Socheata is a tenth grade student from Cambodia. Her favorite subject is biology, and she likes learning how to cook. When Socheata was four years old, she accidentally burned her hand in a cooking fire at home. Burn scar contractures have developed on her right hand, limiting her hand function and her ability to hold a pen in school. When Socheata learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On October 11, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve function in her hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $448 procedure. She says, "I hope I can use my hand."

One-year-old Loyce lives with her mother, three siblings, and grandparents in a small village in Uganda. "When she is feeling good, Loyce enjoys playing with recycled items and making noise with them," shares our medical partner, the Kellermann Foundation. "Her mother is happiest when her children have enough to eat and are healthy. She dreams of someday owning a small shop selling household items." Loyce's mother carried Loyce and walked for 11 miles to the nearest hospital, seeking care for her daughter who is acutely malnourished. "Her mother is divorced and works as a farm laborer. She receives no help from the children’s’ father for their care," the Kellermann Foundation continues. Because her family cannot afford adequate food, Loyce experiences moderate oedema (fluid retention in the body), changes to her hair, and skin lesions. In addition, her development has been stunted. Our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, shares that due to her symptoms, “Loyce is not yet crawling, standing, or even beginning to talk." $375 will cover the cost of the medical intervention Loyce needs to treat her malnutrition. This includes a hospital stay, fluid, and nutrition education so Loyce can continue to recover after treatment. With immediate attention, Loyce will return to normal development patterns and may be able to avoid the long-term effects of malnutrition. “I am thankful for all the donors making a healthy life possible for Loyce," her mother adds.

Sethi is a 36-year-old refugee from Congo who currently lives in Kenya. He came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), seeking answers to debilitating symptoms such as headaches, vision impairment, and difficulty walking. When Sethi left Congo, he was separated from his six children and has not been able to locate them. He left all of his possessions behind and has had to move in with a distant relative who supports his own wife and two children by selling second-hand clothes. “[Sethi’s relative] has not been able to go to work consistently, as he has to take care of Sethi and his wife, who is expecting,” says AMHF. AMHF diagnosed Sethi with a brain tumor. Fortunately, the tumor is benign. However, “Sethi has been experiencing painful migraines,” AMHF tells us. “His vision has been partially impaired, and he has to walk with the assistance of someone else.” To remove the tumor, doctors plan to perform two surgical procedures during a single operation. In one procedure—a craniotomy—doctors will remove a portion of his skull to access the tumor. In the second procedure—transsphenoidal surgery—doctors will insert surgical instruments through his nose and into the sphenoid sinus cavity at the base of his brain. “If not treated,” continues AMHF, “Sethi will continue suffering from painful migraines with a possibility of being permanently blind. The brain tumor may also ultimately result in death.” $1,205 pays for surgery for Sethi as well as six days of hospital care—two days in intensive care and four days in the general ward—after surgery. Funding also covers the costs of medicine, blood work, and pathology. Sethi is providing $306 to pay for additional costs associated with his care. “After the surgery and recovery,” says AMHF, “Sethi will no longer suffer migraines, and he may regain his vision.” “Sethi hopes to get well to trace his family and help other people who might also be in need like himself,” shares Sethi’s relative.

This is Praygod, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares, “Praygod is a cute, happy, talkative, and very active two-year-old boy. He likes to play with cars as well as running around with other children.” Unfortunately, Praygod has not been in good health, “moving from one hospital to another," AMHF says. Praygod has a congenital digestive malformation called Hirschsprung’s disease. Because of this condition, Praygod “has trouble passing stool. He has had the problem since last year," AMHF explains. "He can stay up to four days without passing stool, and when he does, he cries and he is just helpless.” A portion of Praygod’s colon remains diseased, unable to pass stool because of missing nerve cells or muscle cells. Praygod's mother works as a maid and his father works as a small businessman. Both are currently supporting two other children as well. "Now, his parents just don’t have enough cash to cover the cost of operation which their son badly needs,” AMHF says. $975 in funding will allow Praygod to receive the surgery he needs. A surgeon will remove the diseased section of his colon, provide the necessary medications, and offer him respite during his recovery. AMHF states that after the surgery, “Praygod will be able to pass stool with ease and continue with normal growth.” “Praygod’s mother wishes that her son will get well, have the ability to pass stool without problems, and later on to go to school like his siblings,” shares AMHF.

“I can't recognize faces of my friends and family, or go walking easily anywhere by myself,” shares Lim. With cataracts in both eyes, Lim experiences blurred vision and a fear of bright lights, especially the sun. Lim is 78 years old and lives in Cambodia. "She is married with two sons and six grandchildren,” says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). “She spends her time doing work around the house, visiting the pagoda, and listening to the monks pray." For $225, Lim will undergo surgery to remove the cataract in each of her eyes -- replacing the clouded lenses with artificial ones. “After the procedure, Lim will be able to see everything better than before and she will not be at risk of becoming blind,” says CSC. Lim adds: “After treatment, I want to spend time taking care of my grandchildren at home."

Meet Grace, a baby girl born just two weeks ago. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Grace is the first-born of her family and lives with her parents and great-grandmother in Kenya. After her birth, Grace was diagnosed with spina bifida. This congenital condition causes the spine to grow improperly in utero. AMHF explains, “Grace has a fluid-filled sac, protruding from her lower spinal canal. She is at a risk of infection, exaggerated curvature of the spine that results to a rounded or hunched back.” Grace’s mother is a casual farmer while her father is a tractor driver. While they make a modest combined income, most of it is currently spent taking care of Grace’s 84-year-old great-grandmother. With $805 in funding, Grace will undergo surgery to remove the cyst and close the gap along her spine. In addition to this procedure, Grace will also work with a physiotherapist to support her recovery. To help ensure that she safely responds to treatment, Grace will receive several laboratory tests and spend five days under close hospital supervision. As Grace is breastfeeding well and is otherwise healthy, this treatment is expected to allow Grace to have a normal and healthy childhood. Her mother shares, “my husband’s little income is mostly spent on taking care of our grandmother. We are therefore not able to raise funds towards Grace’s surgery. We hope we can get help.”

Kishor is an ambitious and adorable 5 year-old boy from Nepal. Kishor, who lives with his mother and older brother, is a kindergarten student who is already excelling in school. In fact, a selective scholarship program sponsors his education. Like most kids his age, Kishor loves playing with toys. He also likes to visit his mother at the District Office, where she works. Even though he is only 5, Kishor has big plans for his future! He wants to become a doctor or an officer where his mother works. Kishor has undescended testes, a condition that may lead him to be infertile and unable to have children. Furthermore, this condition could lead to carcinoma if untreated. Kishor’s medical treatment, corrective surgery, costs $1,010 dollars. This procedure will allow Kishor to lead a healthy, normal life, and give him the opportunity to have a family of his own in the future!