Medard is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is his mother's only child, but he lives with his grandmother because his mother's health is currently compromised. While she was pregnant, his mother experienced a difficult pregnancy and was constantly on medication to help ensure healthy brain growth for Medard. He arrived before his due date and had to spend a few weeks in nursery. As he grew older and began walking, his grandmother noticed his leg bowing. Medard was diagnosed with genu valgus, a condition that causes his right leg to bow inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Medard struggles to walk. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Medard. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 4th. Treatment will hopefully restore his mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. His grandmother shares, “I believe that by helping Medard I will be helping his mother heal too."

Gloria is a farmer and mother of nine children with four pairs of twins and a youngest child. Gloria's children are still in school. Gloria had hoped to become a banker, but could not afford the school fees. Gloria and her husband work together as farmers. Her husband also trades charcoal to help make ends meet for their family. Most of their income is dedicated to the family's basic needs and school fees so the family is unable to afford healthcare at this time. Fifteen years ago, Gloria began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, persistent headaches, and shortness of breath. Gloria was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter. She could not find relief with traditional treatment and now requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), is helping Gloria receive treatment. Gloria is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on September 6th where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMHF is helping Gloria raise $252 to cover the cost of this procedure. Gloria shared, “I come to you asking for your support, without it I won’t be able to raise the money needed for my surgery. I need to save my health, but have no way out.”

Kalveli is a 56-year-old butcher. He is married and his wife works as a farmer. The couple has four children; their eldest is now married with her own family, while their younger three children are in school. For about eight years, Kalveli has had an inguinal hernia. He is in pain, and the pain worsens when he strains. He recently visited our medical partner's care center for an examination and surgery was recommended to help him finally heal. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Kalveli receive treatment. On February 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Now, he needs help raising $230 to fund his procedure and care. Kalveli shared, "I have been with this pain for eight full years but this time around it became unbearable. I hope that with surgery, I will be able to lead a comfortable life."

Robert is a 56-year-old mechanic from Uganda. He is a father of six children, all of whom are in school. Robert attended school when he was young until the third grade, and later learned to be a mechanic through on the job training. His wife works as a farmer. For the last three years, Robert has had an inguinal swell that has caused him discomfort over time. Whenever he is doing strenuous activities or laughing, the swell becomes painful. Robert has always tried to manage his condition with medicine, but since it was not effective in suppressing the pain, he sought care at Nyakibale Hospital. Robert was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, and doctors recommend he undergo a hernia repair surgery. Without treatment, he will continue having pain and may suffer from hernia strangulation. However, Robert is not able to afford his cost of care due to financial constraints with supporting his family and is requesting help. Fortunately, on December 22nd, Robert will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, needs $230 to fund Robert's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and to return to his daily life activities. Robert shared, “I hope to have a new life after my surgery and continue with my mechanic work, supporting our family.”

Mgosi is a 17-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She is a beautiful, friendly, and playful girl. She is the last born to her mother, who has three children, and shared that Mgosi's father is polygamous with three wives and a total of twelve children. Mgosi was born with a right clubfoot that has made her not able to learn how to walk until now. Mgosi was born at home with the help of a midwife and her parents were informed about her condition and advised to seek treatment for her. Due to financial challenges, they have not been able to do so. Both of her parents are small-scale farmers and sell a small amount of their harvest in order to buy other basic commodities. Our medical partner's outreach team visited their village and Mgosi’s parents got to hear about ALMC Hospital and The Plaster House. They decided to seek help for her. Mgosi has been diagnosed with right clubfoot and an umbilical hernia, which both need to be corrected. For her clubfoot, she will start with manipulation and casting to help corrected her foot enabling her to be able to walk like her age mates and save her from the challenges she is going through at the moment. Thereafter, she will be able to have her umbilical hernia corrected. Mgosi's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Mgosi's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to ambulate with ease. Mgosi’s mother shared, “I would love to see my daughter walk like other children of her age please help my daughter. The cost is too high for us to afford it.”

