Hiram, an eleven year old boy, lives in Mombasa county in Kenya. He is the lastborn in a family of three and has two sisters. He is raised by a single mother who sells fish for their daily living. Hiram is in grade five and was born with club feet, which he lived with until this year. He had never been to any hospital for help until they heard about CURE hospital's mobile clinic in Mombasa. Fortunately, Hiram was able to undergo treatment for his right foot last September and the surgery was successful. Hiram is so happy to have undergone the first surgery on his right foot and is optimistic that even his left foot will be corrected well now too. Hiram is scheduled to undergo surgery for his left foot at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Hiram's clubfoot repair. The treatment will be of great impact to him because he will finally be able to put on both shoes, walk confidently, play football (which he is very excited for) and continue with his studies uninterrupted. “I am grateful to the donors for providing support to pay for my right foot which has healed well. I am looking forward to walking, playing with my friends, and continuing with school,” Hiram told us.

Ally is a sweet, outgoing 3-year-old and the youngest in his family of three children. Ally’s mom shared that she is raising the children on her own and recently moved home so that Ally’s grandparents could help her care for him and his siblings. Ally’s grandparents are small-scale farmers, and his grandmother sells vegetables at the market. Ally was diagnosed with bilateral varus, a condition that causes the legs to turn 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, Ally experiences pain when standing and after a long day of play. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Ally receive treatment. On June 10th, he will undergo surgery to restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. AMH is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Ally’s mother says, “With no job, there is no way I am going to get all the money needed. My parents are already doing so much to help and support my children and me.”

Ko Kyaw lives with his wife and two daughters in the border region of Tak Province in Thailand. He is a homemaker while his wife works as a day laborer. He plans to send his older daughter to a Thai school in the new school year, but his younger daughter is still too young to go to school. In early 2021, Kyaw was still living in his village in Myawaddy Township in Burma but it has been a very challenging time for his community ever since the military coup. He and his wife were injured in an emergency involving the local soldiers who came to their area. Luckily other villagers came to their rescue and Kyaw was treated for fractures on both his upper and lower leg, where a metal rod was inserted to help him heal. Now the bone in his thigh is misshapen and doctors have diagnosed osteomyelitis (infected bone). His doctor told him that in order to heal, he would need to have the metal rods replaced in both his upper and lower leg. Currently, Kyaw’s left leg is in a lot of pain. He can only bend his leg slightly and needs to use crutches to get around. With his leg in pain, Ko Kyaw spends most of his time helping out with household chores he can do and teaching his oldest daughter how to read and write in Burmese. He feels frustrated that since his leg was broken, he cannot support his family. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund is helping to pay the cost of his treatment and is raising $1500 to cover his surgery, which will take place on May 10th. “I feel upset that I cannot support my family as the head of the house,” he said. “We only have my wife’s income. We do not have our own house to live in. I want to say a lot of things but I cannot express what I want to say. I never thought that I would lose my house, my possessions and that my leg would be in pain.”

Naisam is a 22-month-old baby girl and the youngest in a family of two children. Naisam's mother is single and sells vegetables by the roadside to provide for her children. Naisam has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Because of her condition, she experiences difficulty walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Naisam receive treatment. On April 8th, Naisam will undergo corrective surgery to treat her condition. Treatment will hopefully restore Naisam's mobility, allowing her to participate in a variety of activities and greatly decreasing her risk of future complications. Now, she and her mother need help raising $880 to fund her procedure and care. Naisam’s mother shared, "I was directed here by a man who saw how much my child was struggling to walk. Please help us."

Feven is a beautiful 7-month-old baby girl from Ethiopia. She has two older brothers and five sisters. She loves to play with her mom. Her dad is a farmer and he works hard, but his income is not enough to maintain the family so his brother often helps. All their children are in school and Feven's mom sometimes is able to sell items at the market. Feven was born with a birth defect called anorectal malformation. She developed bowel obstruction because of her condition and had an emergency colostomy surgery. Her parents shared that they are highly affected psychologically and are sad and worried about their baby. Feven now needs a follow up surgery to help her eliminate bowel dysfunction. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on March 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After her recovery, Feven will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing related health complications in the future. Her mom shared, “We were so worried. But thank God he gave us this opportunity.”

