Meet Flavio, an eight-year-old boy from Guatemala. “Flavio is the youngest of 3 children,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Flavio likes to watch the chickens run around his front yard when he and his mother are home.” His father works in a cornfield as a day laborer, but his mother has to stay at home in order to give Flavio the attention he needs. “Flavio was born with down syndrome, but his mother did not know about it until he was so old that differences between him and the other children were obvious,” shares WK. “She took him to a therapy center, and they accepted him. However, therapy is expensive, and this little boy’s family has limited resources and cannot afford it on their own.” Flavio needs continued therapy and medical support to ensure that his development progresses. “Without intervention…he will not develop the tools necessary to allow any sort of independence, and thus will have to rely on his family for the rest of his life,” explains WK. With $1385 in funding, Flavio can receive comprehensive treatment that includes diagnostic workup through medical scans, physical therapy, micronutrient and antiepileptic medication, and 6-day accompaniment at Wuqu’ Kawoq’s treatment center. “There is no doubt that therapy and medical attention will not only improve Flavio’s health, but also his quality of life. Therapy will give him increased mobility and communication tools, thereby allowing him to be more independent and function better with his family and in society,” says WK. “Down syndrome is often time paired with health issues. Monthly medical checkups will allow us to monitor Flavio’s progress and assess his future needs. His mother will be counseled on how to provide care for her child, and will be supported by staff throughout the process.” Flavio’s mother is incredibly grateful for the chance to improve her son’s life. “I want what is best for my child,” she shares. “Thank you for your interest in helping us.”

Meet Cho, a 42-year-old mother of two from Thailand. Cho was recently diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. “For the past four or five months Cho's abdomen has started getting bigger and bigger and she started to experience a lot of pain,” explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She cannot sit or stand easily. She cannot sleep well at night and she is in a lot of pain. She can feel the mass in her abdomen when she lies down. She cannot eat a lot because her abdomen is distended. She has difficulty breathing and suffers from fatigue." With $1500 in funding, Cho will receive surgery to remove the ovarian cyst. Funding will also provide pre-surgery CT scans and post-surgical outpatient visits. Following treatment, Cho hopes to work as a domestic helper in order to pay for her son's school fees. "I want to have surgery, and I want to be happy and to take care of my son's future," Cho shares. "I want to work hard for my son to ensure he has good education."

Meet San! San is 42 years old, and works as a seamstress in Burma to help support her husband and elderly parents. A few months ago, San visited her local midwife because she was experiencing abdominal and back pain, fatigue, and joint pain. All of these symptoms were causing her a great deal of stress as well. San’s midwife referred her to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects, where she was diagnosed with a uterine tumor known as a myoma. San is grateful for this access to care -- she tells us, “the poor always have to struggle to get food daily and at the hospital there are not enough health workers.” San has not been able to work due to the pain and swelling caused by the myoma, and has been additionally distressed because her husband’s truck broke down, making it impossible for him to work as a driver and earn enough to support their family. For $1500, San will have surgery to remove the uterine myoma. After this surgery, her pain and distension will subside and she will be able to return to work and supporting her family. Let's help ensure that San gets the care she needs to alleviate her discomfort and stress.

"Israel is a friendly and talkative six-year-old boy," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Even though he is not the last born in the family, he looks like he is the youngest. The severe bowing of both of his legs has made him look shorter compared to his age mates." 6-year-old Israel is a young boy from Tanzania, and has developed genu valgus (knock-knees) due to fluorosis, or high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water. "Israel walks with difficulty. He walks as if he has a problem with his hips," AMHF adds. "He is unable to run around with friends and at times he feels left out when other children are busy playing outside and no one is willing to slow down for him to catch up." Treatment for Israel's condition will cost $940. This will improve his gait and allow him to walk and grow normally. “Just like the rest of my children who are able to walk to school, I wish that Israel can also walk to school without difficulties,” says Israel’s mother.