Samuel is 31 years old and a father of three children. He and his family live in Kenya. To make ends meet, Samuel operates a small butchery, while his wife is a casual laborer. Samuel's skull was injured on January 5. He was rushed to a private hospital for medical intervention. Since the incident, Samuel has not been able to speak, and he experiences headaches and pain. His doctors have recommended a craniotomy, a surgery which will repair the injured side of his skull. Samuel is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 11. Samuel's operation has already been subsidized by $364. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has requested $1,495 more to fund his hospital stay and surgery. “I want my brother to be well for his children and wife," Samuel's brother says. "He is their only source of livelihood.”

Meet Kao, a 21-year-old farmer. Kao has one sister and enjoys watching movies on TV. Kao traveled three hours with his mother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. In early December of 2016, Kao fractured his left femur in a motor vehicle accident. He was treated by a Khmer traditional healer, but his symptoms did not improve. He relies on crutches to walk, and he is in significant pain. On January 13, surgeons at CSC will perform a procedure to reconstruct the fracture, which will enable Kao to walk again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund his care. "After the surgery, I hope I can walk properly again," says Kao.

Lensley lives in a port city in northern Haiti with his parents, grandmother, and four older siblings. He is an extremely outgoing child who likes dancing to music and making new friends. Lensley was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole in his heart, which normally closes shortly after birth, remained open. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him feeling weak. Lensley needs to undergo cardiac surgery. First, Lensley will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 15. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Lensley also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Lensley's surgical care. "We have known about Lensley's heart problem since he was a baby, but never thought there could be a way to help him," says Lensley's mother. "Thank you all!"

Agapita is a 59-year-old woman who lives with her husband and son in the Philippines. For the past 20 years, she has lived with a mass on her neck, which causes her difficulty swallowing and occasional pain. She has also experienced blurry vision. Her symptoms continue to worsen, which has made working difficult. Recently, Agapita was screened and diagnosed with a thyroid goiter, which means that part of her thyroid gland is enlarged. Doctors will surgically remove the goiter on January 13. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries, is requesting $1,500 to fund her surgery and hospital stay. Agapita and her husband are farmers. She is looking forward to recovery, so that she can work and support her son's education. "This will really mean a lot to me and my family," says Agapita. "After the surgery, I am planning to help my husband to supplement our income and let my son go back to school again. Thank you so much in advance for all your help, and may you be blessed more and more."

Chee is a 59-year-old housewife. In her free time, she likes to listen to old Khmer songs, watch Khmer movies on TV, and cook for her family. In December of 2015, Chee fell and fractured her left elbow. At a private clinic, she underwent an open reduction internal fixation surgery to heal her fracture. In July of 2016, she visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where surgeons removed the pins and screws from her previous surgery. Still, Chee finds it difficult and painful to hold and carry objects. She traveled for three hours with her daughter to return to CSC. On January 10, surgeons will remove more hardware from her left elbow to relieve the pain. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure.

Lester is a 12-year-old student and older brother from the Philippines. He has experienced painful abdominal symptoms since he was a baby. Although he loves to play outdoors, the pain sometimes prevents him from doing so. Persistent symptoms have caused Lester to miss long periods of school. Lester's parents work as laborers on a nearby farm, but their income is limited. They could not afford to bring Lester to a doctor. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Care Ministries, visited their community. Lester's parents took the opportunity to get Lester a medical consultation and laboratory tests. Lester was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition in which intestinal tissue protrudes through the groin. He is scheduled to undergo a repair surgery on January 11. After surgery, Lester will return to school full-time and resume his childhood. The surgery will cost $1,098. Your donation will help pay for the surgeon's fees, one night stay in the hospital, the use of an operating theater, and medication. "We are so blessed that Lester was given a chance to be treated," says Lester's mother. "He is a good child and an industrious one. He is very loving to us, his parents. He really deserves this treatment, but because of our financial status we cannot afford the surgery. Thank you for helping us and my son."

