Devi is a 30-year-old subsistence farmer from an area called Dedza, in Malawi. He came to the hospital using a motorbike taxi because he has been experiencing severe pain in his right groin area. Devi farms in order to feed his family, so when he is unable to work, the farm and his family's well-being is jeopardized. He is currently supporting four children, his sister, and his grandmother. Unfortunately, he has been completely unable to work for the past several weeks due to the pain caused from an inguinal hernia; a condition easily treated surgically. For $613, Devi will have hernia repair surgery. Assuming a successful operation, Devi will be cured and is expected to make a full recovery. "I'm hoping to get back to my job so I can continue to provide for my family," says Devi.

Lorn is 69-year-old rice farmer who lives in Cambodia with his wife. They have four sons, five daughters, and 20 grandchildren! In his spare time, Lorn enjoys listening to the news on the radio. Two years ago, Lorn developed a pterygium in each eye. A pterygium is a growth that starts on the clear tissue of the eye that can spread to the cornea. This has caused Lorn blurred vision, irritation, and tearing. He can't do work well or get around outside independently. Lorn and his wife traveled for two hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), where he can receive pterygium excision surgery. This surgery costs $150, and will relieve Lorn of irritation and improve his vision. Let's help fund this life-changing surgery for Lorn!

Angelica is a newborn baby girl from rural Guatemala. She was born one month prematurely. She was small and weak when she was born, and acquired an infection in her eyes and now her lungs. When she came to see us at the clinic, she was very sick, but now she is doing much better after receiving hospital care. Unfortunately, her mother had to receive antibiotics that are unsafe for breastfeeding. Since her mother had to stop breastfeeding while taking the medications, she lost her ability to make milk and now Angelica is acutely malnourished. Her mother says her heart breaks because she is unable to give her daughter enough milk to make her stop crying. Angelica lives with her parents and her older siblings in a humble one-room wood house with a tin roof. Her mother is worried because she can see her daughter losing weight, and she does not have enough milk to feed her. Since she spends so much time caring for Angelica and her father works as a day laborer in the coffee fields, barely making enough money to support basic living costs, they cannot afford the extremely expensive formula Angelica needs to survive. Although Angelica's life is in danger now, the treatment she needs to be a healthy and happy baby is simple. She will receive formula with the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her immune system will grow stronger with the formula, and she will no longer cry from hunger. This treatment will not only save Angelica's life, but will mean she is no longer at risk for seizures, diarrhea, and long-term developmental delays due to her lack of milk. "My desire is that my daughter gets better and can grow healthily," her mother said. "I want to see her get big so that she can go to the school and study and be a person like you all that helps the people that need it."

A couple years ago, seven-year-old Lowasa was playing in his home in Tanzania when he fell into an open fire. "The material of his clothes that he was wearing quickly caught fire and he incurred severe burns," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. After being rushed to the hospital, Lowasa's burns on his chest were treated and have since healed. Because of the skin damage he sustained from the burns, he developed a keloid on his chest, which is a build up of extra scar tissue where the skin has healed after injury. "If not treated, the growing keloid will eventually take over his whole chest," AMHF explains. The keloid is very itchy, causing Lowasa to scratch it and create small open wounds. To treat his condition, Lowasa will have the keloid surgically removed and will need injections of steroids and fluorouacil (an ointment for his skin). It will cost, in total, $920. After treatment, Lowasa will no longer feel uncomfortable due to his condition, and will have a much smaller scar. As the third born in a family of four children, Lowasa's parents are worried what will happen to their son. He loves school, and his parents hope that he can return after treatment. "The best thing I can do for my children is to take them to school," Lowasa's father shares with us. "I will be happy for Lowasa to go to school without frequent interruptions of having to go to the hospital."

Sagar is a 60-year-old farmer living in Nepal with his wife and daughter-in-law. His family survives off the income his son makes in India. Sagar used to work as a watchman in India before his retirement to his homeland in Nepal. Upon his return Sagar planned on being an active, productive member of the family, but he developed a bilateral unobstructed hernia. A hernia occurs when an internal organ pokes through the abdomen wall, causing severe pain. Left untreated, a hernia can cause intestinal blockage or prevent blood from reaching vital parts of his intestines. He needs surgical intervention to reposition his herniated tissue. The hernia repair surgery repairs the abdomen wall with synthetic tissue. Sagar has been unable to talk or laugh due to his pain, and he has had to stop working and walking. “My hernia causes me a lot of pain,” says Sagar, “I hope I’m treated very soon.” Our medical partner, Possible, tells us that for $491 Sagar can receive hernia repair surgery, as well as medication and hospital care that he needs to get back on his feet. With his hernia repair, Sagar will avoid complications to his intestines and he will no longer be in pain.

Meet Marvin, a 13-month-old boy from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “Marvin is a playful little boy who loves to play with a small plastic ball that he shares with his sister Yoselin. Yoselin is four years old; she is Marvin’s primary caretaker when their mother manufactures textiles for a living. Marvin likes to eat bananas. He lives with his mom and dad in a single room adobe mud house with a tin roof.” Due to a lack of funds and nutrition education, Marvin currently lives with acute malnutrition. “Marvin is below the average height and the average weight for his age,” WK reports. ”If Marvin does not receive intervention, his health will continue to decline and be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition. He will face physical and mental stunting that limits his ability to succeed in school and the workforce.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity in the future. $512 will fund the treatment Marvin needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Marvin of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Marvin will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future. “Thank you for all you want to do for us. It will be such a great help,” shares Marvin’s mother.

“48-year-old Than Nwet has lived in Burma for the last three years and works with her family as fishermen,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. She has five daughters and two sons. “After Than Nwet’s third pregnancy, her uterus began to protrude from her vagina, but she did not seek medical help at that time,” BBP tells us. “After working very hard doing some heavy lifting, her uterus came completely out." Than Nwet's village clinic wasn't able to provide proper gynecological care for her. Her condition causes her to have constant pain, bleeding, and discomfort. "She is only able to perform household chores and cannot contribute to the household income." She finally decided to seek proper care once her condition began impeding on her ability to walk. Surgery and treatment for Than Nwet costs $1,500. “After surgery, Than Nwet should not have any more discomfort,” says BBP. “She should be able to go back and work and generate income for her family.” “I am desperately hoping for a successful surgery so that I can return to work and experience relief,” shares Than Nwet.

Meet four-year-old Samryll Ian from the Philippines. He dreams of one day becoming an engineer. Samryll Ian's mother is a saleswoman and his father is a fisherman. "Samryll is a shy boy but loves to play with his siblings," shares our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). Samryll Ian has an anorectal malformation, a defect in the opening at the end of the large intestine through which stool passes. ICM shares, "He tends to be alone and not mingle with other children. Although he does not fully understand his condition, he is still positive that he could be well someday." Because his mother and father's job does not provide the family with a fixed income, the family cannot afford to fund treatment for his condition. For $965, Samryll Ian can receive treatment that will allow him to pass stool normally again. After treatment, "Samryll will have the confidence to play with the other children and pursue his dream to become an engineer," explains ICM. His mother adds, "We want to see him grow normally like any other kids in his school, so that he can fulfill his dreams in the future and help our family go out of poverty."