“My children are looking to me for support. I also hope to take care of my six-year-old adopted child and see him grow,” explains Miriam, a 43-year-old Kenyan widow and mother of three. A single mother who works on her farm to support her and her family, Miriam has been sidelined by endometrial hyperplasia—a condition that causes intense bleeding and abdominal pain, and can lead to incapacitating anemia. “For three years now, Miriam has been battling with this condition,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “It has made it difficult for her to continue with her passion of farming.” For $790, Miriam will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy that will remove her uterus and stop the bleeding and pain, as well as lessen her chance of developing cancer of the uterus. With this surgery, Miriam will be able to get back to taking care of the land and children that she loves for many years to come.

“Dominic is our only son and we wish for him to have straight legs, strong bones and the ability to walk properly so that he can walk to school when the time comes,” says Dominic’s father. Meet Dominic, a three-year-old boy from Tanzania who has bilateral genu varum, a bow-legged condition that can lead to osteoarthritis. “Dominic wiggles when walking and he falls down easily when playing with other children. The deformity is limiting his ability to walk properly and energetically involve himself in playing games,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “At home, Dominic likes to sit down and play with tins and cars and sometimes he will try to run around with other children,” continues AMHF. He enjoys the company of other children and would like to play with them unaffected by his condition. Dominic’s parents are both maize farmers. “The little they get from farming is not enough to cover their daily needs as well as pay for the corrective surgery which Dominic needs,” says AMHF. For $940, we can fund surgery to straighten Dominic’s legs so that he will have normal mobility as he grows up. AMHF concludes that after the procedure, “Dominic will have straight legs, a better gait, and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age.”

“I want to get better. I have a young child, and I love my husband. I want us to have a life together,” says Maria. Meet Maria, a 28-year-old mother from Guatemala who has a brain tumor. “Maria came to see us a few weeks ago with severe weakness on the left side of her body, severe headaches, and partial blindness,” reports our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. Maria has had these symptoms for the past 6 months. “However, Maria can’t afford treatment and without Wuqu’ Kawoq’s help, this will be a fatal illness,” continues Wuqu’ Kawoq. “Maria and her husband heard through word-of-mouth about our clinic, and they decided to pay us a visit. They brought all of their test results, hoping that Wuqu’ Kawoq would be able to help them gain access to the needed treatment,” says Wuqu’ Kawoq. Maria’s symptoms prevent her and her husband from working, forcing her husband to take care of both her and their newborn baby. For $1475, we can provide chemotherapy to Maria. Wuqu Kawoq expects, “Maria will need aggressive treatment to control this illness. Based on what the tumor looks like on the scans, we have a good idea that it is curable. Treatment will relieve symptoms and, in the best case scenario, will completely cure her.”

Meet Sen, a 60-year old father of nine and grandfather of 13 living in Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, "Three months ago, Sen fell nine feet and fractured his thigh bone. He had to stop working as a fisherman making it difficult to support his large family. He has a hard time walking and needs assistance moving around. Sen is also in a lot of pain." CSC continues, “Sen traveled four hours from his village in the hopes of seeking medical treatment which will allow him to walk again and return to work.” For $405, Sen will receive the fracture treatment he needs to improve the function of his left leg and reduce pain. Let’s help Sen get his leg back into shape so he can continue helping his family and lead an independent life!

“When I’m not working as a nurse, I enjoy cleaning my house and cooking for my kids,” Sarin, a 55-year-old woman from Cambodia, tells us. Sarin raises three children by herself, as her husband passed away a few years ago. “Two months ago, after getting into an argument, Sarin was attacked by someone with a large knife," our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, writes. "She has pus consistently coming out of her ear as well as hearing loss and other facial injuries." Sarin has been diagnosed with left facial nerve palsy, meaning that the muscles on that side of her face do not receive the necessary signals in order to function properly. Essentially, they have become paralyzed. Her paralysis is irreversible. But fortunately, there is a surgery that can remove the infected part of Sarin's ear, help her hear well again, and let her move on with her life. The surgery costs $810, more than she can afford to pay. Let's help her out!

Esther is a sixty-year-old mother of five children who lives in Tanzania and loves the outdoors. Three of her kids are now married and have their own families. Two are finishing up their educations, hoping to find jobs once they do. Esther used to have her own small business selling clothes, beads, and other items. But due to osteoarthritis in her knees, she is unable to walk let alone manage her business. Esther's husband is also not well, so the couple relies on their children to support them. With limited resources, paying for surgery to get Esther walking again is impossible. “I am still strong and I know I can do a lot more if I can walk. My hope is to be able to continue with the small business that I had when my legs allow me to walk,” says Esther. With $960 we can provide Esther a bilateral total knee replacement operation and allow her to resume her life with full vigor. Let's do it!