Noah is a 3-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second-to-last child in a family of 4 children. His family resides in a remote village known in Simanjiro, Tanzania. Noah’s mother is a homemaker and also assists her husband with agricultural activities, given that farming is their primary source of sustenance and income. Noah takes pleasure in helping others and enjoys solving puzzles alongside his friends. When Noah was merely eight months old, he was crawling around the house and ventured into the kitchen alone, just as his mother was occupied with washing chores. Inadvertently, he encountered a pan which slipped from the stove, causing hot water to spill onto the left side of his body, resulting in severe burns on his left armpit and elbow. Noah’s parents swiftly transported him to the nearest medical facility for urgent treatment. After receiving initial first aid, he was subsequently discharged with instructions for proper wound care. Despite these efforts, his wounds took two months to fully heal. Even after healing, noticeable damage to the skin remained on his left axilla (armpit) and elbow, which subsequently restricted the range of motion in his left arm, leading to his discomfort while crawling. The gravity of the situation became apparent to Noah’s parents, who were initially unaware of the necessity for further medical intervention to enhance their son’s quality of life. Noah was diagnosed with burn scar contractures affecting his left axilla and elbow. The contractures tighten the skin around the arm such that he is unable to use his hand without discomfort. Recognizing the significance of their son’s well-being, Noah’s parents humbly seek assistance to ensure he receives the requisite treatment to enhance his quality of life. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Noah receive treatment. On August 14th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to enable him to use his hand with ease and improve his quality of life. AMH needs help raising $874 to fund the procedure. Noah’s father says, “We are excited for his treatment as this condition has made him less interactive with his peers, and we are hopeful for a positive outcome from the treatment."

Meet Collins, a 12-year-old calm boy, the second born in a family of 3 children and a student at a special school. Their family hails from Shamata village in Nyandarua county. His mother is a single mother and is a small farmer. She shared how devastated she was upon receiving the news of her son's spine deformity. In her mind, she thought that her child could not survive until she was referred to a specialist, who explained the condition and how it could be corrected. Collins was born with a condition known as severe scoliosis, a spine deformity and a sideway curvature of the spine. This condition has greatly affected his mobility. He cannot bend and gets tired quickly while walking. Apart from the spine deformity, he is also mentally impaired, which has delayed his education. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to help heal his spine. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk upright and continue with his education uninterrupted. "I am kindly requesting you to support my son, who is undergoing surgery and we are unable to pay for it. Your help will be highly appreciated as you help me put a smile on my son's face. Thank you so much for considering my request," shared Collin's mother.

Phillip, a charming 3-year-old, lives with his parents and eight siblings in a remote village in Tanzania. His parents work as farmers; their daily life revolves around the cultivation of maize and finger millet, which sustains their meals and provides a modest income for their family’s necessities. Phillip was born with clubfoot in his right foot, and three of his siblings and his father were also born with this condition. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Phillips’s father, who is aging and experiences clubfoot like Phillip, cannot work extended hours, so Phillip’s mother works diligently on the farm to ensure abundant harvests. Due to limited knowledge about this condition, his family did not previously seek treatment; however, one day, a glimmer of hope emerged when Phillip’s father met a boy who had the same condition but has now fully recovered. Upon learning about our medical partner’s care center, Phillip’s father was filled with hope and optimism and hurried home to share the information with his wife. Together, they decided to bring their son, Phillip, and three of his siblings to our medical partner’s care center. Happily, on October 6th, Phillip will begin clubfoot treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $935 to fund Phillip’s surgery. After treatment, Phillip will experience improved mobility now and in the future. Phillip’s mother said, “I am glad there is a chance for my child to get treatment. I hope he doesn’t get to live with this disability for the rest of his life.”

Leah is a 48-year-old mother of four from Kenya. She buys and sells old newspapers for a living. Her husband works as a casual laborer on construction sites. Leah lives in a two-room monthly rental house with her family. She does not currently have active medical cover. About three months ago, Leah noticed a painful lump on her right breast while taking a bath. She visited a nearby facility for a checkup, and was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. However, she had difficulty receiving prompt medical. Three weeks ago, Leah realized the lump was growing and more painful, and sought care again. She visited Kijabe Hospital, where she underwent review by the general surgery team, and several tests, including a mammogram and core biopsy, were requested. Ultimately, Leah was diagnosed with breast cancer. She needs surgery to remove the cancerous mass, but cannot currently afford the amount required for her to undergo the procedure. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On August 21st, Leah will undergo a mastectomy at AMH's care center. During the procedure, surgeons will remove the impacted breast tissue to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. AMH is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of Leah's procedure. After treatment, Leah will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Leah said, “I am in so much pain, especially on my right breast. The cancer has greatly affected the whole chest, and I feel so worried. I need to get surgery to stop these cells from spreading. ”

Kim Huoy is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia, with her parents and two brothers. Her mom works long hours in a factory making medical gloves, and her father works at a nearby construction site. Kim Houy's favorite subject is Cambodian history, and her dream is to get good grades so she can study to become a writer. In her free time, she likes to read and play hide and seek with her friends in the village. For the last few years, Kim Houy has had bad posture, and occasional discomfort in her back. Then, in June, she fell off the top of the stairs at the front of her house, which caused her back pain to worsen. Her parents took her to a nearby clinic, where her x-ray showed curvature of the spine, and she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Kim Houy and her family traveled 3 hours by shared taxi hoping to receive treatment at our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On July 31st, she will undergo a scoliosis correction procedure with implants to improve the position of her spine. Surgeons will realign and fuse together the curved vertebrae so that she feels comfortable and can stand straighter. Her mom shared, "I hope my daughter can feel better after surgery and go to school without any problems."

Darwin, a two-year-old toddler, resides with his parents and older sister in a small mining community nestled in the mountains of central Bolivia. Darwin was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and in need of supplemental nasal oxygen. The only way to treat his condition is through Congenital Cardiac Surgery. Skilled doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría aim to close this hole using a patch, enabling blood to flow more naturally. Presently, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is seeking assistance in raising the necessary funds of $1,500 for this crucial procedure. Your support would have a profound impact on Darwin's life and well-being. Edwin's mother said: "I am hopeful that Darwin will be able to be a normal and healthy child once his surgery is over."

Mohamed is a happy, outgoing, and playful 5-year-old from Kenya. He has one younger sibling. Mohamed's father works as a vegetable vendor, and his mother stays home to care for the family. When Mohamed was about three years old, his parents noticed a bend on his left foot which continued to increase over time. He has been undergoing physiotherapy but experiences pain and difficulty walking long distances. Mohamed was diagnosed with clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. His family traveled to our medical partner's care center, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund this procedure. Upon recovery, this surgery will allow Mohamed to be able to wear shoes and walk pain-free as he begins school soon. Mohamed's father said: "My Joy is to see my son undergo surgery and walk like other children. I will appreciate any kind of support."

Ruthmeeah is a one-year-old baby girl living with her parents near the northern coast of Haiti. Ruthmeeah was born with a rare, congenital heart condition, known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition is characterized by four separate defects of the heart, including a hole between the heart's two lower chambers, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Ruthmeeah will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to prevent blood from leaking through it; they will also remove the blockage from the valve. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6,000 to pay for Ruthmeeah's surgery. Ruthmeeah's family needs your help to raise an additional $1,500 to cover the costs of her pre-surgical prep, labs, medicines, and follow-up appointments. This money will also be used to pay for passports and for the social workers who will accompany Ruthmeeah and her family to the Dominican Republic. Ruthmeeah's mother said: "Our family has been praying very hard that our daughter would survive long enough to have this surgery, and we are so glad that our prayers are being answered."