Meet Patrick, a 42-year-old father and the caretaker of the health center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Patrick is the sole provider of his family in Kenya, and cares for five children with two in secondary school. In order to raise money for public transportation to AMHF’s centre, Patrick began selling tress. “However, a tree fell on him, injuring his head and arm,” explains AMHF. The accident fractured his radial and ulna. Now, he cannot feel his right arm and is at risk of infection if he does not receive medical treatment soon. $1410 in funding will allow Patrick to receive diagnostic x-rays, physical therapy, a resetting cast for his hand, and recovery time at the centre. “Treatment will eliminate pain and numbness in Patrick’s hand," AMHF shares. "Possibility of further infections will be limited. Once recovered, Patrick will be able to use his hand and work again.” Let support Patrick in getting the care he needs to get well and support his family.

Meet Yanci, a two-year-old girl from Guatemala and a patient with our medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). She is the youngest of three children, and loves to play with her older brothers. "Yanci’s two older brothers are deaf, and now as she is starting to learn how to talk, her parents are seeing similar issues," explains our medical partner, WK. "She is having issues forming words and although she does respond to noises, they have to be louder than what a normal child seems to respond to." $386 funds a multifaceted intervention for Yanci's condition. "She needs testing and speech therapy now to prevent permanent damage to her ability to communicate with others," WK says. " Language therapy will give her tools to communicate, and will provide additional testing to rule out any complications that may need to be addressed." WK continues, "Her family is poor and not only can they not afford the therapy, but they cannot afford the transport to the language center. This therapy will provide Yanci tools to communicate with her family and siblings." Yanci’s mother shares, "I am so worried that she may not be able to hear. I hope this therapy will help her to communicate and help us understand how we can help her more."

Meet Lucy! Lucy is a 59-year-old woman from Kenya and a mother of four sons. Her sons are casual workers and most have their own families. Lucy lives with her daughter-in-law and together they plant maize and beans near their home. Lucy has an ileostomy, an opening in the belly made during surgery from when she had a bowel obstruction. She has been unable to pass stool normally or work on her farm for over a year. Lucy has been unable to raise funds for the ileostomy reversal, but if left untreated, Lucy is susceptible to infections and blockage. For $620, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will be able to provide Lucy with curative laparotomy surgery of her abdominal wall. The treatment is expected to prevent infections, allow Lucy to pass stool normally, and work on her farm again. "I have not been able to join my daughter-in-law on the farm for almost two years now. I want to get well so that I can work again," Lucy shares. Let's help make it happen!

“Gift is six days old and the second-born in a family of two children,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. Gift was born with spina bifida, a defect where part of the spinal cord is exposed through a gap in the backbone. “Gift is at a risk of infection, malformation of the spinal cord, loss of muscle function on his lower limbs, and trauma if he is not treated soon,” AMHF continues. “The family lives in a two-room rental house in the central region of Kenya and his mother works as an accountant on a casual basis at a college near their place of residence,” AMHF adds. "His mother is the family’s sole provider because her husband serves as a church pastor and gets no pay.” AMHF reports that Gift’s mother “earns a monthly income of $40, and that is not enough to sustain all their needs. They therefore are not able to raise funds for Gift’s surgical care.” Gift needs a spina bifida closure for $805. "The surgery will help reduce the risk of Gift developing infections, developing a tethered spinal cord, and paralysis of his legs," says AMHF. This procedure will close the defect over the spinal cord. Gift’s mother shares, “We hope that our son gets well, I know it is for a reason that this happened and God will see him through.”

“My hope is that the contracture on my daughter’s fingers can be released to allow her to use her hand properly,” shares Paulina’s mother. Say hello to Paulina, a quiet two-year-old girl from Tanzania! “Paulina takes her time watching while other children play before she decides to join them,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. While trying to climb a stool, a full bowl of hot soup fell on top of Paulina, pouring on her right shoulder and her entire arm. “Paulina was traditionally treated and the wounds healed, but she developed contracture of the fingers,” AMHF continues. “Paulina is unable to use her right hand properly due to burn scar contracture of the fingers, especially the fifth digit.” Paulina is the last-born child in her family. To support their family, Paulina’s parents keep livestock, earning a minimal amount of money. “Coming up with enough cash to pay for their daughter’s surgery has been difficult,” explains AMHF. Together we can raise $550 for the single contracture release treatment Paulina needs to repair her right hand. With treatment “Paulina will be able to use her right hand without any limitations,” AMHF tells us. Let’s support Paulina and her family!

