Vanna is a 64-year-old government employee. He and his wife have six children together, all of whom are grown and started their own families. His wife was a rice farmer, but recently retired. He reads a lot of books, and has started to collect books to give to his grandchildren. He also enjoys watching news on TV. Vanna has had chronic back pain for over ten years. He has managed the pain with painkillers and light exercise, but recently it started to get worse. He experiences numbness in his legs, and has difficulty sitting and standing. He came to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) on recommendation from a friend, and has been diagnosed with lumbar stenosis, a condition in which spinal nerves are pressured by the bone. Doctors will perform a laminectomy in order to relieve that pressure. This will allow him to walk easily with out pain. Now, CSC needs your help to fund this $1,027 procedure. Vanna shared, "I can't imagine life without back pain, so I am simply excited to feel what it will feel like when the surgery is done."

Sokim is a newborn baby from Cambodia. She is only one month old. Her parents are farmers from Ratanakiri province and has one older sibling. Sokim has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Sokim traveled 10 hours to seekcare from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, surgeons will perform an achilles tendon lengthening procedure on August 4th. CSC is requesting $385 to fund Sokim's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her feet will be able to develop normally, so that she will be able to walk easily. Sokim's mother shared, "I want to see my daughter walk and run and play with her friends, so I am glad that we have the opportunity for this treatment."

Son is a 58-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has three son, two daughters, and fifteen grandchildren. Her whole family takes part in the rice planting. She spends most of her free time reading Buddhist literature. Six months ago, the retina of Son's left eye detached, causing her loss of vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Son learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four-and-a-half hours seeking treatment. On May 8th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $648 procedure. Son's husband said, "I miss having her work beside me, and I want her to be able to go anywhere she likes by herself. So I hope this surgery helps her see clearly."

Havireak is a 31-year-old man from Cambodia with one older brother. Havireak has developmental disabilities and has never worked outside of the family home. Due to his needs, his mother looks after him. Havireak's father passed away many years ago from liver cancer. His mom is retired so she has time to care for him but she is getting older making things more difficult. Havireak's brother supports them both. Two years ago a skin ulceration on Havireak's buttocks developed. The skin became infected and there is a large wound of the sacral region. This limits his ability to sit and sleep in a comfortable position. As it has grown it has become more painful and infected. When Havireak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled to the hospital seeking treatment. On June 1st, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement and skin flap procedure to clear out infected skin and close the wound. He will be able to feel comfortable again and not require so much special care from his family. Now, he needs help to fund this $657 procedure. His mom says, "his condition worries me so much and I am worried that if it gets any worse I can not continue helping him each day."

Shatrice is a playful child whom her mother describes as exploring. She was born with hearing loss which was only noted when she was two years old. Efforts to seek treatment in their home area were fruitless. This was mainly because of financial limitation. Her mother was advised to bring her to Watsi's medical partner facility, about 500km from their village. Shatrice was diagnosed with profound hearing loss and requires hearing aids. With the fittings, she will develop her speech and her hearing will greatly improve. Shatrice’s mother is the only breadwinner in the family. She has to care for her two children and Shatrice’s grandmother who is struggling with esophageal cancer. From time to time, she has to take up cleaning jobs to meet demands at home. The family, however, relies on the church to meet their daily needs, including their transport and consultation fee. Shatrice’s mother desires to have her child grow up like any other child. She appeals for help.

Bon is a fifth-grade student from Cambodia. He is ten years old and he has three sisters and five brothers. He loves to play soccer and watch funny videos, and his favorite foods are chicken soup and coconut water. He hopes to become a doctor when he gets older. Eight months ago, Bon 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, Bon experiences ear discharge, itchiness, tinnitus, headache, and hearing loss. He cannot hear others clearly and is frequently distracted at school because of his hearing. Bon traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 10th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I hope that my son's surgery goes well and he will recover without anymore discharge or headaches." -Bon's Mother

Starlex is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and two younger brothers in Cap Haitien, a city in northern Haiti. His father is a taxi driver. He is in the second grade and likes going to school and playing with his friends. Starlex has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Starlex will fly to Canada to receive treatment. On April 1st, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage from his valve. Another organization, The Herbie Fund, is contributing $25,000 to pay for surgery. Starlex's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transport. 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 Starlex's family overseas. Starlex's father shared, "My family is looking forward to the day when our son can be healthy and normal!"

Dennis is a student from Kenya. He is the 1st born in a family of 3 and a Form 1 student at Darajani High School in Makueni County. His mother is a single parent and a peasant farmer and his family lives in a one-roomed house. Dennis has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Dennis traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Dennis's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk to and from school without pain and he will also be able to wear shoes. “I would like to be supported to undergo surgery so that I can walk and wear shoes like other students,” Dennis says.

Modesta is a beautiful and playful 5-year-old girl from Tanzania who struggles to walk due to genu varum, a condition where the legs curve outward at the knees. She falls often when she tries to run. The curving has increased as she has grown. Her parents did not think its a treatable condition, but during an outreach program, her father learnt of the treatment option and hopes to have Modesta treated. With successful surgery, Modesta will be able to walk with ease and less pain. She will also walk to school easily when she joins. Modesta's parents are peasant farmers relying on maize, sorghum and vegetable plantations to meet their daily needs. They have limited income to pay for the cost of surgery. Modesta lives with her parents and 8 siblings. The family appeals for financial assistance.  Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $838 to fund corrective surgery for Modesta. Treatment will hopefully restore Modesta's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Modesta’s father says, “The treatment cost is too expensive for us to afford please help.”

Jackson is a young student from Tanzania. He is the firstborn child in a family of five children. His father says he is a hard-working working boy at home and school. Jackson helps look after his siblings when his parents are not around and he also goes out with his father’s cattle to seek green pasture during the weekends when he is not at school. His parents are small scale farmers and livestock keepers with a limited income. For the past week, Jackson has had an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and if not treated may result in intestinal tissue damage Fortunately, on October 16th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $539 to fund Jackson's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jackson says, “The swelling is causing me so much pain at night and walking has been difficult. I look forward to feeling better.”

Nesy is a baby from Tanzania. Nesy is a first born child to her newly wed parents who were very excited for her arrival. She was born in a local dispensary near their village. Nesy’s parents are subsistence farmers who earn very little and had to sell some of their cows and goats to be able to get trnsport to the hospital. Nesy was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Nesy is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $966 to cover the cost of Nesy's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 09. This procedure will hopefully spare Nesy from the risks associated with her condition, instead allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Nesy’s mother says, “Please help my daughter get this surgery, I am so worried about her, she is very little and she has such a big problem. Please help us.”

Mary struggles with ambulation due to a spinal complication she is having. This has been the struggle for the past 12 months and continues to strain her daily life. Mary complained of fatigue and back pain in October of 2018 and sought treatment in a nearby hospital and was given no conclusive diagnosis. She was then referred to a more advanced facility and came to Kijabe. Mary had MRI and X-ray imaging done and was diagnosed with TB of the spine. Her surgeon recommended spinal decompression and fusion surgery to correct the condition. If not treated, Mary will continue experiencing much pain and ambulation struggles. Mary is a mother of 4 children and together, they live in her parent's house. Mary used to sell second-hand clothes but stopped in October when she could not bear the persistent fatigue and pain. Currently, her needs and those of her children are met by her relatives. She is not able to raise the full amount required for surgery.