Ten-year-old Bikash lives with his family in Nepal. “Bikash studies in the first standard,” our medical partner, Possible, tells us. “He loves studying English and riding his bicycle. His dad works in India and his mom looks after the family at home.” “Bikash was riding his bicycle with his friends when they lost their balance and tripped,” explains Possible. “While his friend did not suffer much injury, Bikash ended up fracturing his left arm. The area of injury has swollen considerably and Bikash has been in constant pain.” The injury is now interfering with Bikash’s studies. “He had his exam today, and he missed it because of his injury,” his mother tells us. “I hope he’s allowed to sit for it later, otherwise he will miss one whole year." To help the arm heal, doctors have recommended Bikash have surgery to realign the fractured bones into their normal positions. Doctors will make an incision to set the bones properly and then use wires and metal hardware to secure the bones in that correct position. Bikash’s arm will be sewed up and placed in a cast while it heals. $579 will provide for the pre-operative care, surgical costs, hospital stay, and medicines. After a few weeks of healing time, Bikash will be able to use his arm again without pain. He will be able to participate in all of his favorite activities, ride his bike, and go to school without delay.

Nyakatuura, a 57-year-old pastor in Uganda, works to support his nine children, his siblings, and his mother. “He still has four children in secondary school and two in primary school,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Nyakatuura pays for their education in installments.” For the past year, Nyakatuura has had increased swelling in his scrotum. He went to the hospital in October 2015 and was diagnosed with hydrocele, an accumulation of fluid around the testicle. "If not treated, the testis can become huge, interfering with daily functioning and becoming painful," says AMHF. Doctors recommended Nyakatuura have surgery. However, he could not receive treatment “because at that time his son was also in the hospital and he still had a debt at his son’s school," AMHF explains. With $215, Nyakatuura can get surgery to drain the excess fluid from his scrotum. He explains, “All my children, my siblings who are unemployed and my mother depend on me. The little income I have would be enough to pay for my treatment had it not been for the responsibility I have to look after these people.” After successful surgery, Nyakatuura hopes that he can return to his work free from discomfort and without worry over what might result from further swelling. He can then continue to put his children through school and to care for his other family members. “Thank you for offering to help the poor. God bless you,” he says.

"Neema was born at home on December 14th, 2015," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "She is the fourth born in the family. Neema’s parents moved away from their village three years ago due to severe drought. They managed to move with a few cows and goats and currently they are living with Neema’s grandparents (mother’s side)." "Neema has a lesion on her lower back, which can easily burst – leaking cerebral spinal fluid," AMHF says. "If not treated, Neema can easily contract infections, causing other bigger health problems." Neema's open mass is due to a condition called spina bifida. "Neema’s mother is a homemaker and his father is a livestock keeper," AMHF says. "Their two children are in primary school and they hope to be able to send all of their children to school. Currently they do not have sufficient funds to cover the cost of operation which Neema badly needs. Neema is getting on and off fevers and sometimes she vomits after breastfeeding." For $1,200, we can fund a life-saving spina bifida closure procedure for Neema. "The lesion on Neema’s back will be closed preventing her from losing CSF and easily contracting infection," says AMHF. “I hope my baby will get well, grow up like her siblings and later on go to school,” shares Neema’s mother.

Meet Sokun, a six-year-old from Cambodia who dreams of becoming an accountant when she grows up. “Sokun is a grade three student who enjoys playing with her toys," our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us. "Her favorite subjects at school are writing and drawing.” CSC informs us that, “Sokun was born with strabismus, a condition that causes an abnormal alignment of her eyes.” Strabismus can cause decreased vision in children and may eventually lead to blindness in the affected eye. “Sokun does not like the way she looks because of the lazy eye caused by the strabismus,” CSC explains, “Sokun is shy with her neighbors because of her appearance.” For $290 Sokun will receive strabismus surgery, in which the lens that covers the white of her eye will be opened to reveal the muscle. The muscles will be loosened or tightened as needed to straighten the vision of the eye. After her treatment, “Sokun will no longer have misaligned eyes," CSC tells us. "She will have more confidence upon returning to school. Sokun hopes after treatment she can return to school and not be shy with anyone anymore,”