Josias is a three-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older brother. He is a happy and playful toddler who loves to smile and play! Josias has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Josias has been experiencing developmental delays. He cannot walk or talk yet. Without treatment, Josias will continue experiencing severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Josias at Hospital Bernard Mevs to treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 20th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Josias's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Josias will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Josias's family has shared that they hope this surgery will allow him to be more independent.

Soktha is a 32-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married with two children. His son is seven years old and in first grade, while his daughter is one year old and stays home with his wife. Soktha sells bread at the local market. At home in his free time, he likes to play football, read books, and play with his children. For the past three years, Soktha has been experiencing pain and swelling in his left jaw. He visited a local hospital and underwent biopsies, which showed that he has a tumor and chronic inflammation in the tissue around his jaw. As a result of this condition, Soktha experiences pain, cannot open his mouth, and has difficulty eating and drinking. When Soktha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 5th, doctors will perform a mandibulectomy and fibula free-flap reconstruction. After recovery, Soktha hopes to be pain-free and able to open his mouth again. CSC is requesting $991 to fund this procedure, which covers the cost of surgery, hospitalization, and medications. Soktha's family was able to gather $100 to contribute to his care. Soktha said: "I hope I can eat and drink again and get comfortable, so I can feel good again to support my family."

Meet Tuhangirwe, a 38 year old business woman, living in Uganda with her husband and four children. While Tuhangirwe holds a degree in arts in education, she lost her teaching job as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. She opened up a small retail shop, while her husband works as a farmer. Their income is limited due to the unstable weather patterns, and the weak economic climate. Tuhangirwe is currently expecting a baby. Because of the risks from her previous deliveries, her doctors are recommending that she deliver her new baby via a C-section in order to ensure the safety and well being of both Tuhangirwe and her child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Tuhangirwe undergo a C-Section on September 27th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. The C-Section will cost $252, and Tuhangirwe needs your support, to fund this procedure. Tuhangirwe says: “With your support, I expect the best of my surgery and hope to continue with my business to sustain my family.”

Chit is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. This past April, she and her husband have moved in with her sister and two nephews in Mae Sot, a border city in Thailand, while she receives treatment. Prior to the move, Chit would sell various fruits from their home in the village, but she had to close her shop once they moved. Her husband has been unable to work due to his disability. They are now supported by Chit's sister, who works as a waitress at a restaurant. In her free time, Chit enjoys gardening and growing various fruit trees, such as avocado, lime, banana, and pomegranate. In the future, she wants to grow and sell fruit tree saplings because she greatly enjoys growing fruit trees! Since August of last year, Chit has been experiencing slight lower abdominal pains. She especially experiences tightness on the right side of her abdomen in the morning right after she wakes up. She has been diagnosed with a uterine fibroid, a noncancerous growth of the uterus. Doctors have advised her to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Chit's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Chit is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on July 26th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain and will be able to return home and work again. Chit shares, “I had to leave my house, and I always have to take care of my husband. But I also have to take care of myself because I am ill. Sometimes, I feel sad and tired of my life. I know surgery will help me...”

Nevid is a curious and playful two year old boy, living with his parents in Tanzania. His father is a motorcycle taxi driver, while his mother is a homemaker. Earlier this year, Nevid was outside the house playing with his friends, when he fell on a pot of hot water. His right arm was badly burned, leaving him with contractures when the wound healed. He has pain when he tries to straighten the affected arm. He has also developed a fear of doctors, because of the many times he had to go for injections, and it is difficult for him to allow anyone to examine his arm. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Nevid receive treatment. On October 17th, surgeons at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help Nevid straighten his hand easily without causing any pain. Now, his family needs your help to fund this $639 procedure. Nevid’s mother says: “The entire treatment period has been so traumatizing to my son. I hope this will be the last time his arm has a problem.”

Chham is a 76-year-old retired rice farmer. He is married and has one daughter, two sons, and 12 grandchildren. Both he and his wife are retired from farming and live with their youngest son, who is a farmer. He enjoys listening to the news and to monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Chham developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him to experience light sensitivity, blurry vision, and eye tearing. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Chham learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On August 3rd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help funding this $253 procedure. Chham says, "I hope after surgery I can see better. I would like to go outside to visit our pagoda and join in the ceremonies."

