Emmanuel is a young boy from Tanzania. He is the only child to his mother and they receive little support from his father, making their daily needs hard to meet. Emmanuel's mother noted his legs bulging outwards and got worried. Efforts to seek health care were hard since she had no income and Emmanuel's father ignored the concern. His mother saved some income and took him to the hospital where he was advised on calcium diet to strengthen the bones and return to the hospital after three months. He did not improve, rather his walking became difficult. Emmanual was seen by an employee from our hospital and referred them to our facility. He was diagnosed with genu varus, a condition that limits a child's ability to walk. He had surgery recommended to correct the condition. Once treated, Emmanuel will be able to walk with ease. His mother sells vegetables to earn a living. she is worried that her son's surgery might not be possible due to limited income. She hopes that with kind support, he will be able to walk. She appeals for financial assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Emmanuel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 18th. Treatment will hopefully restore Emmanuel's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Emmanuel’s mother says, “I am only concerned about our Emmanuel’s legs as I am unable to afford the treatment cost and his father is not supportive, please help him get his legs corrected.”

Htar is an eight-year-old girl who has a blood disorder called thalassemia. Due to her poor health, she has had to drop out of school. She lives with her parents, an older brother, and a younger sister in Hpa-An, Karen State, Burma. Her parents and oldest brother work as subsistence farmers on their rice field, while her sister goes to school. Up until she was six years old, Htar did not show any symptoms of having thalassemia. Gradually, she grew pale, was constantly tired, and developed a stomachache. When her mother noticed her symptoms, she brought her to a clinic in Hpa-An, where she was given blood transfusions twice a month without any explanation about her diagnosis. Htar mother finally took Htar to Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center, where she was referred to Mae Sot Hospital and the doctor informed the family that Htar would require surgery for her condition. If not, she might need blood transfusions very often, and her condition would not improve. She is scheduled to undergo a splenectomy on February 23 at our medical partner's care center. Now, the family needs help raising $1,500 to pay for surgery.

Yofethe is a child from Ethiopia. He loves riding a bicycle and wrestling with his father. Yofethe is an only child. His father is a merchant, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Yofethe was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Yofethe’s father says, “This condition worries us a lot." Fortunately, Yofethe is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 26. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care.

Lucy is a bright five-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys playing with her friends at her orphanage. She was born with clubfoot, which means her foot is twisted. Though she underwent previous treatment, her condition has relapsed. As a result, Lucy is not able to wear shoes. Lucy's treatment includes surgery and physiotherapy and is scheduled to begin on January 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,160 to fund X-rays, medications, surgery fees, Lucy's cast, and her hospital stay. "We look forward to when Lucy has finished her treatment and is able to continue with her studies like her friends," says Lucy's caregiver.

Mengly is a two-year-old boy from Cambodia. He has two sisters and one brother. He likes to stay at home with his mother, play games, and watch cartoons on TV. Last year, Mengly fell into a fire. He sustained a burn on his right pinky finger, but he never received treatment. The injury caused a severe burn contracture, which makes it difficult for him to use his hand. When Mengly's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours to seek treatment. On November 23, CSC surgeons performed a contracture release surgery to release the scarred tissue. This procedure will allow Mengly to move his fingers. Now, his family needs help to fund this $194 procedure. "I hope that my son will have a normal finger again," says Mengly's mother.