Bright is a three month old baby who lives with a single mother, who works in small scale, subsistence farming. Bright was born with with bilateral clubfoot, which will make it difficult to wear shoes or to walk. Because of limited income - and because she is young and this is her first child - Bright's mother has been struggling to find the right care for Bright since he was born. Fortunately, Bright and his mother were connected with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. With their assistance, Bright has been scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on November 4th, at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Bright's mother needs your help to fund this procedure, which will cost $935. Bright’s mother says: “After seeing the work that you do here, I have hope that my baby will grow up to have a normal life.”

Thea is married and has a 19-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. Both of his children are in school. He and his wife have a small grocery store in front of their house where they sell drinks and snacks. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV and listening to the news on the radio. For the past four years, Thea has had increasing tingling and numbness in both of his hands. He has intermittent pain and difficulty grasping items. Both hands are affected, but his right hand is significantly worse. It has become so debilitating that he cannot work in the store, and much of the responsibility has fallen to his wife and children. A neighbor recommended that Thea visit our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre, where specialty surgeons diagnosed him with carpal tunnel syndrome. This occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. He needs a carpal tunnel release - an incision in the palm of his hand over the carpal tunnel ligament and a cut through the ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. Now, Thea needs help with the cost of the $572 procedure. The cost covers the operation, hospital stay, medications, and post-op physiotherapy. Thea says, "I feel bad that my hands are weak and I have pain. I hope the operation will help to fix my hand so I can run our grocery store and support my family."

Saros is a 17-year-old 8th grade student from Cambodia. Her family includes two brothers, three sisters, and her parents, who fish to support their family. Saros enjoys swimming, playing with her friends, and watching TV. Her best subject in school is Khmer literature, and she wants to be a lawyer when she is older. In 2019, Saros was burned by fire on her left foot. She went to Vietnam for treatment. Since then, burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her toes and ankle and making it difficult for her to walk. When Saros learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her walk easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Saros says, "I hope my foot can move and be comfortable again."

Khin is a sweet and loving grandmother from Burma who helps her family manage their household. She lives with her daughter, her two sons, her two daughters-in-law, and her beautiful granddaughter. One of her daughters-in-law will give birth in the coming days, and her other daughter helps manage the household along with Khin. Both of her sons work as day laborers. Some of Khin's favorite ways to spend her time are praying and playing with her sweet six-month-old granddaughter. This past February, Khin's small toe on her left foot was amputated at our medical partner's care center, Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital (MCLH), due to a severe ulcer. In July, she developed another ulcer near where her small toe was amputated. Because of her condition, Khin is experiencing pain and swelling in her left foot. She also has little appetite and difficulty sleeping. She currently cannot put any weight on that foot, meaning she has not been able to walk. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Khin receive treatment. On July 15th, surgeons will perform a debridement, a surgery that will remove the damaged tissue from her foot, to help her walk and live free of pain. Now, Khin needs help funding this $694 procedure. Khin shares, "I want to be healthy because I am old, and I don’t want to make any problems for my family. Thank you so much to all the donors who are supporting my free treatment. I hope that my condition will heal fully after surgery. I just want to live happily with my family for the rest of my life."

Erick is a four year old boy, living with his parents and five siblings. He is a charming and playful fellow, who loves football. Erick was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition which causes his legs to bow outward, making it difficult for him to walk, and causing him pain. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, has stepped up to help Erick access the corrective surgery he needs. They are requesting $880 to fund this procedure, which is scheduled to take place on June 7th at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, and which should restore Erick's mobility. After he heals, he will be able to engage in a variety of activities, and the risk of future complications will be greatly diminished. Erick’s father says: “We have hope that our son could have his legs corrected here.”

Prisla is a charming and social 5-year-old girl. She is an only child born who loves to play with other children. Prisla's parents separated when she was around two years old and she has been raised by her father with the help of her grandparents and uncles. The father is a small-scale famer who also does casual jobs to get money to support her upbringing. At two years old, Prisla was severely burned when she accidentally dipped her hands in a pot of boiling water. Prisla was never taken to hospital and instead treated with traditional medication at home. Prisla is now having difficulty using her hands in daily life activities due to her contracted fingers. Prisla has been scheduled for surgery to start correcting the right-hand fingers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is helping Prisla receive treatment. On May 12th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her finally straighten her fingers. AMH is requesting $639 to fund this life-altering procedure. Prisla’s uncle, who brought her for care, shared, “Her father cannot afford to take her to hospital, please help get her fingers corrected.”

