John is 22-year-old who is working hard to make a life for himself. He currently stays with his parents in their ancestral home in the South Central Kenyan town of Narok, and works as a casual laborer who loads and off-loads maize for a living. Unfortunately during a dispute at a farm where he was working, John and other workers were attacked. John was hit on the head, resulting in an intracranial hematoma (pooled blood in his skull). The internal injuries are currently affecting his mobility and speech, and could be fatal without treatment. John urgently needs a craniotomy to remove the hematoma and this family is raising $1,500 for his surgery at Kijabe Hospital. His father says, “John is a young hardworking man. He was attacked while trying to earn a living. These head injuries are serious, they have made him almost immobile, and has started having trouble speaking. This surgery is urgent to restore his speech and ability to walk.”

Im is a mother of three daughters and now many grandchildren. Im lives with her youngest daughter who is a farmer. She likes to listen to the news and the monks pray on the radio. One year ago, Im developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her photophobia, blurry vision, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Im learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for five and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 22nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Im says, "I do hope that after surgery I can see well enough to help my daughter at the rice field."

Rehiwilzahra is a sweet toddler from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and three older siblings. Rehiwilzahra likes watching cartoons and playing with her older siblings. Rehiwilzahra has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This heart condition involves several related heart defects including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent blood from circulating properly through the lungs leaving Rehiwilzahra weak and short of breath. The surgery Rehiwilzahra needs to heal is not available in Haiti, so she will need to fly to the Dominican Republic to undergo cardiac surgery to close the hole in her heart with a patch and remove the blockage from her valve. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance is helping Rehiwilzahra's family raise $1,500 to cover the cost of labs, medicines, and follow-up appointments. This amount also supports passport obtainment and the social workers to accompany Rehiwilzahra's family overseas. Rehiwilzahra's mother shared, "We have been praying for a long time for a solution to our daughter's heart problem. We are very thankful to everyone who is helping her!"

Mary is a kind woman from Cambodia who lives with her aunt near the capital city of Phnom Penh. Mary was born with a development disability. At home she enjoys playing with her nephew and helping her aunt sell soft drinks. In January, Mary tripped and fell, dislocating her left elbow. Now it is difficult for her to use her left hand and she is in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 4th, Mary will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. This procedure will help her to use the hand easily again. Mary said, "I am thankful that I can go home soon and the pain will stop."

Navann is an adventurous 15-month-old girl. She is the youngest child in her family, with one three-year-old sister, and lives with her parents who make a living working as garment workers in a clothing factory. She likes to play with her older sister, and enjoys drinking milk, and eating any soup her mother makes. When Navann started learning to walk, at around 12 months, her mother noted that her left hip seemed shorter than her right hip. Navann was brought to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of her left hip, a condition where the "ball and socket" joint of the hip does not properly form in babies and young children. As a result, her gait is uneven and she has difficulty walking, which causes her to sometimes cry when trying to keep up with her sister. Navann needs surgery to repair her hip, and a SPICA cast to maintain proper hip position. If not treated, it can cause painful long term problems for her. Fortunately, Navann's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Navann of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Her treatment is scheduled for March 22nd. Navann and her family need help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. Her mother said: "I hope that Navann will have a good result after surgery, and she will walk like other children."

Daw Htar is retired and lives with her daughter. In her free time, Daw Htar like to help clean the house and sew clothes. Daw Htar has lost most of the vision in her right eye. Sometimes, her eye feels watery or itchy. She has difficulty seeing clearly and recognizing faces. Because the vision in her left eye is also blurry, for the past month she has had to rely on her daughter to guide her when she walks. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping Daw Htar receive treatment. On December 20th, she will undergo lens replacement surgery, during which they will remove Daw Htar's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help raising $1,500 for her procedure and care. Daw Htar shared, "I feel so upset that my condition worsens every day. I cannot sleep well, because I am worried about what will happen if I do not get better."

Chorn is a hardworking man from Takeo province in Cambodia. He has three daughters and ten grandchildren. He lives with his wife who is a farmer. In his free time, Chorn likes to play with his grandchildren and listen to the radio. Chorn had an unfortunate electric burn on his right arm and chest last month. After the burn, his family took him to a local clinic for medication, but his wound has become infected. The skin on his right arm and chest has necrosed. Chorn has a loss of sensation on the fifth finger, the muscle has wasted away and he is in a lot of pain. He and his wife travelled two and a half hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for a diagnosis and treatment. Fortunately, surgeons plan to do a debridement and exploration of the ulnar nerve on the right arm to help him. Chorn needs $541 to cover the surgery, inpatient care and medication. After surgery, Chorn hopes his right arm will function and his wound heal soon. He shared how important it is for him to use his hand again to be able to work and feed his family.

