought it is a simple wound but it has taken over two years to heal. He has been through a lot of treatment including herbal and traditional remedies. They have all failed. The bone is so infected that he cannot even walk. He has missed school for two years now. I hope the treatment now enables him to walk and go back to school.”

Joy is the first born child in her family. She is two weeks old. Their young family is feeling privileged and happy to welcome their firstborn baby, however, they are saddened by the fact that their baby needs medical care for her foot. Her condition has caused Joy’s parents a lot of worry about their daughter’s future. Joy’s mother is a housewife who completed secondary school and never was able to proceed to college due to a lack of funds. Joy's father just completed college and hasn’t been employed yet. The family doesn’t have a house of their own and still lives with their parents. When Joy was six days old, she was brought to the hospital by her mother with concerns of umbilical code sepsis. She was admitted to receive IV antibiotics and general medical management. While receiving medication in the ward, she developed wounds on her leg due to several attempts of cannulation. Over time her condition worsened and her wounds became septic. After several efforts to clean her wounds, it was noticed that her foot was not healing. After a long consultation with the medical team, the possibility of amputation was suggested to avoid further affecting her entire leg. Joy is in need and her family's inability to pay for the surgery has made them live with constant anxiety and worry about her future. Their family is appealing for financial assistance. Joy’s mother says, “I feel sorry about my child. It is painful for her to undergo this while she is just a few days old. Despite this, I will work hard to make her happy as she grows up."

Zera is a five-year-old girl and the firstborn child in her family of two. She is a curious girl and very helpful with her young sister at home. Zera has not started school yet, but her parents hope to enroll her in school when she is seven years old.  Zera was born with a right clubfoot; a condition whereby her foot is curved inward at the ankle making it hard and painful to walk. Her parents and relatives tried to get her treatment at nearby clinics and were referred to other hospitals. Unfortunately, they could not afford to go. Zera has been experiencing difficulty in walking and playing due to the way her leg is curved. A few months ago Zera's aunt had her child treated at Watsi's Medical Partner's Care Center ALMC Hospital where she shared about Zera's condition. Zera's aunt told their family about the hospital hoping she could be assisted. Zera's parents are subsistence farmers who do not earn enough to pay for Zera's medical care and they need help so that Zera can start her treatment. This will allow Zera to be able to walk without difficulty when she starts school. Fortunately, Zera's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Zera's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily and free of pain. Zera shared with us, “I feel pain when walking, I cannot walk fast or run like my friends. I will be very happy if I receive treatment and be able to walk.”

Savin is a 31-year-old rice and vegetable farmer from Cambodia. She has two daughters, and in her free time she enjoys doing the housework and preparing meals for her family. Seven years ago, Savin 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, Savin experiences hearing loss, ear drainage, headache, and tinnitus. She is unable to hear other clearly and has a difficult time communicating with her family. Savin traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 18, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right 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. Savin said, "I hope that after surgery, I will no longer have any ear infections and the discharge will stop so I can hear clearly again."

Grace is a peasant farmer from Uganda who has been having a progressively increasing occipital neck mass for the past two months. The painful mass makes her days and nights very uncomfortable and she is not able to attend to her daily duties. She opted to come to the hospital after the pain persisted. Following a scan, she was diagnosed with the occipital lipoma and a mass excision recommended. Grace is a peasant farmer while her husband operates a small butchery. Their combined income is negligible to afford the cost of surgery and meet other daily needs. She also cares for her elderly mother making it harder for her to afford the cost for all her demands. Grace appeals for help. Grace traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 12, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Grace needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Grace says, "I hope to continue with cultivation after surgery.”

John is a student from Kenya. He is a form two student, aged 16 years from Zambezi in Kiambu County. He is a cheerful young man and the second last born in a family of six. John seems to be of a playful and easy going nature. John’s parents are both small scale farmers He fell from a tree and sustained a closed fracture of the left humerus on 20th August. He visited our facility and was reviewed by the surgeon who recommended ORIF. He is not able to use his left arm and is in chronic pain Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On September 05, John 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 $998 to fund this procedure. “I am looking forward to the day when I will be able to use my left hand like I was used to.” said John with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Rollins is a young boy from Kenya who was diagnosed with bilateral undescended testis at six months. His mother noticed something was wrong while bathing him. Rollins parents sought help from various hospitals, wishing to know what was wrong with their son. They brought the boy to BethanyKids where he was diagnosed with undescended testis and a surgical intervention recommended. If not treated, Rollins is at risk of suffering fertility problems, developing testicular cancer and/or inguinal hernia. Rollins parents are peasants. His father is a driver while the mother is a housewife. They live in Nakuru, Rift Valley. Rollins is the second born of two children. They are able to raise $102 which is not enough to pay for the surgery needed. They want, more than anything in the world, for their son to get better so that he will live a normal happy life, one without the pain and discomfort that undescended testes would bring. Rollins will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 05. AMHF is requesting $542 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “Please help my son not to suffer infertility in future,” said Rollin’s mother.

Fauzia is a beautiful-20 months old girl, the only child to her parents. She was born normal but as she progressed, her mother noted her legs to be bowing outwardly. She was concerned and decided to seek a doctor. She was put on calcium medication and diet to strengthen the bones. However, she did not improve. They had little income to seek further care for their child. Fortunately, her mother was referred to our facility by a neighbour and encouraged to take the child soonest they could. She was diagnosed with genu varus, a condition where the legs bow outwardly, and surgery recommended to correct the deformity. Fauzia's parents are quite needy. Her father is a truck driver with limited income which he uses to meet the needs of his family. Her mother is a housewife. The family appeals for financial assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Fauzia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 18th. Treatment will hopefully restore Fauzia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Fauzia’s mother says, “We have tried calcium medication but it has not helped correct her legs, please help her get this treatment the cost is too high for us to afford.”