Sok Chea is a 19-year-old farmer who has two younger brothers. He likes to go to the farm, play soccer, and play games. Five months ago, Sok Chea developed a cholesteatoma, an abnormal skin growth, in his left ear. It causes ear discharge, hearing loss, bleeding, pain, and a ringing or buzzing in his ear. Though he has been taking medication, his symptoms have not improved. He is unhappy because he has difficulty communicating with others. When Sok Chea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On November 24, CSC surgeons performed a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear to remove the cholesteatoma. After recovery, his hearing will improve. Now, he needs help to fund this $842 procedure. "I hope to have no more pain, good hearing, and an easier time communicating with other people, " says Sok Chea.

Meet James, a loving husband and 35-year-old father of two young children from Kenya. He works as a stone mason to provide for his family while his wife is a primary school teacher. James and his family stay in a single roomed house in Nairobi. In July, James was attacked by thieves, and during the altercation, his jaw was injured. X-rays showed a fractured jaw and surgical intervention was highly recommended. Due to the pain, James has not been able to work since July and he is not able to provide for his family. If the fracture remains untreated, James will continue experiencing pain and may develop an infection over time. For $660, James will receive the surgery he needs: an open reduction internal fixation to treat the fracture. James shares with us, "I want to be well to provide for my family through my work." Let's support James, so that he may return to his wife and young children in good health.

Meet Andy, an 18-month-old infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “Andy is the only child in his family and lives with his parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. He enjoys playing with his cat and eating ramen noodles. His mother works at home, cooks, cleans, and takes care of the children. His father is a day laborer in the fields, who makes only a couple dollars per day.” Andy was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. “Andy is below the average height and the average weight for his age,” WK reports, ”He currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result his physical growth is stunted, and we worry his mental growth will be stunted as well.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Andy needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Andy of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Andy will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

In July 2014, 58-year-old Nhor from Cambodia was in a car accident. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Center (CSC), says that she sustained a fracture at the neck of her femur, which is located around her hip region. She was taken to a clinic, where she underwent surgery to repair the fracture. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful. Since then, Nhor has been in pain. "I cannot walk, and it is difficult to work,” shares Nhor, who normally relies on farming to help care for her husband and children. Without treatment, Nhor’s injury may never heal properly, severely limiting her mobility. CSC can treat Nhor with a hemiarthroplasty. Hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure in which part of the hip joint is replaced with prosthetic parts. Nhor’s treatment will cost $392. For this amount, all of her surgical and medical expenses will be covered, and she will be able to recover in the hospital for two days. CSC expects that “after surgery, Nhor will be able to walk again without pain.” "I hope I can go home and heal after my operation. I want to walk again,” says Nhor.

Kyaw is a 39-year-old farmer who lives with his wife and four children in Burma. He was referred to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and kidney stones. “Two years ago, Kyaw started to feel back pain and pain when he urinated,” explains BBP. “He also felt some numbness, and it was difficult to pass urine.” At that time, Kyaw borrowed money to pay for diagnostic tests, but he was unable to pay for the recommended procedures. Since then, Kyaw has been hospitalized twice and had the larger of two kidney stones removed. “Kyaw recovered well from this surgery,” BBP tells us. “He is now scheduled for removal of the kidney stone in his other kidney.” In addition to farming, Kyaw also works as an agricultural day laborer, raises and sells chickens, and grows rice and vegetables for his family. Despite his hard work, the family is not able to save money and will sometimes borrow money for unexpected expenses. For $1,500, Kyaw will undergo surgery to remove the kidney stone. An additional $3,099 from Burma Children Medical Fund will help to cover the costs of transportation to and from the hospital, pre-surgical consultations and tests, eight days of hospital care, and a follow-up visit after surgery. “Following surgery, Kyaw will not have recurring urinary tract infections, fever and back pain,” says BBP. “He will be able to work without pain and continue to support his family.”

