Judith is a three-month-old girl from Tanzania. When she was born, her mother noticed that she was experiencing digestive and excretory dysfunction. She was taken to a hospital, where she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, for treatment. Judith was diagnosed with anorectal malformations. In other words, the end of her digestive tract did not develop properly. Without treatment, she is at risk of infection, pain, discomfort, and possible obstruction. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 9, supported by our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Judith's mother is unable to pay for the treatment. She needs help to raise $1,500.

Kosal is a 31-year-old farmer who is married and has one daughter and three sons. He likes to watch TV, relax in his garden, and clean around his home. In July, Kosal was in a motor vehicle accident that caused fractures in his left femur and left tibia. He went to a Khmer traditional healer for treatment. He was also treated in a hospital in Phnom Penh, where surgeons performed an external fixation procedure to heal the fracture. However, his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for Kosal to walk, and he was in pain. When Kosal learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On December 26, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure on Kosal's left femur and tibia to allow him to walk easily again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure.

Phue is a one-year-old girl who lives in Thailand. Her parents are originally from Burma. In 2013, the whole family moved to Thailand because her parents needed better jobs to pay for their children's school fees. Recently, Phue's neck became stiff, and she couldn't turn her head. She had to turn her whole body to look around. When her mother pinched the left side of her torso, she did not react. She was also experiencing fever, coughing, and difficulty sleeping. Phue's mother took her to our medical partner's care center, where Phue received antibiotics. On January 18, Phue will undergo a CT scan. This procedure will allow her doctors to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Our medical partner is requesting $414 to cover the expenses of the test. “Even though we do not have enough money, our priority now is to take care of her health problem," says Phue's mother. "We don’t want her to become disabled. We are so worried about her, but we cannot do anything by ourselves as we do not have money.”

Josephine and her twin brother are the third and fourth children to their parents. Josephine's mother says she is a happy child who enjoys playing with her siblings. Josephine's feet are turned inward. Because she can walk, her mother never sought treatment for the condition. Recently, our medical partner's community outreach officer traveled to Josephine's village, where he diagnosed her with clubfeet and spoke to her parents about treatment options. Now, she is scheduled to undergo repair surgery on January 24. Josephine's parents are small scale farmers who herd goats and cows. However, their income is limited, and they need help to provide treatment for their daughter. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,160. Josephine's mother says, "I hope that my daughter will be able to walk straight and attend school."

Oscar is a twelve-month-old baby from Guatemala. He has been diagnosed with malnutrition. Oscar has had little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to illnesses that further compromise his growth. Oscar's father works hard as a day laborer, but his income is limited. His mother takes care of the household. His parents want the best for him, but they cannot afford treatment for their son. On January 12, Oscar will begin malnutrition treatment. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Oscar recover. Treatment will give Oscar’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $437 to fund this treatment. “With your help, I know my son will get better, so that he grows healthy," says Oscar's mother. "When he is big, he can become a doctor."