Verena is a small-scale farmer and a mother to eight children. Verena happily shared that all of her children are in school and that she and her husband work as farmers to help pay for their school fees. They also built a 4-room home for their family through their work selling their farm produce. Ten years ago, Verena began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. Although initially painless, the swelling increased over time. Recently, Verena's airway is becoming obstructed, making it especially challenging for her to sleep, and she also becomes easily fatigued. She visited Rushoroza Hospital, our medical partner's facility, for review. The doctors diagnosed her condition as a non-toxic nodular goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Verena needs to undergo surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Verena receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 14hth at AMH's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $333 to fund the cost of this surgery. Verena says, "I hope to live a normal and free life again through the surgery. My family and I cannot afford the surgery currently due to many unavoidable family activities that require funding, especially school fees. I will continue with farming after recovering completely."

Meet Britney, a sociable, six year old girl, living in a village in rural Kenya. Britney is an only child, and is currently in school. Her mother is unemployed, and relies on family to support her and Britney. While Britney was born a healthy child, her legs began to bow out when she turned two. While her mother, who suffers from the same condition, brought her to various doctors, Britney's condition continued to deteriorate. Well wishers, who noticed Britney's condition, brought her to the AIC Cure International Hospital for further evaluation. Thanks to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Britney will undergo surgery on September 27th, to help correct her bowed legs. This procedure will enable Britney to walk more easily, and to live without pain. Britney and her family are seeking $1,224 to fund the operation. "I will be grateful to see my daughter growing and walking well like other children,” Britney’s mother told us.

Yath is a 71-year-old grandmother of twenty, who has one son and six daughters of her own. As her husband passed away a long time ago, she lives with her youngest daughter who is a garment worker. Yath no longer works as a rice farmer. Instead she enjoys taking part in ceremonies at her local pagoda, and cooking for her many grandchildren. Three years ago Yath developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to have light sensitivity and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and worries about falling when walking When Yath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 2nd, doctors will perform cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her left eye. This will enable Yath to see clearly and to walk to places independently. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Yath says: "I hope after surgery I can see better, go out by myself and help take care of my grandchildren."

Alex is a student and is a very ambitious and active teenager from Kiambu, Kenya. He is the only child of a single mother, who is a hawker of different items. He is in high school and his mother shared that he has a passion for football and running. After schools were closed in March, Alex decided to go and visit his aunt who lives near Nazareth Hospital. Being playful as he is, he took a bicycle from his aunts’ house and decided to have a ride on last Saturday. Unfortunately, while riding, he tried to avoid a collision and he fell. He sustained an injury to his left hand. Now Alex is in pain, unable to use his hand. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 12th, Alex will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Alex's fracture will heal, he will be able to use his hand and also resume school. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I am feeling for my son, and hope he could receive the sponsorship so that he can be well before the school opens,” said Alex’s mother.

Eliya is a charming, happy, and friendly six-year-old. He's is the last born child in a family of five children. Eliya is a lover of football but it’s been a while since he could play. His parents are small-scale farmers who depend entirely on what they farm for food and a living. Eliya was diagnosed with genu valgus. His leg is bowed so that his knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Eliya has had difficulty walking for the past two years, which has impacted his ability to play and carrying out daily activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Eliya. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 18th. Treatment will hopefully restore Eliya's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications.

Samath is a 37-year-old monk. His parents are farmers and he has four siblings, all of whom are married. He lives at the pagoda in his province in Cambodia and spends time meditating and reading books about the teachings of Buddha. He loves helping to pass the teachings down to younger monks who spend time at his pagoda. Two years ago, Samath was in an accident and injured his nose. Samath developed nasal polyps, which are noncancerous growths in the lining of the nasal passage. Now he experiences frequent headaches and pain. Because he has difficulty breathing, he often gets lightheaded. He has visited many other medical clinics but his symptoms have not improved. It is difficult for him to breathe and sleep. When he does not sleep well, it is hard for him to meditate and do his work the following day. When Samath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On March 8th, doctors will perform a nasal polypectomy to remove the polyps. After recovery, he will be able to breathe more easily and now he needs help to fund this $291 procedure. "I hope it will be easier to breathe and meditate after this surgery," he told us.