Bruce is a primary school teacher from Uganda. Bruce has been diagnosed with right reducible inguinal hernia, that has affected him for the past 8 years. Previously, he had herniorrhaphy done but he still complains of pain on the excision site. Due to the current hernia, he is not able to complete extraneous activities nor maintain persistent standing. Bruce came to our facility and had surgery recommended. If not treated, Bruce will continue experiencing pain in the hernia area. Bruce is a father of one child who is in nursery school. The primary school teacher's income is quite low to afford the cost of hospital care. His wife operates a small retail shop in the village, which has little income as well. He is not able to raise the funds needed for the planned surgery. Bruce appeals for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Bruce's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Bruce says “I will be glad to have my condition treated and I have a better quality of life to continue with my job of teaching the nation.”

Vy is a 14-year-old monk from Cambodia. He is the oldest of three bothers, and in his free time he likes to read scripture and story books. When he was a child, Vy had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Vy experiences discharge, tinnitus, hearing loss, and irritation. He is unable to hear properly, affecting his communication with others. Vy traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 30, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $831 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. He says, :I hope that after my surgery, I will no longer worry about my ear infection and I will be able to hear clearly again."

Ma Kyin is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two daughters in May Pala village, Kyain Seikgyi township, Karen State. She and her husband provide for the family by farming rice fields near their home. For about three years, Ma Kyin has been experiencing discomfort and pain in her abdomen. She has been diagnosed with a uterine mass. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ma Kyin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ma Kyin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on January 29. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will be no longer be in pain and she will be able to help her husband with farming again. Ma Kyin said, “I was nervous about surgery at first, but I know that I must get the surgery for my children so I can continue working to provide for my daughters. I want them to attend school and complete their education."

Koeun is a baker from Cambodia. She has two daughters, five sons, and ten grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Koeun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Koeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 23, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $211 procedure. Her daughter-in-law says, "I worry about her vision and I want my mother-in-law to be able to see better."

Meet Nancy, a mother of eleven children. Nancy is a farmer, and she uses her income to pay the school fees of her three youngest children. Her older children are married and have families of their own. Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago. She delayed treatment until recently, when she began to experience some troubling complications. On November 16, she underwent a mastectomy surgery. She needs help to fund this $816 procedure. Moving forward, Nancy will undergo chemotherapy and radiation to fight her cancer. "I want to be treated," says Nancy. "I want to be there for my children."

Two-year-old Gwaruga is a smiling little boy from Tanzania. He was born on January 1st, 2013 and will soon celebrate his third birthday. He was born with unilateral clubfoot, and uses the lateral aspect of his right foot when walking. He is in pain and his gait is affected. If left untreated, he may develop osteoarthritis. “Gwaruga’s mother is the second wife to her husband who has two wives and a total of fifteen children,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Gwaruga is very active and enjoys playing with all sorts of toys and tins. He also likes to play with mud making different shapes out of mud. He likes to hum when playing.” Gwaruga’s parents are small scale farmers and rely on growing and selling maize and peanuts. With so many dependents, Gwaruga’s parents have not been able to come up with enough money to cover the cost of treatment which their son needs. For $1,160, Gwaruga will receive treatment that includes surgery, casting, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy. After completing treatment, “Gwaruga’s right foot will be straight allowing him to walk on plantigrade,” says AMHF. “I will be happy to see my son able to walk properly like my other children,” his father says.

Eight-month-old Vivian lives with her mother and father in Kenya. “Vivian was born without an anal opening,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She passes stool through a colostomy opening on the upper section of her abdomen and then into a collection bag.” “Vivian is at risk of infection because of occasional leakages that occur and cause general irritation and scaring on her skin,” AMHF adds. “If not treated, she will never be able to pass stool normally.” Vivian’s mother stays at home to care for her, while her father works as a cleaner at a shop close to their home, The money that her father earns does not cover basic needs for the family and his orphaned siblings, whom he also supports. Given the family’s financial situation, they are unable to pay for Vivian’s medical care. With $1,260 in funding, Vivian can undergo an anorectoplasty to create a new anal opening and correct the anorectal malformation. The surgery, says AMHF, will “allow Vivian to pass stool normally.” “I hope my child will pass stool normally soon,” says Vivian’s father. “Thank you for helping us.”