Erick is a seven-month-old baby boy and the youngest child in a family of two children. His mother does laundry work to help provide for the family, while his father is a veterinarian in the area. His business was doing well before the COVID-19 pandemic, but unfortunately, they had to stop paying for health insurance when they became financially strained due to the pandemic. Erick was born with an anorectal malformation, or a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He is scheduled to have corrective surgery on July 5th and now our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,393 to cover the total cost of Erick's procedure and care. After his recovery, Erick will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing severe health complications in the future. Erick’s father shared, “during this hard time of the pandemic, we are not able to raise any money for Erick’s surgery. Please help us."

Reaksa is an 11-year-old student who is in the third grade at a school in her village. Her father works in construction and her mother works in a factory. She also has one brother. In her free time, Reaksa enjoys playing with her brother and playing at her friend's house nearby. One month ago, a preauricular sinus pit infection developed on Reaksa's right ear. She experiences pain and discharge from the wound. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Reaksa to receive treatment. Her family traveled to CSC's care center and on May 20th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, they need help to raise $231 to fund this procedure. Reaksa's parents shared that they hope the infection will go away and their daughter will be free of pain.

Kennedy is a 23-year-old high school graduate and the second born of four children in his family. Kennedy shared that his father sadly passed away in 2006, and his mother works as a house helper in Nairobi. His older brother works as a watchman in the city and his younger siblings are still in school. He is not working currently, and he lives alone in his family home on a quarter-acre of land. On May 22nd, while training to drive a motorbike so that he may be able to do this for an income, he was hit by a speeding vehicle and lost control. He fell along the roadside and fractured his right leg. It is difficult for him to walk and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 2nd, Kennedy will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Kennedy shared, “I recently finished my form four and I have my future to think of. I need to be able to walk well but first I need the surgery to help me.”

Faith is a 41-year-old woman from Kenya and the mother of two children, ages 22 and 15. She used to work as a second-hand shoe seller, but unfortunately, for the last year and a half she has not been working due to her condition. Faith and her children live with her mother who is a farmer. Several weeks ago, Faith had spinal surgery. During one of her follow-up check-ups, doctors noticed that she has purulent drainage from the wound and recommended an urgent surgical revision of her thoracolumbar spinal fusion. She is currently unable to sit upright. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 4th, surgeons from AMH will perform revision spinal surgery. Now, Faith needs help raising $1,500 to fund the procedure. Faith shared, “I am unable to walk without support. Most of the time I lay asleep on my back. I cannot take care of my kids who depend on me. I need this surgery to have my life get back to normal, especially walking again.”

Vivian is a fifth-grade student and the eldest of two children in her family. Vivian is a friendly and a hard working girl both at school and at home. She loves to help her mother with house chores and enjoys learning new things. In 2019, Vivian was involved in a fire accident which has left her with burns and contracture on her right side. As a result, her range of movement is limited and it is difficult for her to use her right side of her body freely. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Vivian receive treatment. On May 11th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure to repair her injury and increase mobility on that side of her body. Now, Vivian's family needs help to fund this $747 procedure. Vivian’s mother shared, "After her first surgery, she could use her arm well but over the year it has started contracting again. She has been scheduled for another surgery which we cannot afford. Please help."

Joan is a playful and happy three-year-old girl. She's the third born in a family of four. Their family lives in a rental house in a small town in Kenya. Her father works as a shopkeeper, and her mother is a housewife. Joan's father earns limited wages from the business, especially during the difficult times caused by the COVID pandemic. Having been blessed with four children, Joan's father's income is often not enough to cater to the basic needs of his children and also pay for the health care that Joan needs. Joan was brought to the hospital with recurrent tonsillitis and pain when swallowing for more than a year now. She has difficulty sleeping, and breathing when she sleeps. These symptoms are attributed to enlarged tonsils that are blocking her airways. Her mother also reported that when Joan has an active infection, she is not able to feed well and even has difficulty in breathing during the day. Before they came to Kapsowar Hospital, Joan's mother had been taking her to a health facility for treatment with antibiotics, though they have not been effective. Our surgeons have recommended that Joan’s condition is best treated surgically and have booked her for a tonsillectomy. The surgery will improve her general well-being and bring her peace during the night and aid in proper feeding. Joan's family is requesting any well-wisher to support them so that their daughter can undergo surgery. Joan will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy on April 23rd. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $420 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will be able to sleep and breathe peacefully throughout the night. Joan's mother shared, “I want my child to get treated so that she can breathe well and sleep well. Thank you for your support.''

