Seang Khy is a woman from Cambodia. In March 2019, Seang Khy was in a motorcycle accident, dislocating her left hip. She is unable to walk without support, and experiences pain all along her left leg. Surgery will allow her to walk normally without any pain. Surgery is scheduled for May 2 and will cost $390. In her free time, Seang Khy likes to grow vegetables and feed the farm animals nearby her house. She is looking forward to returning to her work and regaining her independence. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to walk like normal again and I can return to my work selling rice."

Dominic is a young man, who currently walks with the aid of a broken walking stick. Dominic is a father of one and relies on the little he earns from informal tutoring of pupils. Dominic is 25 years old, and comes from a poor family of a widowed mother and seven siblings. He was the main provider for his young family before he was involved in a car accident a few years ago, where he fractured his tibia. His wife is a casual laborer who washes clothes for people to earn a living. Dominic's first surgery was funded by well-wishers. He needed a second surgery but due to lack of funds, it has been delayed for over one year. Due to financial constraints, he has not been able to get medical crutches to aid in walking. Dominic needs help to have the surgery done and restore back his health. Dominic's current symptoms include pain and strain while walking. Since the accident, Dominic can no longer work at construction sites, which was his means to earn a living. If not treated, Dominic may continue experiencing pain on his leg and difficulties in walking. He may also suffer severe infection which could result in amputation. $1,410 will fund the surgery and casting he needs to get healthy, and regain the use of his leg. “I would like to be a providing father and supportive son to my widowed mum; it pains me to have to rely on my wife for everything,” said Dominic. Our medical partner adds: "We expect that after the surgery, Dominic will heal well and he will be able to walk on his own again. Eventually he will be able to work and support his family."

David is a 65-year-old husband and father from Kenya who makes a living as a small-scale farmer of maize and beans. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “David experiences swelling and sporadic pain in his right inguinal region. The pain has prevented him from working on his farm.” David’s symptoms are the result of a right inguinal hernia, a protrusion of the intestines through a weak point in the abdominal muscles. The protrusion presents as a painful bulge in the groin, and the pain increases with coughing, bending at the waist, or lifting heavy objects. “If not treated,” explains AMHF, “the intestine could become strangulated and that would lead to its death.” Doctors have told David that he needs surgery to repair the hernia. During the procedure, a surgeon pushes the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and sews together the weakened muscle with a synthetic mesh. Over time, muscle tissue grows into and around the mesh to strengthen the area. Because of his inability to work, David has not been able to raise enough money to pay for the surgery he needs. “Now my wife works alone on the farm,” says David. “We fully depend on the little the farm produces since my children all earn just enough to support their own families.” $440 in funding will pay for surgery for David as well as two days of hospital care. “We expect that after the surgery and recovery, David will no longer be in pain and the risk of strangulation will be eliminated,” reports AMHF. “I want to get better so that I can work with [my wife] again,” shares David. Let’s help make that happen!

Meet Isabel, a 49-year-old woman from Guatemala. She and her husband work mostly in agriculture to provide for their six children. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, tells us, “her main priority is being healthy so that she can take care of her children.” Isabel was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. WK writes, “this was picked up when she came to one of our cervical cancer screening programs. She was asymptomatic (no pain or bleeding), although our nurse was concerned when performing the screening test, as the cervix did look abnormal. The screening tests came back positive for an early stage cervical cancer. In many ways this is good news, because Isabel is totally curable at this stage.” With $1,475, Isabel will undergo chemotherapy treatment. “This early stage cervical cancer is almost certainly curable. We anticipate that Isabel will do really well through treatment and that she will go on to be strong and healthy for many years, taking care of her family and children,” continues Wuqu’ Kawoq. Let’s pitch in and keep this mother strong!

Meet Julius, a newborn living in Tanzania! Julius was born with an open myelomenigocele with hydrocephalus. This means that Julius is leaking cerebral spinal fluid from his back. This condition is lethal. If left untreated, he will develop sepsis and become dehydrated. Julius was born during a rainstorm. His parents were unable to arrange transportation to the hospital for days after his birth. They are cattle farmers who support their two children as well as their extended family, and therefore cannot afford Julius’ operation. His parents say, “Julius is our answered prayer. After getting a baby girl, we prayed for a baby boy and the Lord blessed us with one. It is our prayer that he will survive and grow up like other children and later on be helpful to us and the society at large.” $1025 will pay for a myelomenigocele closure and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. This will cause the cerebral spinal fluid to stop leaking and allow Julius to learn how to sit up. Help us allow Julius to continue learning and growing!