Askaw is a 47-year-old woman who lives with her father, husband, two sons and her daughter-in-law. Her husband is currently unemployed while her oldest son and her daughter-in-law are farmers. Her youngest son is a day labourer, finding work whenever he can. Askaw is a homemaker and looks after her father who is retired. In her free time, she loves to read, sing, and go to church every Sunday. Toward the end of 2018, Askaw noticed that the vision in both her eyes was blurred. In early 2019, unable to afford seeking treatment at a hospital or a clinic, she purchased eyeglasses for herself at a shop. Although the eyeglasses helped her see better at first, a year later her vision worsened and she could no longer see even with the eyeglasses. She purchased a new pair of glasses, but her vision worsened again. Finally in December she was able to go to an ophthalmologist's clinic with the help and financial support of her brother. After the ophthalmologist examined her eyes, she was told to go to a hospital for further investigation because she likely needed surgery. Askaw's brother knew of our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) which could help make her care possible even though it was out of reach financially for their family. Currently, Askaw can see very little in her left eye and she can only perceive light with her right eye. She cannot read anymore, and finds it difficult to pay for items when shopping since she cannot see the money. When she cooks, she will often mix-up the ingredients. She shared that sometimes, when she is alone, she will cry and feels sad about her symptoms. She said, “When I cook, I will mix-up the ingredients because I cannot see clearly. Now I am no longer able to cook and I have also stopped cleaning as it is so hard to clean with my poor vision."

Harriet is a smallscale farmer and a mother of four. She was able to complete school up to the 6th grade, then could not proceed with education due to limited financial support from her family. Her husband is a casual laborer finding work where he can around their village. They own a two-room mud house for shelter. Their family's eldest is 13 years old and in primary school class three while the last born is 5 years old and in baby junior class. Harriet shared that sustaining her family has been hard for her and her husband. During her free time, she enjoys working on her farm whenever she is not doing her household chores. About four months ago, Harriet began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe lower abdominal pains and immediately went to seek medical attention at Rushoroza hospital. She was diagnosed with a ruptured appendicular abscess. This is a complication of acute appendicitis which results from the invasion of the appendix by bacteria following an obstruction. It was managed and the doctors advised her to return after a while for appendicectomy but she has not been able to afford the surgery cost. Currently, Harriet has completely stopped farming due to severe pain. If her surgery is not done, Harriet is at risk of suffering a recurring appendicular abscess and could live a very poor quality of life. Her family however cannot afford the surgery charges. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Harriet receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a curative laporotomy on November 11th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $284 and Harriet and her family need your support. Harriet says, “I hope to live a better life after the surgery because I have been in so much pain. I will resume farming as soon as I get better.”

Dah is a 28-year-old man who lives with his mother and sister in Mae Sot District, Tak Province. Originally, Dah’s family moved to Thailand 10 years ago due to the armed conflict in their home area. Dah is unemployed and his mother is a homemaker. They are supported by Dah’s sister who works as an agriculture day labourer. Currently, Dah needs someone to hold his hand and guide him when he walks. His mother helps to feed him because it is difficult for him to do on his own without his eyesight. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund eye surgery for Dah. On December 21, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Dah's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, their family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Dah’s sister said, “Sometime Dah will shout. He seems like he has a short temper since he cannot see. Our mother and I feel so sad when we see Dah using his hands to feel his way and objects. When I give him food, he can’t put the food into his mouth. It makes me feel sad seeing him suffer.”

Sokcheat is a 45-year-old widow and mother of two. She has a 16-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. Sokcheat is a vegetable seller, and she enjoys listening to the news on the radio. One year ago, Sokcheat was in a motor vehicle accident that fractured her left foot. It is difficult for her to walk and she's in pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 14th, Sokcheat will undergo a fracture repair procedure, and CSC is requesting $465 to fund the entirety of Sokcheat's surgery and care. This procedure will allow Sokcheat to walk easily again. Sokcheat said, "I hope I can walk without pain again after my surgery. I want to go back to selling vegetables to earn money for my children's studies."

Thon is a 73-year-old retired farmer with five daughters, five sons, and many grandchildren. She lives with her oldest daughter (who is also a farmer) and her grandchildren. Thon's husband had passed away 15 years ago from liver disease. Currently, Thon spends much of her time cooking and taking care of her grandchildren. In her free time she likes to listen to the radio and play music for her grandchildren. Six years ago, Thon developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Thon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled there with her daughter seeking treatment. On June 15th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Thon shares her hopes with us: "I hope that I will be able to walk by myself and travel easily, so that I can join in some ceremonies. I hope that I will be able to see my grandchildren easily too."