Naw Mu is a five-year-old girl who lives with her family in a refugee camp in Northern Thailand. Naw Mu, her older brother and older sister are all primary school students. Her mother is a homemaker and her father works as a day laborer outside of the camp when he can. Her parents also look after a small shop in the camp. Her family's combined income is just enough to cover their family expenses and are grateful they can receive basic healthcare and education in the camp. On April 8th, Naw Mu was playing with her friends when she fell to the ground and injured her left arm. Her mother immediately took her to the hospital in the camp, run by Malteser International Thailand. When the medics examined her arm, they suspected that Naw Mu's forearm was fractured and referred her to another hospital to confirm her diagnosis. After Naw Mu received an x-ray, the doctor confirmed that Naw Mu's radius and ulna bones are broken. Currently, Naw Mu is experiencing pain in her left arm and has to take pain medication to have comfort and to sleep. She cannot lift her left hand or move it around. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Naw Mu will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for April 9th and will cost $1,500. With this treatment, she will no longer be in pain and she will be able to move her hand and arm fully again in the future. Naw Mu's father shared, “my daughter loves to play outsides with her friends and watching cartoon clips on the phone. After she receives surgery, I hope that she is able to play with her friends again.”

George is an 11-year-old boy and the third child in his family. George is in grade six and loves playing football a lot. Both of his parents are farmers. To earn a living, his mother sells the farm produce, which makes them some income. To supplement these earnings, his father completes any informal jobs he can find. George was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, George has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. George will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 3rd. AMHF is requesting $561 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. George’s father shared, “It is very difficult for us as a family to raise the required amount for his surgery. We are grateful and appreciative of any help offered to us."

Mbahabwe is a married mother of two, expecting her third child this month. Her husband operates a small retail shop and the family lives in a single-room rental house. Mbahabwe lost her teaching job when the COVID pandemic struck, and her husband's income is only able to meet the family's cost of living. In 2016 and 2018, Mbahabwe had Caesarean deliveries due to poor progress and short interpregnancy interval. When she was examined during her last visit, her doctor advised her to undergo a cesarean delivery to prevent complications such as uterine rupture. She is unable to meet the cost of delivery at the local hospital. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mbahabwe receive this procedure. They are requesting $252 to fund the procedure. On February 16th, surgeons at their care center will perform a C-section surgery that will allow her to deliver her baby safely. Mbahabwe shared, "I will be glad for your support because I was worried about how I would pay my hospital bill. I hope to deliver a healthy baby and will continue teaching once schools reopen."

Baguma is a 48-year-old salesman from Uganda. He is married and a father to five children, with one son and four daughters who all are still in school studying at different levels. He studied hard, completed his senior four, and later joined an agricultural school where he studied farming and animal husbandry. Baguma currently earns a living from a where he works as a salesman at an agro-pharmacy and he is paid on a commission basis. He also does some agriculture where he grows food crops for his family's consumption because his job does not pay well enough to meet his family's needs. Since two years ago, Baguma has had an inguinal scrotal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and if not treated, he may suffer intestinal tissue obstruction and damage. Fortunately, on September 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $230 to fund Baguma's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Baguma shared with us: “I hope to get well after my surgery is done. I will be able to continue with my job and maybe resume with farming after I have completely recovered.”

Julia is a widow and practices small-scale farming. Julia's four children are all casual laborers and don’t have stable jobs. She has been using the little income from farm produce to raise her children and pay for her needs. In early February, Julia started complaining of abdominal pains and chronic back pain. A series of CT-scans revealed a malignant mass in her colon. Doctors then advised for an urgent hemicolectomy surgery to treat her colon carcinoma. Fortunately our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Now, they need your help to fund this $616 surgery. This surgery will hopefully stop the spread of her cancer. Julia shared, “I am now old and weak and my children are unable to pay for the surgery. I need help to fund this procedure so that I can enjoy my old age in peace."