Phal Rika is a 12-year-old student. She is an only child and is in grade seven in a public school. Her mother works in a local garment factory; her father passed away several years ago from hypertension. She likes to do her homework, help her mother around the house, and read books. Phal Rika developed a chalazion in her right eye, causing her redness, irritation, and swelling of the eyelid. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. It is very itchy and she cannot see well from her eye due to swelling. This makes it difficult for her to concentrate on her schoolwork. Phal Rika traveled for one and a half hours to seek treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On September 15th, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Phal Rika's symptoms should improve. She needs help raising $210 to fund this procedure. Her mother shared: "I hope the operation will be easy for my daughter so she can see well again and not miss any school."

Joshua is an 8-year-old boy who has been living in a children's home since he was two years old and his mother passed away. A neighbor intervened to help him move there when it was discovered that the living conditions with his grandmother were not suitable. Since early 2020, Joshua has had an inguinal hernia, or painful bulge in the groin area. Joshua started having lower abdominal pain, and has been to several hospitals for treatment but his condition has not improved. He was recently diagnosed with an inguinal hernia at one of the facilities and surgery was recommended. The host organization was not able to raise the needed amount and so he was referred to our medical partner BethanyKids Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, on September 15th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $585 to fund Joshua's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Joshua says, "I want my pain to go away and play like my friends."

Rajabu is a 15-year old boy, who lives with his parents and six siblings in Tanzania. Rajabu's parents work as small scale farmers, which because of a prolonged drought, has made it difficult for them to provide for their family. Rajabu has bilateral clubfoot. He tried to attend school, but he was unable to walk the distance between his home and school without great discomfort, so he had to discontinue his education. While his parents had sought treatment for Rajabu three days after he was born, and he went through casting for three months, the family ran out of money before Rajabu could complete his treatment. They returned home, hopeful that one day they would be able to raise the money to resolve Rajabu's condition. Fortunately, Rajabu's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 15th. They are requesting $935 to fund Rajabu's procedure, after which he will be able to walk easily and to go to school without the difficulties he experiences today. Rajabu says: “I wish to walk like other children, wear shoes, and enjoy sports with my friends."

Emmanuel is a 17-year-old student from Haiti who hopes to become a doctor. He lives with his aunt and uncle in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince so that he can more easily attend school, as his parents live in the countryside. Emmanuel has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation, which means one of his heart valves was severely damaged from an infection he experienced in early childhood. In 2017, Emmanuel underwent heart surgery to repair his existing valve. This surgery stabilized his heart for several years, but the valve remains unable to pump blood adequately throughout his body. Emmanuel needs to undergo a second surgery to replace the valve with a prosthetic heart valve. Emmanuel will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment, as this surgery is unavailable in Haiti. On November 10th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove the damaged heart valve and implant a replacement valve. An organization called Mitral Foundation is contributing $8,000 to pay for help pay for surgery. Emmanuel's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Emmanuel's family overseas. Emmanuel shared, "I am looking forward to growing stronger and having much more energy after my surgery!"

Nobert is a one-month-old baby. His parents work in agriculture. They noticed that their newborn child's feet are twisted inward and downward. This worried the parents, for they have never come across a child born with such a disability. Nobert's parents shared that they spent a whole week in a dilemma, not knowing what to do. As they were about to go to a small local hospital nearby, they met with a friendly neighbour who helped to educate them on the problem and informed them of a health centre that can provide the proper treatment to their newborn child. Nobert has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Nobert's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Nobert's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes when he grows up. Nobert's mother says, “I was worried that my son will grow up with his feet in this condition, but now I hope his feet will be normal after treatment."

Choury is a shy, 18 year old girl living with her widowed mother in Kandal province in Cambodia. Her brothers are all married and live away from home, while her mother works as a rainy day rice farmer. In her free time, Choury enjoys playing tennis, swimming, cooking, listening to music, and meeting with her friends. Since Choury was about three months old, she has had problems with her mouth. For the past ten years, she has had frequent infections, accompanied by fevers, near her left ear, and stiffness near her temporomandibular joint - which connects the jaw to the skull. Because her father has passed away, her mother has not been able to afford any medical care for Choury. Choury is unable to open her mouth, which makes it difficult for her to eat and drink, and she always wears a mask due to her low self-esteem resulting from her face and frequent infections. Choury has been diagnosed with recurrent ankylosis and chronic osteitis. The ankylosis - and the constant inflammation in her jawbone - cause severely limited jaw function, as well as oral hygiene and nutritional problems. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. They plan to do surgery on December 6th at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre. Her family needs help with the $469 cost of her surgery and hospitalization. After surgery, Choury hopes she will be able to open her mouth, to speak better, and to no longer feel ashamed of her appearance. Choury said: "I hope the doctors can help me open my mouth better, and look like other people my age. I am embarrassed at work and feel poorly. I have not been able to eat real food. This would make me very happy."