“Theng was in a motorbike accident when he was 19 years old, and glaucoma formed in his left eye. He has been partially blind since then, and had to stop working as a motorbike taxi driver. He is afraid that he will go completely blind,” explains our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC). Without appropriate treatment, Theng’s glaucoma could worsen, eventually costing Theng his sight. Theng is 29 and has one son. Before his accident, he worked as a motorbike taxi driver. But now, he struggles to make ends meet. He hopes to go back to work after surgery. For $300, Theng will receive treatment for his glaucoma, resulting in improved eyesight. “Theng is sad that he cannot work on the family farm to support his family and misses watching TV,” says CSC. Let’s help Theng see clearly again so he can get back to a healthy life!

This is Khim, a 67-year-old grandmother in Cambodia. Khim weaves scarves to help earn money to support her family, and is currently looking forward to joining an upcoming ceremony in Kompong Speu. Khim has mature cataracts in both eyes, a condition that gives her blurred vision. Staff at our Cambodian medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), writes, “Khim has a hard time caring for her family because of her poor eyesight - specifically cooking, cleaning, and caring for her grandchildren - which makes her sad.” For $150, we can fund a cataract removal surgery that CSC states will both “improve eyesight in her right eye and prevent blindness.” Let’s help Khim get well so she can happily return to supporting her family!

Meet Chhorn, a 76-year-old father of four with nine grandchildren who lives in Cambodia! Chhorn has been experiencing blurry vision for the past three years due to mature cataracts in both eyes. The cataracts in his eyes make it difficult for him to care for himself and his family as he is unable to see anything clearly. Luckily, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is prepared to help Chhorn undergo surgery for his cataracts. "He likes to listen to monks praying at the pagoda and misses being able to go on his own," CSC explains, adding, "Chhorn also misses reading." Treatment costs $150 and will restore Chhorn's vision and prevent blindness, allowing him to return to caring for his family and enjoying his favorite pastimes. Let's help Chhorn out!

Meet Mya, a 46-year-old working mother from Burma. “Mya sells food and handmade snacks for a living,” Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. "She hopes that once she is better she can save some money and eventually join her daughter in Bangkok." “Mya has been suffering from a uterine fibroid for over three years,” BBP writes. "She currently experiences abdominal pain and vaginal discharge. She also experiences headaches and often gets tired and has difficulty breathing. She can sleep well but she is not able to eat a lot. If she eats more than a few handfuls of food she feels bloated and uncomfortable." $1500 will cover costs to treat Mya right now after having experiencing symptoms without any relief for so long. "Treatment will allow her to return to work selling snacks," BBP continues. "She will be pain-free and happier." By funding Mya's care we can help our medical partner do what they do best and get Mya one step closer to her daughter.

Say hello to South! South is 64 years young and lives in Cambodia with her four children and four grandchildren. She has cataracts, which make her unhappy, as she cannot do as many things for herself and family as she once could. “South has had blurred vision for the past two years because of the hypermature cataracts in both eyes. She has a hard time looking after her family and cooking and cleaning her home because of her poor eyesight,” writes our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). With $150, CSC will be able to surgically remove the cataracts which will improve South's vision and prevent blindness. Talk about low-cost high-impact healthcare! Let's help South can see clearly again!

“Kendal has had multiple hospitalizations, at least one per month, since birth. He is very developmentally delayed, malnourished, and not at all thriving,” writes our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. This is Kendal, a one-year-old boy from Guatemala. His doctors suspect that he has an underlying metabolic condition, but he needs a full and detailed workup to identify the exact problem and start him on the required treatment. So far, Kendal’s mother has kept him safe and coordinated his various medical needs; however, she is struggling financially. She tells us, “I think something is going on. The doctors can’t figure it out, but I think Watsi can help.” With your help and $1,385, we can help fund a treatment plan to prevent hospitalizations and cure Kendal’s malnutrition. Let’s get this baby back on track!

“I have not seen a smile on my daughter's face for months now. I just want to see her smile and be healthy again,” says Joan’s mother. Meet Joan, a beautiful two-year-old girl from Kenya. In early October, Joan began experiencing severe headaches and vomiting. Joan’s doctors at our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) determined Joan was experiencing a potentially life-threatening brain tumor that requires surgery. They explained, “If the surgery is not done, Joan is likely to lose her ability to walk and possibly her sight.” While her mother takes care of Joan and her siblings, her father does casual jobs to help support the family. Due to lack of resources her parents could not afford specialized care. For $1,205 we can ensure that Joan receives this surgery which will treat her headache and improve her mobility as well as sight. Let’s help ensure Joan survives this tumor and goes back to being her loving, happy self!