Samnang is a high school student. He has six brothers and two sisters and is the youngest child in his family. Both of his parents are farmers. He enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Samnang was in a motor vehicle accident in October 2019 and fractured his left tibia. Doctors at a government hospital fixated hardware to the fracture. Now the bone is healed and the hardware needs to be removed in order for him to walk again with no pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 25th, Samnang will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will allow him to walk easily again and will prevent future complications. Samnang says, "I hope I recover well and am free of pain so I can return to school."

Samuel is a nine-year-old student who lives with his parents and three siblings in Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. He is currently in third grade and enjoys studying history and science. Samuel has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four different congenital heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to travel to the United States where he will undergo cardiac surgery on September 14th at Akron Children's Hospital. During the procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart and remove the blockage from his valve. A portion of the cost of Samuel's treatment is being supported by Akron Children's Hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is raising the remaining $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery prep, which includes all labs, medication, check-up and follow-up appointments, and the passports needed for HCA’s social workers to accompany Samuel and his family overseas. Samuel's mother says, "I have been very worried about my son's health for many years. I am looking forward to being able to stop worrying so much after this surgery!"

Khoem is a loving grandmother and a widow with two sons, two daughters, and several grandchildren. Her husband passed away several years ago, so she lives with her youngest daughter, who works in a local factory and supports her mother. Over the past several years, her greatest joy is playing with her grandchildren when they come to visit. Due to her age, she mostly stays home and listens to the radio. Earlier this month, Khoem tripped in her house and fell, fracturing her left hip. Although she experienced a lot of pain and was not able to walk, she did not seek any medical help because she was worried she could not pay. A relative visited her and suggested she go to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for diagnosis and treatment. She is in constant pain and cannot walk so is using a wheelchair to get around. Fortunately, Khoem took her relatives advice and came to CSC. There surgeons can perform a surgery to relieve Khoem of her pain and allow her to walk more easily again. Her treatment is scheduled for March 15th, and Khoem needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. "I hope that I can walk without pain, and play with my grandchildren again," shared Khoem.

Jayden is a sweet baby and the last born in a family of 5 children. His parents separated before he was born and his mother does laundry for neighbors to provide for the family. Shortly after Jayden was born, his mother noticed a large swelling on his back. She did not have the money to take him to a doctor at the time but, when he was seven months old, she took him to the hospital where Jayden was examined and was sent to another facility for a scan. Unfortunately, the scan was not done because Jayden's mother could not raise the required amount of money. She shared her plight with her boss who got in touch with one of the ambassadors from BethanyKids hospital in their village. The ambassador reached out to her the following day and helped bring Jayden to the hospital. Upon examination, he was diagnosed with spina bifida and urgent surgery was recommended. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Jayden 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, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Jayden's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 21. This procedure will hopefully spare Jayden from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Jayden’s mother says, “I have been praying for a long time for Jayden’s healing and I now believe that he will be treated.”

Sokha is a 54-year-old womanwho has a calm, quiet presence. Her husband is a Khmer language teacher at primary school. They have one daughter, who is in the twelfth grade. Sokha's family is very important to her, so she spends much of her time cooking and cleaning, as well as with her close relatives. About thirty years ago, Sokha developed a severe ear infection, which caused her tympanic membrane, or eardrum, in her left ear to perforate. As a result, Sokha has experienced tinnitus and discharge for as long as she can remember, especially when she has a cold or upper respiratory infection. She has developed increased hearing loss and has difficulty communicating with others, as she needs to lip-read to make her replies. Sokha has visited treatment centers but shared that the medication is expensive and has not relieved her symptoms. Upon learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Sokha traveled to their care center for treatment. On March 7th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear, and surgeons will close the perforation. CSC is requesting $464 to fund her procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. After thirty years of symptoms, Soksa shared that she hopes she will have improved hearing and no more infections after her surgery!

San is a 38-year-old woman who lives with her daughter and two sons in a village near Mae Sot, Thailand. San’s two sons work as agricultural day labourers on a farm. San’s daughter is a second grade student. San stopped working on the farm about four months ago when she first developed problems with her vision. The money that her two sons earn is not enough to cover their household expenses and pay for her daughter’s school fees since she stopped working. They have had to borrow money to pay for basics like food. San has cataract and glaucoma. Currently, San has lost most of her vision in her right eye. Her right eye is painful and always waters. If she tries to focus her vision to make out someone’s face, her eyes will hurt, and she develops a headache. In her free time, San like to clean her house and plant vegetables. She said, “I hope that I will get better soon so that I can go back to work and pay back my debts. I want to support my daughter so that she can become an educated person. I want to live happily with my family for the rest of my life.” Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for San. On February 22nd, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove San's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. San said, “I am so upset that my condition worsens every day. I cannot sleep well because I am worried about what will happen if I do not get better. I am upset that I cannot work and my two sons have to work and support me. I feel so sad for my two sons.’’