Robert is a three-year-old boy from Malawi. He is a bright and playful little boy and the only child of his parents. Since birth, Robert has had an inguinal hernia. It causes pain and discomfort, preventing him from moving, walking, and playing comfortably. For three years, his mother has been worried about her son's health. Fortunately, on August 11th, Robert will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $421 to fund Robert's hernia repair surgery. Once completed, Robert is expected to live more comfortably. Robert’s mother shared, “I want to see Robert grow up without the pain he has known since he was a baby. I want him to run, play with other children, go to school, and enjoy his childhood without us always worrying about the swelling coming back. I believe after the surgery, he will have the chance to live a normal and happy life like other children.”

Esubalew is a 12-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves school, but constant tonsil infections affect his attendance. His mother, raising three boys, faces the choice between frequent medicine and the life-changing tonsillectomy he needs. Three years ago, Esubalew started to experience recurring high fevers, severe difficulty swallowing, pronounced snoring, and significant sleep disturbance. He often lacks the energy to attend school. Esubalew was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Esubalew, which is scheduled to take place on July 11th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Esubalew of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Esubalew's mother shared, "My deepest wish is for my son to be happy so he can play with friends joyfully."

Robert is a confident, straight-to-the-point 60-year-old man from Uganda. He is Mukiga by tribe, residing in a three-roomed, mud and reeds, traditional home in Southwestern Uganda. He and his wife have one child, a son who works as a primary school teacher. Growing up, Robert's hope was to become a doctor. However, challenges such as school fees prevented him from studying extensively. He and his wife farm on a small banana and coffee farm to sustain their livelihood, and he weeds the farm in his free time. For two years ago, Robert has had left inguinal hernia. This condition causes him to experience pain and discomfort when he walks long distances, works in the fields for an extended period, coughs or laughs aloud, or lifts heavy objects. Due to limited finances, Robert had not attempted to seek medical attention before; however, when his symptoms became severe, he visited our medical partner's hospital. Fortunately, on December 28th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at their care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $230 to fund Robert's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Robert said, "I will get well and will be able to resume farming in good health if I get support to undergo my surgery."

Meet Angel, a one-year-old girl from the Philippines! According to our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), “Angel is an energetic child who loves to smile to whoever comes across her. She lives with her foster parents, who are farmers, because her mother died during delivery.” Unfortunately, “Angel has a distended abdomen and has difficulty passing out waste. The condition puts her at risk of infection due to lack of anal passage,” explains ICM. For $965, Angel will receive surgery to relieve her abdominal and renal malformations – she will no longer have difficulty passing waste, and will not be at risk of infection. “We are blessed to have this child in our family; we love to take care of her but we cannot afford the surgery needed because of our limited resources. We are humbly requesting your kindness to help us make this surgery possible,” says Angel’s family. Let’s help give her a chance to live a more healthy childhood!

Meet Aung, an eight-year-old boy from Burma! Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us, "Aung really enjoys school and likes studying; he says that he would like to become an eye doctor when he grows up.” Aung has been fighting cancer and previously had his eye removed to prevent tumor spread. The tumor has now spread to his eye socket and needs to be removed. "The tumor currently causes Aung physical and mental discomfort," BBP explains. "After his eye was removed it was hoped that his condition would improve, however, the spread of the tumor has been very difficult for him and his mother. It is physically painful and also causes him a headaches and becomes tired easily." For $1,500, Aung will receive the necessary surgery to remove the tumor. Aung’s mother says, “I really want my son to continue with his education – I never had the opportunity and have had to work a physically difficult job my whole life. I am completely determined to get him treatment no matter how many surgeries he needs.” Let’s help Aung get healthy again!

Meet Rayuth, a playful three-year-old boy from Cambodia! Rayuth is the youngest of three children and enjoys playing with his toy cars and eating his favorite food, dried fish. Rayuth was born with ptosis, a congenital condition that causes a drooping eyelid and makes it very difficult for him to open his eye. “I am so sad because my son’s eyelid droops and it’s hard for him to open it. He is becoming shy around other kids and I do not want him to be” says Rayuth’s mother. Rayuth needs $290 for a surgery that will lift his eyelid to a more normal level, improving his vision. Let’s raise the funds for Rayuth’s surgery and help him to live a more comfortable and happy life!

