Gift is a 16-year old girl from Tanzania. She is the oldest child in her family. Gift's mother runs a small business, and her father is a carpenter. Gift had a seizure near a fire, and her clothes caught fire. Since then, she has been undergoing treatment for the burns she sustained. She received two successful surgeries to release burn contractures on her arms, which restored function to her arms and allowed her to perform tasks independently. On November 8, 2016, doctors at our medical partner's hospital, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, performed a skin graft surgery to remove damaged skin. After recovery, her arm should appear and function normally. Now, Gift's family needs help to pay for this $780 treatment. "I hope to be able to help my parents again soon," says Gift.

Kriscous is a jolly, four-year-old boy from the Philippines with cleft palate. Kriscous loves playing with his grandmother and other children. However, he become very shy because other children make fun of his appearance and altered speech. The attention from other children, and the frustration he experiences when his community can't understand him constantly puts him on edge, and he often gets into fights with other children and neighbors. In addition to worrying about his health, his family worries that Kriscous will continue to be unhappy if his condition persists. With $1,464, Kriscous will receive cleft palate repair surgery and follow-up care that will help him speak with less difficulty and give him the confidence to connect with other children. According to his grandmother, "Kriscous is very excited to be treated so he can have self-confidence and fulfill his dreams."

“My children are looking to me for support. I also hope to take care of my six-year-old adopted child and see him grow,” explains Miriam, a 43-year-old Kenyan widow and mother of three. A single mother who works on her farm to support her and her family, Miriam has been sidelined by endometrial hyperplasia—a condition that causes intense bleeding and abdominal pain, and can lead to incapacitating anemia. “For three years now, Miriam has been battling with this condition,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “It has made it difficult for her to continue with her passion of farming.” For $790, Miriam will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy that will remove her uterus and stop the bleeding and pain, as well as lessen her chance of developing cancer of the uterus. With this surgery, Miriam will be able to get back to taking care of the land and children that she loves for many years to come.

Doreen is a 27-year-old woman with multiple large tumors in her uterus. Doreen’s tumors are benign, but they cause her severe abdominal pain and swelling and are making it difficult for her to walk. If left untreated, doctors at African Mission Healthcare Foundation say Doreen “will continue to experience severe pain, she will be unable to walk and consequently unable to work.” Fortunately, doctors at AMHF can remove Doreen’s tumors. They told us they expect this will “alleviate her pain and restore her to a normal productive life.” Doreen is the first born in a family of five. She lives in [Kibera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibera), the second largest urban slum in Africa. Doreen was diagnosed with uterine fibroids two years ago, but she has been unable to have them removed due to lack of money. Last year, her abdominal pain became so intense she was forced to leave her job as a receptionist. Doreen’s father passed away when she was 18. Her mother does her best to support the family by selling clothes, but she barely earns enough to make ends meet. It hurts Doreen to have to ask her family for money. We want to help her get the treatment she needs to live a normal, healthy life.