Veronica is a 12-month-old girl from Kenya. Veronica’s mother was a stay at home mother but now prepares and sells mandazi (pastries) while her father who used to farm now is a laborer in construction sites in order to make ends meet. Being the third born in a family of five, Veronica’s parents are not able to raise enough to pay for her treatment. Veronica underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Veronica's case, her colostomy requires closure in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $650 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Veronica. The surgery is scheduled to take place on July 13th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Veronica’s mother says, “Being Veronica’s last surgery, I’m looking forward to see her well.”

Eliana is a young girl from Tanzania, and the the firstborn in a family of three children. She is a very friendly and talkative girl. Eliana was born healthy and growing up for her was normal until when she was two years old. Her parents noticed her left leg was swelling and she would limp when walking. They thought she had fallen and hurt herself, so they took her to a local dispensary where pain-relieving medication was prescribed. Eliana's parents are small-scale farmers who depend entirely on what they harvest for their daily living. They shared that seeking proper treatment for Eliana was not possible due to their financial challenges. Over the next two years, her condition has worsened causing both legs to be deformed and making her walking difficult. Eliana now struggles to stand and can’t walk more than four steps without complaining of pain or falling down. This has resulted in her crawling most of the time in order to move from one place to the other. Eliana has been scheduled to have both of her legs corrected but her parents cannot afford her treatment cost and they are asking for help. Eliana has been diagnosed with bilateral flourosis, with her legs swollen on the upper side of her knees. 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, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Eliana. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 24th. Treatment will hopefully restore Eliana's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Eliana’s father said, “My daughter is struggling to stand and walking is now becoming close to impossible. Please help her get this treatment, we are unable to afford the treatment cost.’’

Brighton is three-year-old boy and the youngest in his family of nine children. Brighton is a friendly and playful boy. Brighton's parents have been wanting to enroll him in school and start kindergarten but they are concerned because Brighton's right foot is deformed after being involved in a fire accident two years ago, making walking for him difficult. Brighton was left at home sleeping while his mother went out to fetch water. His older siblings were inside the house playing and one of them took a matchbox and started playing with it. The fire caught the bed in which Brighton was sleeping in. The oldest child seeing the fire ran and called their mother who rushed in to save Brighton. He was saved, though he sustained burns on his right foot and was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully Brighton was treated, his wound healed, and was able to walk. However as time went on the scars around his foot contracted to pull on his toes, deforming his foot and making it difficult for him to walk well. His parents tried to seek treatment for him but the cost turned out to be expensive for them to afford. Both parents are small scale farmers and their income is not enough to support the family and cover Brighton's treatment cost. They are asking for help. Brighton’s mother says, “We would love to see our son’s foot well so that he can be able to walk like other normal children, but the cost of treatment is too high for us to afford. Please help us.”

Nasiti is a young girl from Tanzania. She is a four-year-old girl and the firstborn child of two children. Nasiti was unfortunately involved in a fire accident when she was two years old, due to the spillage of hot water from a cooking pot over the fire. She was rushed to the hospital and admitted for a month, and then advised to continue home care and visit a dispensary for local treatment. Nasiti sustained severe burns, and is not able to fully stretch her right hand. She also has contractures on her right axillar and elbow that severely limit her arm movement. This makes it hard for her to use both of her hands in daily life activities. Her parents are small-scale farmers with a few cattle, and they depend solely on what they harvest for their living. Due to financial challenges, they could not continue her inpatient treatment nor seek additional treatment for her contractures. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Nasiti receive treatment. On October 14th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release bother her axilla and elbow to give her more range of motion. She will also be able to utilize her hand with ease. Now, Nasiti needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Nasiti’s mother says, “My daughter is unable to use her right hand in her day-to-day activities. Please help her as the cost is too high for us to afford.”

Zawadi is an eleven-year-old girl and the firstborn child in a family of three children in Tanzania. She is a friendly and cheerful girl. Zawadi was born healthy but when she was six years old, she was involved in a fire accident that left her with severe burns on her arms, hands, and fingers. On the fateful day, Zawadi and other children were playing cooking games behind their hut. One of the children went and picked a burning piece of wood from the kitchen and was trying to make a fire for them so that they could cook. Zawadi was the one blowing the fire and while doing this her clothes caught fire. She was wearing a sweater and had wrapped herself in Maasai clothing. She was severely burned resulting in five months of hospitalization during her initial treatment. Her wounds healed but have left her unable to straighten her left arm due to the contractures on her axilla. Zawadi has been scheduled for surgery to help release the contracture on her arm so that she is able to wear clothes and make her life a bit easier when trying to use her hands. Her parents are small-scale farmers who have a few cattle that they depend on for milk. Their income is not enough for them to afford Zawadi’s treatment cost and they are asking for help. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Zawadi receive treatment. On October 13th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery and skin graft so she will be able to utilize her hand with greater ease. Now, her family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Zawadi’s father told us, “If my daughter is able to have this surgery she will be able to have more range of motion on her arm making her life easier than now. Please help because we can’t afford the treatment cost.”

Zakayo is a one-year-old baby from Tanzania. He is the last born child in a family of three children. He is playful, smiley, and a very friendly boy. His parents are small-scale farmers of maize, bean, and vegetable. They depend entirely on what they harvest for their survival and supporting their children. Zakayo has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Zakayo traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, and receive care. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 18th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Zakayo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear shoes. Zakayo’s mother says, “Please help correct my son’s foot so that he is able to walk like his siblings and lead a normal life. The cost is too high for us to afford it.”

Loem is a 67-year-old fabric seller from Cambodia. She has three daughters, all of whom are married. Since her husband passed away a few years ago, she lives with her middle daughter and her family. When she is not helping out around the house, she likes to travel by herself to famous pagodas. Four years ago, Loem developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her blurry vision, tearing, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Loem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four-and-a-half hours seeking treatment. On August 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Loem shared, "I hope I can see everything clearly, like the faces of my family and my neighbors. And I hope that I can travel by myself and see everything where I am going."

Akankwatsa is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She separated from her husband 16 years ago. She has seven children; five who are small-scale farmers and married. The other two still live with her at home. Twelve years ago, Akankwatsa began to experience postmenopausal bleeding and discharge. She has been diagnosed with cervical polyps. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Akankwatsa's surgery. On July 21st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Akankwatsa will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Akankwatsa says, “I have lived with this condition for so long, but now I will be glad to be relieved of it so that I may continue with farming.”