Son is a 21-year-old mother of two. She and her husband have two sons - one is four years old and the other is one year old. Both she and her husband are construction workers. When not working outside on construction sites, she is a busy mother caring and cooking for her active children. Four months ago, on the way home from work, Son was in a motor vehicle collision. She injured her left shoulder and received a hard blow to the face, fracturing her left orbital bones. Her family took her to a government hospital to repair the bones surrounding her eye. The traumatic injury also damaged the muscle and nerve function of her shoulder, which was not repaired. This is a devastating injury for their young family, as it can cause a significant loss of function and ability to perform tasks of daily living. Son has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. She has pain and is unable to lift her left arm. She cannot work in construction or manage her household, which has also been very hard for her husband. Son traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On October 17th, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she hopes that her arm will be functional and she can work, do housework, and care for her children. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. She says: "After surgery, I hope I can use my left arm. This treatment will help me in the future to return to work."

Neang is a cheerful 14-year-old student from Cambodia. She is the oldest child in her family and has one brother and two sisters. Her parents are farmers in Kratie province, one of the less-populated eastern provinces in Cambodia. She is in the 6th grade and likes to help her siblings with their homework. In the evenings, she and her siblings like to watch funny shows on the television. Two years ago, the retina of Neang's left eye detached, causing her partial blindness and tearing. She has flashes of light in her affected eye and it is difficult for her to read. When she is outside, she is afraid she will trip and fall due to reduced peripheral vision. When Neang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On November 1st, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Neang's family needs help to fund this $649 procedure. Neang says, "I hope after surgery I will see well again. I want to do well in school and have a good job one day to help my family."

Jackline is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She and her husband have six children, with their eldest married with children of their own and their youngest a student in secondary school. Jackline's husband works as a bricklayer in their village, while Jackline practices farming. For ten years, Jackline has been experiencing lower abdominal pains. Her symptoms were initially mild but began to become more severe over time and now cause her to experience headaches and fevers. As a result, Jackline has been unable to continue her work in farming, which was a primary income source for her family. Jackline has been diagnosed with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and needs to undergo surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Jackline receive treatment. On November 4th, she will undergo surgery that will allow her to resume her daily activities free of pain. AMH is requesting $319 to fund this procedure. Jackline says, "I pray that I may be funded for this treatment because I am in severe pain and my condition could worsen. I believe that I will be able to live a normal and more productive life after surgery."

Savorn is a married factory worker. She has a 15-year-old daughter who studies in grade 10 at a public school. Her husband is a welder. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, watching TV, cooking, and taking care of her daughter. In September, she was involved in a motorbike collision and injured her left hand. She went to a Khmer traditional healer but the pain and swelling did not improve. She is unable to move her thumb, hold objects or work in the factory. It is difficult for her to sleep at night due to the pain and throbbing. Fortunately, a neighbor previously had surgery at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and suggested Savorn should go to have her thumb fixed. Doctors at CSC have diagnosed her with a dislocation of her joint, and now she needs help to pay $485 for an open reduction-internal fixation of her thumb joint. After surgery, her pain and swelling should disappear and she will be able to return to work. Savorn says, "After surgery, I hope my left hand will have no pain, I will be able to bend it, and can return to work."

Ibrahim is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He comes from a big family and he is the fourth born child. His father works as a bodaboda driver. His mother used to work at a market selling produce, but now stays at home taking care of the couple's youngest child, who is an infant. Ibrahim has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, which means that his legs bow outward so that his knees do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result of his condition, Ibrahim has difficulty walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On January 6th, Ibrahim will undergo corrective surgery at AMH's care center. Treatment will hopefully restore Ibrahim's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Now, he and his family need help raising $880 to fund his procedure and care. Ibrahim’s mother shared, "I pray that my son does not grow with this disability because it keeps getting worse as he grows."

Joseph is a young boy from Uganda. He is the second born in a family of two children. His father is a boda boda taxi driver who transports luggage in and outside of their village for a living while his mother offers casual labor in one of the factories near their home. They rent a single room for shelter. His elder sibling is six years old and in top junior class and Joseph is in preschool class. Their home is a walking distance from our medical partner's care center Rushoroza Hospital. For one month, Joseph has had a left inguinal hernia. He developed a small on and off inguinal swelling that was painless. He is very playful and therefore it normally appears when he plays for a while. Currently, the swelling has increased in size and his father believes that his condition will continue to worsen if not treated. His family came to Rushoroza Hospital and after examination, the doctor recommended surgery, which the parents cannot afford. Fortunately, on January 10th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $170 to fund Joseph's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Joseph's father says, “My son is not well and feels uncomfortable when the swelling appears. I believe he will live a normal life after surgery so that he may be able to take on his studies comfortably.”