Pwe is a 56-year-old woman who lives with her husband, her older brother, her daughter and her grandson in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Since they came to the refugee camp, Pwe teaches at one of the primary schools and she earns 1,060 baht (approx. 35 USD) per month. She has a resourceful family: Her daughter teaches piano on a keyboard, and she earns around 2,000 baht (approx. 67 USD) per month. Her older brother is a carpenter who earns income when someone commissions a piece of furniture. When he does have work, he will earn around 150 baht (approx. 5 USD) per day. Pwe's grandson is a nursery school student in the refugee camp. Her son-in-law went back to Burma to visit his parents in 2019. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he has been unable to come back to the refugee camp since then. All together, they work hard to make finances meet their day to day needs. The doctors at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital (MSGH), have diagnosed Pwe with a cataract in her left eye. Currently, Pwe cannot see people’s faces and she can only perceive light out of her left eye. With her right eye, she can see things that are near, but nothing that's far away. She received a pair of eyeglasses from the doctor at MSGH after her first visit, which helps her see better with her right eye but if she does not wear the eyeglasses, she cannot read or teach her students. Fortunately, on February 23rd, doctors will perform a lens replacement surgery, during which they will remove Pwe's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again and go back to teaching her students without difficulty. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund Pwe's treatment. She said, “Since the vision in my left eye worsened, I feel uncomfortable reading and teaching. Sometimes, I ask my daughter, who also graduated from high school in the refugee camp, to teach in my place as I cannot read or prepare my lesson plans.”

Vanna is a 22-year-old driver. He has a brother and sister, and his mother works as a rice farmer. In his free time, Vanna enjoys listening to music, watching TV, playing games on his phone, and helping his mother with the housework. In October, Vanna was in a car accident that fractured his right femur and wounded his right foot. After the accident, he went to a government hospital, where he underwent surgery to address the fracture. However, Vanna is still experiencing a skin defect and swelling on his right heel. He was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment, as he is experiencing pain and difficulty walking. When Vanna learned about CSC, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On February 8th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure to heal his wound and allow him to walk again. CSC is requesting $474 to fund his procedure. Vanna shared, "This treatment will help me return to work and help my family. My life will change because I will be able to use my right foot without pain again."

Meet Lucy, a 3-year-old jovial girl. She is the second born and last born in the family. Her family hails from Mai-Mahiu village in Nakuru County of Kenya. Lucy's mother separated from her father after having challenges in the family. Now they live in a two-room rental house in their village and her mom does laundry, farming, and any other work she can get within the village. Our medical partner met Lucy at the Kijabe clinic, where she came with her mother. Lucy has a fracture on her hand that was sustained after a fall last year. She was taken to a hospital in Kiambu county, where casting was done, and she was later told that the hand had healed. Lucy's mother noticed, however, that her hand is still not well and she is not able to lift things or do all that she should be able to. Lucy is scheduled to undergo osteotomy surgery to correct her left hand. Her mother is not able to raise the hospital bill and has requested support. "Any help to assist my daughter with undergoing surgery will be highly appreciated," Lucy’s mother shared.

Guy is an 8-year-old student from Haiti. Her lives with his parents and younger brother and sister in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. He likes going to school and dressing up for church. Guy has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without properly circulating through his body, leaving him sickly and weak. Guy will fly to nearby Dominican Republic to receive treatment as the care he needs is not currently available in Haiti. On February 28th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8000 to help pay for his surgery. Guy's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and his check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner who will accompany Guy's family overseas. His mom is relieved that his surgery is finally happening and shared: "I am looking forward to seeing my son gaining weight and strength after his surgery!"

Kem is a 54-year-old construction worker with one daughter and four sons. He lives with his wife who is a housewife and proudly shared that all of his children are students. He likes to listen to the news on the radio when he is home. Three years ago, Kem developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him tearing, itchiness, and constant burning in the eye. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. When Kem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. Kem needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for December 2nd. Kem told us, "I hope after surgery my eye feels good again so I can go back to work and not worry about my eye anymore."

Hezron is a talkative 26-year-old and hard working man. He gets work where ever he can and rents a small house in someone else's compound. When he doesn't have work to do, he helps care for the cattle on the farm or runs errands for his landlord. In August of last year, Hezron was attacked while transporting farm equipment. His leg was cut badly and his lower fibula was broken in the attack. He is at risk of infection and cannot walk like he used to. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On January 31st, Hezron will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. After treatment, Hezron will hopefully be able to return to his normal life. Now, AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. Hezron shared, "I’m really looking forward to this surgery as it might be the last one in my treatment."