Mao is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has one son, two daughters, and six grandchildren. He likes to listen to the news on the radio. One year ago, Mao developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision, tearing, and cloudy lenses. It is difficult for him to see things clearly or to go anywhere outside, and he is worried about going blind. Mao knew about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because his sister had surgery there before. He traveled for three hours with his daughter to reach CSC for treatment. On January 10, Mao will receive cataract eye surgery and an artificial lens will be implanted in each eye. CSC are requesting $292 for the treatment, after which Mao will be able to see clearly again. "I hope I can see everything more clearly," says Mao, "so that I can help my family and I can go anywhere easily."

Meet Sokheng, a 54-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married with two sons, four daughters, and five grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray. Two years ago, Sokheng developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is difficult for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Sokheng and her daughter traveled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure could restore Sokheng's sight. On November 29, Sokheng underwent cataract surgery, during which her old lenses were removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants. After recovery, she will see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund this procedure. "I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again,” shares Sokheng, “Then, I can work at home and go anywhere outside."

Saroeun is a 62-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She is married and has three sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. She likes to chat with her neighbors, look after her grandchildren, and join ceremonies at the pagoda. One year ago, Saroeun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, extreme sensitivity to light, and cloudy lenses. It is difficult for her to see things clearly, and she is worried about going blind. Saroeun knew about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because her neighbor had surgery there before. She traveled for three hours with her daughter to reach CSC for treatment. On January 9, she will receive cataract surgery. Surgeons will use an ultrasonic device to break up and remove the cataracts. They will then implant an artificial lens in each eye. After the surgery, Saroeun will be able to see clearly again. CSC is requesting $292 to fund this treatment. "I hope that I can see more clearly," says Saroeun, "so that I can sell things from my home and look after my grandchildren easily. I want to be able to go anywhere by myself."

Ambrose is a 76-year-old farmer from a small village in Malawi. He lives near two of his children and six grandchildren. Ambrose spends most of his time in his house. Since August of this year, Ambrose has experienced uncomfortable urinary symptoms. He was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. On November 22, he underwent prostate surgery supported by our medical partner, World Altering Medicine. Now, he needs help to fund this $726 procedure. Ambrose feels optimistic, and he is looking forward to going home. "I have to go back home so I can take care of my grandchildren," he says.

Moh Zin is a 19-year-old woman. She has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which means excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in her brain. Moh Zin lives with her parents and two older brothers in a village in Burma. Her parents own a plantation, on which they grow beans. Her father and brothers work on the plantation, while Moh Zin and her mother do housework. As a child, Moh Zin did not exhibit any symptoms. However, not long after she began attending school, her parents noticed that she was walking strangely. She continue to study for several years. Unfortunately, Moh Zin stopped attending school after grade seven, as she could no longer complete the thirty minute bicycle ride to school. Though she experienced limited mobility, Moh Zin could still walk around the house and the neighborhood. She helped her mother at home and carried water from the river. In her free time, she watched Korean dramas on television. Five months ago, however, her symptoms deteriorated. Her vision became blurry, and she developed a fever. Moh Zin visited an ophthalmologist, who performed a CT scan and learned that she had an abnormal brain condition. Certain that they could not afford treatment, Moh Zin’s family returned home. Fortunately, a monk told Moh Zin’s uncle about our medical partner. At this point, Moh Zin was experiencing blurry vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and back pain. On November 26, she underwent a shunt insertion surgery to drain the fluid from her brain. Now, her family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. After recovery, Moh Zin plans to “work hard and earn money to help support my family.”

“It is hard to see everything clearly or do any work very well,” shares Khuon, an 80-year-old woman from Cambodia. “I can’t go outside by myself.” Three years ago, Khuon developed a cataract in each eye. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us that due to her condition, Khuon experiences blurred vision, tearing, and itchiness. Cataracts occur when a thin, cloudy layer develops over the eye lens--gradually worsening vision as they continue to grow. For $225, Khuon will undergo the most widely practiced eye surgery. The clouded lens in each eye will be removed and replaced with an artificial substitute. Within a day of the surgery, Khuon will regain her vision. Khuon, who is married with three sons, three daughters, and 20 grandchildren, enjoys listening to the radio and hearing the monks praying. Eager to return to her normal lifestyle, Khuon says, “I hope my eyes can see everything clearly again. I want to help my daughter do housework, take care of my grandchild, and go anywhere outside by myself.”