Elias is a two-year-old boy who is already playful and curious. He loves to ask questions about anything he doesn’t understand. He wants to know about almost everything around him. Elias and his older brother live with their mother after their parents separated about one year ago due to family conflicts. His mother earns a living by selling vegetables, while his father works as a mechanic, and sends money on occasion for care and support. When Elias was about one year old, he was outside playing with his older brother when he accidentally stepped into hot charcoal and sustained burns. Burn scar contractures have developed as he healed, which entails the tightening of the skin around his burns. As a result, Elias feels a lot of pain when he wears shoes on his left foot. Fortunately, on February 10th, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, will perform a burn contracture release surgery. With treatment, Elias will no longer be in pain, and will be able to wear shoes comfortably. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for $639 to help fund Elias's procedure. Elias’s mother says, “He now does not enjoy wearing closed shoes due to the pain he goes through. Please help my son.”

Srey Mom is a 39-year-old drink seller. Srey Mom lives with her mother, who is a fruit seller, and her sister. Since Srey Mom was eight years old, she has had persistent ear infections. These infections caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. As a result, Srey Mom experiences recurrent ear discharge, tinnitus, and frequent infections with accompanying high fevers. For the past few years, the infections have exacerbated her loss of hearing. Antibiotics were not successful in treating this, and she is unable to communicate well with customers because she cannot hear. Srey Mom traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 13th, she 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 $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Srey Mom shared, "I hope my ear infections will clear up, I will hear better, and communicate with my family and neighbors."

Noel is a nine-year-old student and the oldest child of two children in his family. He is currently in first grade in school, and will join second grade early next year. Noel’s mother works as a small-scale farmer to make a living, and sells her surplus when possible. Noel has clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape causing difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. This year, Noel has had difficulty walking to and from school. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Noel receive treatment. On December 17th, Noel will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center, and now, AMH is requesting $935 to fund Noel's procedure and care. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Noel’s mother shared, "I have always wanted to seek treatment for my son but due to financial challenges, I have not been able to get the money."

Yvonne is a 15-year-old student and the youngest in a family of two children. She's in grade eight in primary school. Her favorite subjects in school are social studies and mathematics. She enjoys reading and would like to be a lawyer in the future. Her mother is a single mom and works as a farmer. Yvonne has clubfoot of her left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Yvonne receive treatment. She traveled to visit AMH's care center, where, on November 22nd, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk without pain, wear shoes, and her self-esteem will improve. Now, AMH is requesting $1,286 to fund Yvonne's procedure and care. Yvonne shared, "please help me undergo the surgery. I hope after this, I will be able to walk normally like others with no pain. I will be very grateful."

Victor is a seven-year-old boy and the oldest child in a family of two children. To earn a living for their family, his mother has been selling clothes for the past five years in a local market near their home and his father is a Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) driver. Victor has been diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Victor will have an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Victor receive treatment. On October 7th, he will undergo corrective surgery at AMH's care center. Now, AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Victor’s mother shared, "it has been a very stressful journey for us but we believe and hope for the best from this surgery."

Samiri is a four-year-old boy and the only child of his single mother. His father is married to another woman and has two other children. Samiri's mother provides for their family through her work as a tailor. Samiri has not started school yet, but his mother would like to enroll him in kindergarten next year. Her hope is that Samiri's condition will be treated before he joins school. Samiri has been diagnosed with bilateral Genu Varus, which means that his legs are angled inwards at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Samiri has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Samiri. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 14th. Treatment will hopefully restore Samiri's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Samiri’s mother shared, "I can never find the money needed to cover my son’s treatment cost. I am struggling to even put food on the table for my son. Please help him."

Bo is a 16-year-old student. He's in eighth grade and lives in the school dormitory in the Tak Province during the school year. His parents and his siblings live on the Thai-Burma border. His brother and his mother are day labourers while his father is retired. During his free time, he likes to play the guitar, cook, and garden. In May 2021, Bo began to experience pain in the top of his left arm, close to his shoulder. In June 2021, the top of his left arm began to swell until it spread towards his shoulder. The swelling is now very large, encompassing his left shoulder and upper arm. Bo is in a lot of pain and cannot use his left arm. He cannot lift it, nor carry anything due to the pain and the swelling. Bo sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Bo is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on August 18th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. "I want to become a policeman one day but I do not know if this will be possible," said Bo.