Hay is a twelve-month-old boy from Thailand. He lives with his family in Nu Poe Refugee Camp, Umphang District, Tak Province. Hay Soe’s father works with the Karen Department of Heath Welfare in the border area outside of the camp as a health worker. Since he was three weeks old, Hay has had a hernia. His parents worry that his condition will get worse if he does not receive surgery. Fortunately, on January 8, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Hay's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 8 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. His mother says, “I want my son to get well and I want to help him go to school when he grows up. I want him to become a doctor and take care of sick people.”

“Four-day-old Nanyu is the last-born in a family of five children, and lives with her family in a traditional hut in Kenya,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Nanyu was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the development of the spinal cord. In babies with spina bifida, the protective structures that enclose the spinal cord do not develop or close properly, causing defects. Nanyu's condition has resulted in a swollen sac on her lower spinal area where the covering of the spinal cord and some of the cord itself are protruding. The exposed sac is covered by a thin membrane that is easily split, which would expose the delicate spinal tissue to the air. This condition puts Nanyu her at high risk of developing an infection, spinal cord malformation, and loss of muscle function in her lower limbs. To prevent any of these complications, Nanyu needs an operation called a spinal bifida closure. Nanyu’s family members work as pastoralists and depend of their livestock as their livelihood. However, many have been wiped out due to tribal clashes in the region. The family in constantly moving to find pasture for their few remaining livestock. Therefore, AMHF explains, “Her parents are not able to raise funds for her surgical care.” With our support, Nanyu can get the care she needs. In a spina bifida closure operation, doctors will close the skin over the exposed sac to prevent infection or further damage to the spinal cord. $805 in funding will cover Nanyu’s surgical costs, hospital stay, medicine, and physiotherapy. Nanyu's father shares, “We are praying that Nanyu gets treated. I know that our kind of life is very hard but I am happy that we were able to bring her to the hospital for care.”

Little Amos is two years old, the youngest of three siblings. His parents separated after his birth, and his mother depends on helping hands in her community in Kenya to support her family. Recently, Amos was brought to a hospital run by our partner institution, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, to assess painful swelling in his groin. Amos was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia, meaning that his abdominal muscles push through a tear in his groin muscle. Doctors say his condition can cause extreme complications if left untreated. It is through the help of members of his local community in Kenya that Amos was brought to the hospital, but his mother has no way of paying the $540 needed for his treatment. Without surgery to repair the hernia, Amos’ symptoms will only worsen and become more painful. His mother says, “I want my son to be free of pain, so that he can live a healthy life.” Let’s come together to help Amos get well!

Riziki is an adorable, happy, and active 7 month old little girl. Born with spina bifida and clubfoot, Riziki will not be able to stand or walk properly without surgery. Riziki's parents hope that she will be able to walk, but without our assistance they will not be able to afford the surgery. They are farmers, and Riziki is the second-born of their children. For $500, Riziki will receive posteromedial tendon release and lengthing of the Achille's tendon. She will also have a cast fitted to her foot after the surgery. Our assistance will give her the ability to walk.