Mariana is a 39-year-old woman who is pregnant with her ninth child. She lives with her husband, Barnard, and their eight children in a small house in rural Uganda. Seven of the children are in school, and Mariana and Barnard have difficulty paying their tuition. Both Mariana and Barnard are subsistence farmers who grow cassava, beans, sorghum, yams, and groundnuts to feed their family. Barnard also picks tea leaves to earn money. Mariana enjoys worshiping God, weaving mats and baskets, and chatting with friends in local village groups. Mariana’s doctors consider her pregnancy high-risk. On November 30, she will begin to receive supplements and attend antenatal checkups and health education classes. She will deliver her baby in the hospital, and her baby will be examined by a midwife. After birth, Mariana and her baby will be monitored by the hospital staff. Mariana has contributed $8 to her care. For an additional $241, we can fund the remainder of this care. Mariana is looking forward to nursing her child. Mariana shares, "I thank donors for supporting my safe delivery at the hospital, and I appeal to them to always support the needy. God bless the donors!”

Kassim is a 46-year-old man from Tanzania. He has fourteen children and many grandchildren, and he has tried to send as many of them to school as possible. Five years ago, Kassim began to experience pain in his knee. He can walk only a short distance using crutches. This means he cannot work on the farm or even walk to the nearest village. Instead, he sits inside. On November 18, Kassim underwent a total knee joint replacement. After rehabilitation, he will enjoy greater joint flexibility and overall mobility. He should be able to walk independently without pain. Now, he needs help to raise $960 for this treatment. "I hope that my pain will end," Kassim says, "and that I will be able to return to my farming work."

60-year-old Gorrete lives with her four grandchildren in a rural Ugandan village. She is a subsistence farmer who grows ground nuts, maize, and beans. For twenty years, Gorrete has lived with a uterine prolapse, a painful gynecological condition. She also experiences uncomfortable backaches. Gorrete enjoys discussing issues with other women in her community. She was elected to be a legal advisor to council women experiencing domestic violence. Unfortunately, Gorrete's condition has made it difficult for her to attend recent meetings. On October 26, Gorrete underwent a hysterectomy. She needs help to fund this $321 procedure. After recovery, she plans to start a new business to support herself and her grandchildren. “I pray to God to always lead donors...to support treatment for ladies who are hopeless," shares Gorrete. "I will keep praying for them.”

Chanthou is a 27-year-old farmer who has two sisters and two brothers. He likes to read magazines and watch boxing on TV. In December 2011, Chanthou was robbed. He suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder blade, which damaged his arteries. As a result, his right arm was paralyzed. After three months of treatment at a hospital in Phnom Penh, movement of his shoulder and flexion of his elbow improved. However, the flexion of his right wrist and fingers remained impaired. When Chanthou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for five hours to seek treatment. On November 2, CSC surgeons performed a tendon repair surgery. After recovery, Chanthou will regain function in his right hand. Now, he needs help to fund this $450 surgery.

Wendy is an eight-month-old girl from Guatemala. Her family cannot afford to give her a nutritious diet filled with protein, calories, and nutrients. She has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Wendy began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Wendy loves to eat scrambled eggs, smile at everyone, and play with her stuffed animals. She is the first child to two loving parents. They live in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Her father works as a day laborer, while her mother works at home. They cannot afford this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Wendy recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Wendy a chance to grow healthy and strong.

Annet is a 40-year-old woman from Uganda. She is married with four children, all of whom are in school. In her free time, Annet enjoys weaving mats and baskets, listening to the news on the local radio station, and chatting with women in the local community group. Fifteen years ago, during the delivery of her third child, Annet developed an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. She has experienced pain and urinary dysfunction. Annet visited many hospitals and clinics, but she could not get treated. Annet is a subsistence farmer who has done manual work all her life. She used to produce her own food, but for the last fifteen years, she has not been able to do any heavy work. She has experienced discomfort when she tries to sit, walk, or dig. On October 26, Annet underwent a repair surgery. She needs help to fund this $215 procedure. Funds will also cover three nights in the hospital, pain medicine and antibiotics, and lab tests. After surgery, Annet hopes to get well, resume her subsistence farming, and help her husband take care of the family. "I want to thank the donors for taking away this pain," shares Annet. "I have prayed to God to relieve me of this pain, and he has done it through the sponsors. God bless the sponsors."

Meet Sung, a 73-year-old man from Cambodia. He is married with two sons, three daughters, and ten grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray. Two years ago, Sung developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. This causes him blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for him to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside. "I hope my eye can see everything clearly again,” shares Sung, “Then, I can go anywhere outside." After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, Sung and his son traveled three hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Sung's sight. On October 21, Sung underwent cataract surgery, during which his old lenses were removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants. Now, he needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

Santos is a ten-month-old boy from Guatemala. His parents have trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Santos began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016. Santos lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His mother says that he is always playing with his toy car. He also loves to eat oranges. His father works as a day laborer on a bean plantation, but he cannot afford to pay for this $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Santos recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Santos a chance to grow healthy and strong. "I am so appreciative that my son can receive this help," says his mother. "It is going to be a big benefit for him, so he can grow a little more."

Maria is a 50-year-old woman from Guatemala. She has had diabetes for eight years, but she only began treatment five years ago. Her diabetes has advanced, and she has been experiencing blurry vision and dizziness, which prevent her from working. She needs insulin to manage her blood sugar and prevent serious complications, such as kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cataracts. Fortunately, she began treatment on November 28. Maria is a single mother to two sons. She lives with them in an adobe house with a tin roof, and she supports her family by selling fruits and vegetables in a large market. Maria leaves for the market at 4 am every day, and she often stays until dark. Despite her hard work, she cannot afford this $1,500 treatment. This treatment will protect Maria from the effects of uncontrolled diabetes. She will receive the insulin, blood pressure medications, and education she needs to adequately manage her diabetes for years to come. Once her glucose levels normalize, she will no longer be at risk of dangerous blood sugar highs. She will have renewed energy to return to work, and her quality of life will improve.

Loun is an 81-year-old rice and crop farmer with three sons, one daughter, and 21 grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and to go to the pagoda. About two years ago, Loun developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. She has trouble doing work, recognizing faces, and going outside. Loun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled one hour with her daughter in hopes of receiving care. On October 27, she underwent cataract surgery. For $292, we can pay for this vision-restoring surgery. Loun says, "I hope that my eyes can see clearly, so that I can continue my work on the farm and go anywhere by myself."

Angelo, a 9-year-old boy, is the fifth of eight siblings. He enjoys playing with his younger sister. Angelo was born with an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. He underwent surgery when he was seven days old, but his family's financial limitations prevented doctors from completing treatment. For this reason, his activities are limited, and he often experiences indigestion and weight loss. Though Angelo finished preschool, his condition has prevented him from enrolling in first grade because school is too far from home. Angelo flew from his rural home to the city of Bacolod to receive treatment. On November 24, Angelo underwent corrective surgery. He will be monitored for two weeks and will undergo a followup surgery several months from now. Angelo's father works as a tenant on a farm, and his mother is a housewife. They cannot afford this $1,500 procedure, and they need our help. "I am so thankful for this opportunity that has come to us," says Angelo's mother. "I never thought that Angelo would be treated because of our financial situation...This has given us hope for Angelo and for his future. I am looking forward to Angelo being fully well, going to school, and fulfilling whatever dreams he has. I know he will have a better future."