Meet Naw Mu! Naw Mu is a 40-year-old woman living with her husband and five children in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. Naw Mu and her husband occasionally earn $5 a day for providing day labor. However, they rely on food rations provided by the camp. Camp rations have recently decreased and Naw Mu has taken care of the household so that her husband can work away from the camp. After the birth of her fifth child ten years ago, Naw Mu began experiencing the early symptoms of kidney stones. These symptoms include back pain, pain along the right side of her body, hot flashes, full body fatigue, and recurring urinary track infections. Her symptoms have worsened and she currently has difficulty doing day-to-day chores. We're raising $1330 to treat Naw Mu’s kidney stones. With this treatment, Naw Mu will be relieved of her painful symptoms and will be able to work and relieve some of the financial stress her family is under.

Meet Tame, a 53-year-old from Nepal. Tame has five children. His eldest son is 15 years old and helps him work on the farm. His farm’s produce feeds the family for three months' time. For the rest of the year, he works on other farms to earn money. Tame is also struggling with a hernia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for the last 12 years, but it has worsened the last few months. When he coughs, it worsens the strain his hernia is placing on his groin area. If not treated, the hernia can "strangulate" and become life-threatening. For $1,075, a hernia operation can be performed that will prevent hernia strangulation and relieve Tame's discomfort so he can better manage his COPD and live a healthy life. Let's get it done!

Meet Aye Nyein, a 23-year-old from Burma! Aye Nyein has a degree in archeology. She would like to get a job as an archeologist, but due to a heart condition, she cannot work. Aye Nyein has mitral valve stenosis, a condition of the heart where the mitral valve is narrowed and pressure builds up behind the valve. As a result, she experiences fatigue, difficulty breathing, walking and sleeping, dizziness, weight loss and heart palpitations. For $1500, a surgical procedure can be performed that will repair the affected valve and eliminate most of her symptoms. Aye Nyein's family is very worried about her. They would like to see her healthy, but cannot afford the operation. Let's help Aye Nyein get this surgery so that she can fulfill her dreams of becoming a working archeologist!

Surat is 38-years-old and lives in Nepal. He farms and sells wood as the sole breadwinner in his family. Seven years ago, Surat was infected with tuberculosis. He was unable to complete his treatment regimen, and developed multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Due to his condition, Surat is living with chest pain and a persistent cough, making him feel chronically weak. If his condition progresses, it could lead to respiratory failure and possibly death. Nyaya Health's hospital is prepared to offer intensive MDRTB treatment. But they need our help to kickstart Surat's nutrition so that his body is strong enough to process the treatment. Let’s help Surat raise $1,450 for intensive nutritional support during his tuberculosis treatment, so that he can continue being the backbone of his family!

Meet Poe. He is a seven-year-old boy from Burma who loves to play with his friends and wants to be a doctor when he grows up. About a year ago, Poe's arm was badly burned in an accident. His parents told our medical partner that Poe was very brave after his accident and tried not to cry, even though he was in immense pain. Now, Poe has a hard time sleeping because of discomfort caused by residual scar tissue. The damaged skin on his arm has hardened and tightened, rendering it mostly immobile. He is shy about going outside, and has a hard time doing active things like playing with his friends and participating in festivals. With our support, Poe can receive the surgery he needs to regain mobility in his arm and reduce his discomfort. $1,500 will enable our partner, Burma Border Projects, to provide Poe with the care he needs to have the future he deserves!

This is Chit Than, a sweet, six-year-old boy from a small village in Burma. Chit Than has been battling health issues every since he was an infant. Born with thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that already took his older sister’s life, Chit Than experiences heart palpitations, a decreased appetite, and extreme fatigue, which has forced him to stop attending school and spending time with his friends. Chit Than is being raised by his aunt, who is also raising her four children and taking care of her elderly, disabled mother. She wants nothing more but her nephew to grow up healthy and strong. Chit Than’s mother works in Bangkok so she can send home money and her son can afford blood transfusions. He and his aunt travel regularly to Thailand so he can receive them, but his condition has worsened and now he needs surgery to overcome it. For $1,100, Chit Than can finally receive the help he needs, and will no longer have to trek across the border every few months to receive blood transfusions. Let’s get him this surgery so he can go back to school, play with his friends, and finally enjoy his youth!