Ma Thu was hit by an ambulance in May last year. Our hospital partner writes, "while she came out of the accident relatively unscathed, a cyst developed under her teeth as a result of the accident. The cyst makes it difficult for Ma Thu to eat and keep food down. The cyst also causes blurred vision, headaches and dizziness, making it impossible for her to assist her parents in the field. Her parents are very worried about her future and feel guilty that they are not able to afford her treatment." Before the accident, Ma Thu moved to her aunt's place in hope of going to school for the first time. She was hit by the ambulance only one day after arriving. She hopes that once she is well again, she can start school. Ma Thu is nervous about going to school for the first time at 15, but she is determined to be educated and one day be a school teacher. Her parents work on the farm growing rice and beans but it is not enough to make ends meet. For $1,500, we can fund a procedure to remove the cyst and help Ma Thu start a healthy life. With treatment, Ma Thu can focus on getting an education and following her dreams.

This is five-year-old Lonyokie, the youngest in a family of seven children. Lonyokie is an active and playful boy who loves to draw and color in his classes. Lonyokie's grandmother sells fine-powdered tobacco, and she is currently trying to raise more money for Lonyokie's treatment. Lonyokie is unable to move his ankle due to a burn scar contracture. Because of his condition, Lonyokie is unable to walk properly. Lonyokie's grandmother brought Lonyokie to the hospital to be treated, and she says, "I trust that my grandson will get proper treatment and will start to walk like other children." In the future, Lonyokie's grandmother hopes to see him "grow up to be a responsible man and marry a beautiful lady." For $505, Lonyokie will receive surgery so that he can move his ankle and walk properly in the future. Let's help Lonyokie grow up normally and grant his grandmother's wishes!

Meet Linet, a 24-year-old mother of three from Kenya! Linet and her husband are working hard to save money as they expect their fourth child. However, Linet has been experiencing abdominal, back, and head pains that are unlike those from her previous pregnancies. As a result, she has been unable to farm, save the money she needs for a safe delivery, and care for her children. Despite Linet and her husband’s hard work, she worries that she will not be able to afford the healthcare services to ensure a safe delivery. She says, “I wish and pray to get a better healthcare services in a health facility. Even though I am aware that I cannot afford it, that is my greatest wish.” For $215, Linet will receive a safe delivery in a health facility under the supervision of attending nurses. Both mother and baby will be offered advanced medical care as needed in order to ensure a happy, healthy life for the two. Let’s help Linet deliver her child safely and give her baby a healthy start to life!

Six-year-old Alazar lives in Ethiopia. His mother stays at home caring for him, and his father works as a driver. Alazar was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy with tight Achilles tendons on both feet. His feet are essentially locked in place, which is painful and severely limits his movements. His mother worries that if he walks on his own, he will fall and seriously hurt himself. She told the doctors, “I want to see him walk and play with other kids.” Alazar’s parents have tried for years to improve his condition, but nothing has worked so far. The hospital would like to use a simple procedure to release the stiffness in his legs and provide Alazar with braces to ease his ability to walk. With this $1,000 treatment, Alazar won't feel pain or awkwardness walking. Let's help Alazar walk without pain!

Priscah is living with severe abdominal pain. Recently diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, a condition caused by excessive proliferation of the cells of the inner lining of the uterus, this wife and mother from Kenya needs an abdominal hysterectomy. "I hope to live a healthy and long life so that I can see my children become grown, responsible people," Priscah tells our medical partner. But the family can't afford the healthcare needed to treat it. For $885, we can pay for her hysterectomy and help her get healthy!

Little Christopher is just six days old, but he is already facing a tough challenge. Christopher was born with encephalocele, a mass at the back of his head that his doctors say puts him at risk for serious infection from a pressure sore. He is also likely to develop hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the skill which can lead to cranial swelling, brain damage, and even death. Christopher is the youngest of six children who live on a small piece of land in Kenya. His mother does small scale farming and his father works as a casual laborer, but their modest income is not enough to cover the cost of the surgery to treat Christopher's condition. For $1,375, we can make sure that Christopher receives the surgery he needs to treat his encephalocele and prevent any life-threatening side effects. "I look forward to the day that I can take my baby home with a clean bill of health" said Christopher's mother. Let's help Christopher go home to his family as a happy and healthy baby!

Meet Godon, a sweet three-year-old girl who lives in Ethiopia. Godon lives with bladder exstrophy, a very rare congenital anomaly that causes part of her bladder to exist outside her body. As a result, Godon's kidney leaks urine directly onto her body. Godon grew up in Somalia, where her parents spent all their money trying to find treatment. When they did not find any help, they moved to Ethiopia. Godon’s father says, “My daughter is a bright young girl, and I hope that she will grow up to be a doctor.” For $1,500, we can help Godon receive surgery that will use part of her intestine to form a new bladder. She will be able to maintain better bladder control and prevent urine leakage. Let's help Godon live a healthy, normal life!