Thomas is a sweet three-week-old baby from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of four children. His father works as a luggage carrier, and his mother does laundry and other house chores for people to help provide for their family. Thomas was born at a hospital near their home. At birth, he was diagnosed with spina bifida, as well as clubfoot. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube condition in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Thomas is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Thomas's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 31st. This procedure will hopefully spare Thomas from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Thomas’s father says, “Currently, we are very stressed because of our child’s condition. We are requesting for any help to see him become well.”

Mey Ching comes from Banteay Meanchey province in Cambodia. She lives with her parents - her father is a cook and her mother is a factory worker. She has a 15-year-old brother in grade seven and a 13-year-old sister in grade four. Mey Ching should be in second grade but is not currently in school because of her disability. She stays at home and likes to paint, watch TV and sit outside with her parents. Since birth, Mey Ching has had a condition with both of her legs which have become increasingly bowing outward at her knees. She cannot walk far and is in pain when she does. This has prevented her from attending school and socializing with peers. Mey Ching's parents traveled eight hours to Children's Surgical Centre for a diagnosis and treatment. Doctors have tentatively diagnosed her with a condition found in children that affects the growth plates around the knee. The disease causes the growth plate near the inside of the knee to either slow down or stop making new bone. She will need an operation to correct both of her bowing tibias. If not treated, it can lead to progressive deformities of her legs however surgical treatment will correct her bowed legs. Mey Ching's family needs help to pay for this $521 procedure at CSC to save their daughter from permanent disability. Mey Ching's mother said: "We are so worried that Mey Ching will never walk or attend school. We are hopeful that the doctors at CSC can fix her legs so she can go to school and play with friends."

Faith is 26 years old and a mother to a preschooler. Calm and intelligent, she holds a certificate in nursing but has not yet been able to secure a job in her profession. Faith depends on her husband who operates a thrift shop to provide basic needs for the family. Due to the country's economic crisis, few people are buying clothes from his business, limiting his profit. Their family resides in a two-roomed rental house. Faith is an active home maker and during her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Faith is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section to prevent complications like uterine rupture. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Faith undergo a C-Section on December 8th. This procedure will cost $252, and Faith's family needs your support. Faith says "Last time I delivered my first child, I had health problems and was discharged after two weeks, this time I have decided to come early to seek support before things get worse. I know I won’t be able to raise the money needed for my surgery and I appeal for your financial support."

Kidus is a five-month-old baby from Ethiopia who is his parents' first child. Some of his favorite activities include breast feeding and playing with his mother. His parents are both students and farmers. They earn their income by selling fruits from their farm; however, the weather in their area is very sunny and their land is dry, which makes their harvest limited. Kidus was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Kidus recently underwent a colostomy, an intestinal procedure that inserts a colostomy bag. His parents share that paying for this surgery was very difficult. They had to borrow the money from individual loaners, and it has been difficult for them to repay it. In the middle of these challenging times, they heard about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, and their care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. Kidus's parents decided to seek financial assistance so he could complete the series of surgeries he needs. Kidus is now scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on August 17th. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kidus's procedure and care. After his recovery, Kidus will no longer experience bowel dysfunction and will be able to live more comfortably and confidently. Kidus's dad says, “We were happy that we got this opportunity. We hope that our child will get the treatment and make stool just like other people.”

Regina is a small-scale farmer from Kenya. She rears cattle on a rented piece of land. She has two cows from which she gets milk for sale. Her husband is unemployed, and the income Regina earns is not sufficient to cater to all the family's needs. Regina first experienced a painful lump in her right breast in early August when she was taking a shower. She immediately went to a local health facility for a check-up and was later referred to a local government hospital in Olkalau town, situated several kilometers from her home. She has since had several tests including a mammogram and a CT scan. The result revealed the presence of cancerous cells. She opted to visit Kijabe Hospitals’s breast clinic after a referral by a friend. After a review, doctors recommended a partial mastectomy and she needs financial assistance to go through the surgery. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. The mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, aims to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Regina. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 2nd. After treatment, Regina will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Regina says, “This is shocking, but I know God will give me strength to overcome the cancer.”