Leah is 39 years old and a small-scale farmer from Kenya. She and her husband are poultry farmers. One month ago, Leah began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe backaches and abdominal pain. She was initially treated with medication, but her condition worsened. As the pain persisted and her abdomen became swollen, scans revealed a perforated intestine, requiring emergency surgery. Despite the procedure, Leah continued to experience intense abdominal pain and had to undergo a second surgery during which a portion of her intestine was removed to aid her recovery. Subsequent scans have now revealed fluid buildup in her pelvic area, leaving her in severe pain and unable to heal properly. She was diagnosed with an acute abdomen, and doctors recommended a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund Leah's surgery. On February 3rd, she will undergo surgery, which will, hopefully, greatly improve her quality of life. Leah says, "I haven't been able to move from this bed. I am exhausted, and my stomach is swollen and in pain."

Samwel is a seven-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in a family of six. His mother is a farmer, and his father keeps livestock. Samwel has clubfoot on his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. As the pain increased, Samwel began missing school and eventually dropped out because walking to and from class became too difficult. His family had never sought specialized treatment before, as they were unaware that corrective care was available. Through a village outreach visit, Samwel was identified and referred to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Samwel will begin clubfoot treatment on February 10th, and he needs help raising $1,119 to fund his care. After treatment, he will be able to walk without pain and return to school, restoring his chance at education and a productive future. Samwel's father says, “He stopped going to school because of the pain he experiences while walking, and I fear for his future if he fails to be treated.”

Kemert is an eight-year-old student from Ethiopia. Both of her parents are teachers. She is a bright girl, who loves attending school and providing guidance to her three younger siblings. She is usually full of energy and life, but lately, that spark has been fading. She is currently facing a tough battle with chronic tonsillitis, a painful throat condition that makes it hard for her to be her usual cheerful self at school and with her family. Around two years ago, Kemert began to experience snoring, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite. Her symptoms have fluctuated since then, and the repeated bouts of illness have caused her to miss out on school and socializing. Without her usual strength, it is hard for her to keep leading her younger siblings or focus on her schoolwork. It has been deeply upsetting for Kemert's family to see their charming and helpful girl struggle with illness and exhaustion. Kemert was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Kemert, which is scheduled to take place on March 21st. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Kemert of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Kemert says, "I am most excited to finally eat my favorite foods without a sharp, stinging pain. I want to complete a full day of school with my friends and come home with enough strength to play with my siblings and focus on my studies."

John is a 52-year-old small-scale retailer from Kenya. He is a father of two and the family’s main breadwinner. Since his accident, his family has faced significant hardship. His wife has had to take on casual jobs to provide for the household, while also caring for him. John lost his father earlier this year, and on the way back from the burial, he was involved in a grisly road accident, narrowly escaping death. The incident occurred along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Naivasha, when the matatu he was traveling in collided head-on with a bus. John sustained multiple injuries to his head, hands, pelvis, and legs. He was rushed to a district hospital, where he received first aid treatment. However, due to the severity of his injuries and multiple fractures, he sought specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Upon arrival, scans confirmed the extent of the fractures he sustained. Although he managed to enroll into the national health insurance scheme, it could not cover all the surgeries he requires. Since the accident, John has been confined to a wheelchair and requires assistance to move around. He continues to live in pain and is now reaching out for support so he can undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, and continue his recovery journey. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 5th, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure to treat his fractures, and help him regain his mobility. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. John says, “I am in constant pain. I can’t walk, sleeping is difficult, and I rely on pain medication just to get through the day.”

Thiago is a three-year-old intelligent, cheerful, polite, and outgoing three-year-old boy from Colombia who dreams of becoming a soccer player when he grows up. Thiago has severe tooth decay that affects multiple teeth and, due to the extent of the lesions and his young age, it is recommended that he undergo comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia as the safest and most effective management of the condition. The procedure will allow for complete oral rehabilitation, including the removal of carious lesions, restorations, and comprehensive management of the affected teeth. Fortunately, our medical partner Clinica Noel can help. They have scheduled the procedure for February 24th. Thiago and his family need help raising $868 to fully fund the surgery and his care. After the surgery, Thiago will enjoy a pain-free, better quality life. His family shared, "What a blessing to have your support for this treatment, which represents such great hope for us. This procedure will help in his recovery and improve his quality of life. Beyond the financial support, your solidarity and empathy mean so much to our family. Thank you for believing, for helping, and for accompanying us at this important time."

Brian is a 17-year-old boy from Kenya. His father is a primary school teacher. Brian is due to start school and is worried about missing lessons and falling behind in the syllabus. Education is very important to him, and he hopes to resume his studies as soon as possible. Three weeks ago, Brian experienced a convulsion and fell into a fire. As a result, he sustained severe burns to his leg. He was eventually brought to the hospital, where the surgical team assessed him. The surgeon managed his injuries through multiple dressing changes, surgical debridement, and, due to the severity of the burns, amputation of one toe. Brian was later placed on a wound vacuum (VAC) to support healing. At present, his condition is stable, and he is doing relatively well. However, he still requires a skin graft to achieve proper wound coverage and complete healing. On January 6th, Brian is scheduled to undergo a skin graft procedure, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,183 to fund his procedure and care. Brian says, "I hope that after the skin graft, my hospital stay will be reduced. I should be in form four, and I don't want to fall behind, especially with the syllabus. My goal is to take after my father, be a teacher, and aim higher to head a teachers' organization in the future. Please help me. "

Kefasi is a 25-year-old man from Malawi, and a single father to his three-year-old son. Before his tragic accident, he supported his son through bicycle work, and also contributed to his parents household. A few months ago, Kefasi was hit by a motorbike and sustained severe injuries to his abdomen. He was taken to a private clinic for first aid, and then rushed to the hospital when he was experiencing severe pain and could not breathe normally. At the hospital, Kefasi underwent surgery for a bowel perforation, and a stoma was created. A stoma is a surgically created opening on the body’s surface that connects an internal organ to the outside to divert the flow of bodily waste when the normal passage is compromised due to injury. This allows the damaged part of the digestive system to heal before reversal. Kefasi now needs his stoma reversed so that he can return to work. He was referred to our partner's medical care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, and his parents brought him in for an evaluation. Doctors plan to reverse the stoma with laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat a condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Kefasi's surgery. On November 30th, he will undergo surgery, which, once completed, will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Kefasi believes that this operation will restore his peace and joy, enabling him to once again be a responsible son to his parents, who have always supported him. Kefasi says, "Being alive today is by the grace of God; the same God has brought me this far, and I believe through the donor program all shall be well at the end."

Cecilia is a 10-year-old girl from Malawi. She is the oldest of two children. Her mother sells baked Irish potatoes, while her father is a driver. She is in the fifth grade and is a very bright student. When Cecilia was four years old, her mother observed that Cecilia would experience abdominal pain. She took Cecilia to different hospitals, where Cecilia was given pain medication, but her condition did not improve and worsened over time. This affected her health, her attendance at school, and her ability to perform daily tasks. Cecilia was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she will undergo hernia repair surgery on October 7th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Cecilia's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Cecilia's mother shared, "I can't wait to see my daughter well and happy again."