Charles is a hard working elderly man who farms along with his wife. They have ten children but are empty-nesters, as their children have all left home and have their own families. A year ago, Charles developed a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. The condition causes him discomfort and makes it difficult for him to work. Upon review, doctors determined he will need to undergo surgery to finally heal. Fortunately, on February 15th, Charles will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at the care center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). This procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. AMHF is requesting $146 to fund Charles's surgery. Charles shared, "If I can be treated, you will have done a great job because I have suffered for a very long time. After treatment, I will be able to continue farming even if I am an old man!"

Daw Khin is a 45-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, who are retired and supported by Daw Khin's sister, who earns an income from renting out their land. Daw Khin used to work as a teacher before her condition made it difficult for her to continue teaching her students. Around June 2020, Daw Khin began to feel very tired and experienced heart palpitations. She shared that it felt like she could not breathe while teaching. Because these episodes happened infrequently, she did not seek treatment at the time; however, in December 2020, her condition worsened, and she went to a local hospital. After receiving an electrocardiogram, doctors determined she has an enlarged heart and an abnormal heartbeat and prescribed medication to help Daw Khin feel better. Since Daw Khin's symptoms continued, her sister brought her to a cardiologist in April 2021. Upon review, Daw Khin's condition was diagnosed as an atrial septal defect, a birth condition in which there is a hole in the wall that divides the upper chambers of the heart. The cardiologist informed her that she would need surgery, but the cost was too high for Daw Khin's family, so they returned home with medications. Daw Khin currently experiences headaches, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue and heart palpitations when talking or walking short distances. Fortunately, a friend visited Daw Khin in June and told her about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Daw Khin contacted BCMF and learned that BCMF will be able to help her finally heal. On February 6th, she will undergo an atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to help fund her procedure. Daw Khin shared, "I would like to teach all my students again in the future. I like teaching students."

Cheu is 58-year-old rice farmer. Cheu and his wife have two sons and three daughters. They are all farmers and work in the fields to earn a living. When he is not in the fields, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio. Three years ago, Cheu developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him difficulty seeing in bright or low lights, double vision, and frequent tearing of his affected eye. He can no longer see to ride his motorbike or plant the rice correctly due to his vision. When Cheu learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On December 14th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. He shared, "I hope to go back to being a successful farmer to support and feed my family. I feel sad I cannot help my family, and I cannot go outside."

Samet is a 65-year-old retired teacher. She has one daughter and three grandchildren. Sadly, Samet's husband died during the Khmer Rouge regime many years ago in Cambodia. Now she lives with her daughter, who is a farmer, and in her free time, she enjoys visiting the pagoda to listen to the monks pray. Three years ago, Samet developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her tearing and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Samet learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 4th, doctors will perform a small incision 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. Samet shared, "I hope after surgery I can see people's faces, be outside more, and do my housework well."

Ruos is a 30-year-old security guard who is married with one son and one daughter. His son is 12 years old and in ninth grade, while his daughter is nine years old and in fourth grade. In his free time, Ruos likes to play volleyball. In August 2017, Ruos fractured his left leg in a motor vehicle accident. After the accident, Ruos visited a provincial hospital where his leg was casted for three months. Afterwards, he went to a traditional Khmer healer where he received a bamboo splint for another two weeks, but his fracture did not heal. In February 2018, he had a fracture repair procedure where a surgeon affixed hardware to help heal the fracture. The fracture is now healed, but the locking nail in his left tibia is infected and needs to be removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 28th, Ruos will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will help him walk easily again and heal his infection. Rous shared, "I hope my left leg is finally healed and will not become infected again and I can return to work soon after I recover."

Bonface is a 27-year-old who works as a stone-mason to earn a living and raise his family. The income from this venture is inconsistent and therefore negligible to pay for major healthcare costs, including surgery. Bonface has been unable to work since he was in an accident earlier this year when he was coming home from work. He has a wife and a two-year-old son who both depend on him. Bonface's wife recently took a job as a shopkeeper in their hometown in Kirinyaga since he was unable to work. They live in a one-room house provided by a relative. Bonface walks with a severe limp and has a cast on his right leg. He was involved in a road traffic accident las January that resulted in a right open midshaft tibial fracture and has since visited different health facilities to help him walk and use his legs well. This fracture necessitated several surgeries including ex-fix, sequestrectomy, and 1st stage bone transport. He is currently scheduled for second bone transport and his family needs help to pay for the surgery. Bonface shared, "Accidents are terrible; they throw you off balance in life. I am now unable to walk and have not been able to work since the incident. My family relies on me and hopefully, after this treatment, I will be able to take care of them.”

Nehemia is a nine-year-old child from Tanzania and the fourth born in a family of five children. She is currently in kindergarten and she loves singing the vowels. Nehemia's parents keep livestock for a living and sell the milk. Once in a while, they also sell a goat to make additional money. Nehemia has clubfoot of her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Nehemia traveled to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), to receive treatment. On September 14th, surgeons at AMH's care center will perform clubfoot repair surgery. Now, AMH is requesting $935 to fund Nehemia's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Nehemia’s father shared, "every day when she gets home from school she complains of pain and you can easily see she is trying not to put pressure on the foot due to fear of pain. Please help my daughter."

Kay is a 34-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two sons in a village on the Thai-Burma border. Her husband is a day labourer at a construction site, while both of her children are students. Kay used to work in a factory but stopped last year when her health deteriorated. Kay remembers first feeling the pain she has in her abdomen in April of 2014, a month after she gave birth to her second son. Five years later, the pain in the left side of her abdomen returned. Kay also could not eat or drink anything, and vomited every time she tried to eat. At the hospital, she was given medication and was instructed to take it regularly. Though Kay felt better at a follow-up appointment, some of her symptoms were still persistent, so the medic referred her to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. At that hospital, Kay received an ultrasound, blood test and urine test, and the results revealed that she had stones in her left ureter. The doctor recommended that she undergo laser treatment to breakup these stones and treat the pain she has been experiencing. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Kay receive treatment. On March 2nd, she is scheduled to undergo a shockwave lithotripsy treatment at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Kay shared, “I really want to recover. I cannot work at the factory [because of my condition] but I want to earn money. In the future, if I recover, I want to open a small shop to sell dry goods.”

Nickson is a milk vendor from Kenya. A few months ago, he married his wife and now they are expecting their firstborn baby. His wife is a housewife and they live in a mud house on a farm. Nickson was not able to go to college, so he decided to become a milk vendor so that he could provide for his young and growing family. In December 2020, Nickson was involved in a road traffic accident - he was riding a motorcycle when he collided with an oncoming lorry truck. He was rushed to the district hospital where he had a cast applied and was then discharged home. However, two weeks ago, he started having pain while he was walking. A friend referred Nickson to a local medical facility. Nickson was examined and sent for an x-ray which revealed that he had fractured his knee. Right now, Nickson has trouble standing on his right foot or flexing his knee. Fortunately, surgeons at our Medical Partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help Nickson, and they are requesting $1,016 to fund his procedure. On March 3rd, Nickson will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk more easily again. Nickson says, “My hope is to receive treatment, be well, and continue supporting my young family."