Recently Lengai was bitten by a snake while exploring in the bush. "...ever since the incident the condition of his hand has been getting worse despite being taken to the local dispensary," AMHF writes. "Lengai’s mother has spent so much money that she can no longer afford to pay for further treatment of her son’s hand." Meet Lengai from Tanzania. He's four-years-old and the youngest of three children. Lengai's mother is a farmer and has been the sole caretaker of her children since her husband passed away two years ago. "Although he is shy and afraid of people he doesn’t know, he very quickly makes friends after sitting with a person for a while," the AMHF team tells us about Lengai. "He likes being close to his mother and when with children of his age, he likes to run around with them playing games that they know." $780 will cover the cost of an amputation of Lengai's little finger and skin grafting so that he will be able to have full function of his hand. Let's help this little guy out.

"John is a friendly eight-year-old-boy," AMHF tells us about this only child to his parents from Tanzania. "Despite the condition of his hands, John is very active. He likes to play soccer and running." Recently John unknowingly put his hands in boiling hot water which left him with severe burns on both of his hands. "He cannot hold things by using his left hand and it’s even difficult to hold a pencil with his right hand," AMHF writes. Clinicians have recommended a skin graft and contracture release for John right now. While both of his parents work hard to keep their family running, the cost of this treatment, $870, is not something they can cover on their own. “I wish I could use both of my hands," says John. "Sometimes people stare at me and pass comments which make me uncomfortable, but I keep going to school and I hope to become a doctor when I grow up." With spirit like that, John is sure to go far. Let's help him get over this hurdle with ease by funding the care he needs right now.

Sokha is a 50-year-old woman from Cambodia. She takes care of her family at home, and in her free time, Sokha loves to read. Five months ago, a car hit Sokha's motorbike and she broke her leg. Since the accident, she has not been able to work or even walk. Sokha sought treatment from a traditional healer, but the bone has not yet healed. Sokha can not afford the $300 treatment she needs to fix her broken leg. With our assistance, she can be pain-free for the first time in five months. Let's support Sokha and help her get healthy again!

Meet Ruth, a one-month-old baby girl from Kenya. Ruth was born with a condition called spina bifida. This leaves her with an open wound on her lower back and at high risk of a tethered cord infection or kyphoscoliosis. Ruth is an only child. Her parents own a plot of land where they practice small scale farming. Ruth's father is not employed and can not pay for the treatment that his daughter needs. In Swahili, Ruth's mother tells the staff at African Mission Healthcare Foundation, "Ruth is so precious to me, and I pray that she gets treatment soon enough so that she can live a healthy life." For $980, we can cover the necessary and urgent surgery required to close the wound exposing Ruth's spine. The surgery will enable Ruth to live a normal and healthy life. Let's make sure Ruth receives treatment and grows into a healthy young girl.

Born and raised in Tanzania, Monica is the only girl in a family of six. She is a quiet one-year-old who likes to be by her mother’s side. Her parents are hardworking pastoralists, raising livestock to provide for their family. Monica recently suffered a traumatic burn and is having trouble learning how to walk as a result of the scar contracture (tightened skin) that followed. “I pray that my daughter will be able to walk when she grows up,” Monica's mother says. Physicians would like to perform contracture release surgery on Monica's right knee and ankle, skin grafting to the affected area, and an amputation of her 2nd and 5th toes. Totaling out at $1,080, these procedures will enable Monica to walk properly and give her a chance at a normal and productive life.

Kari is a father and artisan from Nepal who has a painful and swollen inguinal hernia. Kari doesn't own his own land, so he supports his wife and children by making crafts from bamboo. His caretakers at our medical partner, Nyaya Health, say "it's really difficult for him to afford treatment on his own." Kari was first diagnosed with this condition four years ago, but until now he's had no hope of being able to afford a referral to a higher center for treatment. With our support, Kari can have a $1390 surgery to repair his hernia, relieve his pain, and prevent potentially fatal complications. The cost of treatment includes travel to Nepal's capital, more than a day away, accompanied by staff from Nyaya Health.

Four year old Rose is one of the youngest of nine children! She has bilateral "genus varus" or bowleggedness. Due to this condition, she experiences severe knee pain and is unable to run or walk normally. Though Rose loves to play with other children, her problems with her joints make it more difficult for her to join in physical activities. Her parents cannot afford the cost of surgery themselves, due to their large family. In order to correct this condition, we are donating $500 towards surgery and the application of long leg casts to Rose's legs. After surgery, her providers expect that Rose will be able to walk normally and will avoid experiencing premature osteoarthritis.