Jayden is 2-year-old baby boy from Kiambu County, Kenya. He is the second born in a family of two children. His mother is a housewife, while his father does casual work as a mason. Jayden was born with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. When he was a few months old, his mother noticed that she could not feel his testes, but ultimately the family did not bring him in to a doctor. Recently, his grandmother also noticed this, which led to Jayden being brought to the hospital. There, doctors ordered a scan that showed bilateral undescended testicles, and they recommend Jayden has an orchidopexy surgery to correct the condition. If left untreated, Jayden has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. However, this procedure is costly for Jayden and his family. Jayden's father earns just enough income to support his family's basic needs. He is not able to afford Jayden's surgery, and appeals for financial support. Jayden will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 5th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Jayden's mother shared, “Although we don’t go to church, I pray to God that our son may have this support and get successful treatment so that he may have a normal future like other boys.”

U Win is a 54-year-old man who lives with his wife and youngest son in the Ayeyarwaddy Division in Burma. He has three sons and three daughters, with five of his children already married and working. His 17-year-old son left school because they were unable to pay school fees, and worked as a day laborer until COVID-19 happened. U Win used to work as a day laborer as well, but stopped working around two years ago due to his health condition. His family survives on 60,000 kyat (approx. 60 USD) each month that U Win's three other daughters and another son send them, enough to cover their basic expenses. In January 2012, U Win felt tired, had a headache, suffered from heart palpitations, and a rapid heartbeat. He went to a clinic where the doctor listened to his heart with a stethoscope and checked his blood pressure. U Win was told that he has high blood pressure and that he would need to take oral medication for a long time. He received an injection, oral medication, and another appointment for more medication. After he took the medication, he felt better and he went back to work. However, U Win continued to experience worsening symptoms over the next few years, returning to clinics and receiving the same treatment. He was told at one point to visit a cardiologist, but did not do so until later on. In August 2020, during another clinic visit in Yangon, the doctor diagnosed U Win with an atrial septal defect, and said that he would need to receive surgery to repair this hole in his heart. If not treated, the condition could weaken his heart further and cause lung problems later on. He was unable to receive surgery in November due to an upsurge in COVID-19 cases, and was also told the procedure would cost about 3,000,000 kyat (approx. 3,000 USD). Luckily, U Win’s wife remembered that there is a charity group in Yangon that might be able to help. The group told him about our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, to look for assistance with accessing the treatment he needed. U Win currently experiences chest pain and back pain, has no appetite, and cannot sleep well at night. He appeals for financial support for his cost of care. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On December 20th, U Win will undergo an atrial septal defect closure procedure. Once recovered, his quality of life will significantly improve and he will be able to return to work. Now, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. U Win shared, “I want to get better soon so that I can work for my family again. I am worried about my family’s future because we cannot find work in the village. My son also cannot go to Yangon to find another job because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.”

Birungi is a subsistence farmer from Uganda. She is a mother of five children and came to our Medical Partner's Care Center Nyakibale Hospital with a neck mass that has been persistent for over 10 years. She also has a dry irritating cough, persistent heart palpitations, headaches, and difficulty breathing. Her daily work, she notes, has been affected by her swelling. When Birungi came to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a goitre and thyroidectomy is recommended. However, she is not able to meet the cost of surgery. Birungi works on her farm to make ends meet. She has to divide up her earnings to meet daily needs and pay school fees for her children. She did not manage to complete her own schooling due to lack of school fees. About 10 years ago, she lost her husband leaving her to raise their children. She is appealing for financial assistance to meet the cost of surgery which if not done, could result in airway obstruction among other complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Birungi receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 6th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Birungi says, “I am hopeful for a better life after my surgery and expect to resume with farming after I getting better.”

Sovantha is a 36-year-old mechanic from Cambodia. He's been married for 16 years and together they have one son and two daughters, all in school. Sovantha's wife works in a factory. When he is not fixing motors, Sovantha enjoys playing on his phone, listening to music, watching TV, washing clothes, and cooking. He also likes to spend time with his children at home. In May 2020, Sovantha fell 3 meters causing a severe fracture of his left wrist. After the accident he had a pin surgically placed in his wrist to heal the fracture. The bone has healed and the hardware needs to be removed so that he has full functionality and no more risk of infection. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 18th, Sovantha will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. The pins will be surgically removed to prevent future complications such as pain and infection. Sovantha said, "I hope after the pin is removed my left wrist will feel great and there will be no infection."

Srey Nam is a smart five-year-old girl from Cambodia. Her parents work in Thailand and she lives with her grandmother in Cambodia. She enjoys playing with toys and playing on a swing with her neighbors. One week ago, Srey Nam developed a large chalazion in her right eye, causing her pain and irritation. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. It is difficult for her to see clearly. Srey Nam traveled for two and a half hours with her grandmother to seek treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On December 21st, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Srey Nam's symptoms should improve. She needs help raising $187 to fund this procedure. Srey Nam's grandmother said, "I really hope her eye gets better soon!"

Musiimenta is a 17-year-old student. She is the third-born in a family of six children, of which she is the only girl and has five brothers. Musiimenta initially arrived at the hospital complaining of chest and epigastric pain associated with vomiting. She expressed that she has felt a mass in her lower abdominal region for the past three years. Musiimenta also reported that she always felt as though she has a full abdomen, headache, abdominal discomfort. These symptoms have hindered her appetite, and she often felt congestion in her chest, causing shortness of breath. Though she had been experiencing symptoms for a while, Musiimenta had never been to the hospital for medical treatment before because her parents could not afford care. However, when her condition worsened, her father brought her to hospital, where she was referred to the gynaecologist for further assessment. A scan indicated a solid mass and a normal uterus with some fluid accumulation, which caused her abdominal swelling. Musiimenta was diagnosed with a large bilateral tubo ovarian mass and was recommended for curative laparotomy treatment. However, this procedure is costly for Musiimenta and her family. Her father is a small-scale farmer with a banana plantation, where he is able to grow food and sell plantains to earn an income. He sometimes brews locally made alcohol called tonto to sustain his family and pay school fees for his children. Her family does not have enough extra income to pay for her treatment and they are appealing for financial support. On November 3rd, Musiimenta will undergo a curative laparotomy procedure to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $242 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. This procedure will hopefully reduce the swelling in her abdomen and halt the discomfort she has been enduring. Musiimenta's father shared, “I hope that once my daughter undergoes surgery, she will be able to live well once again in good health. She will continue with school after she has recovered and when schools are re-opened.”

Irshad was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation a day or two after birth. This followed frequent vomiting, poor feeding and distention of his abdomen. A colostomy (a perforation on his abdomen to aid in passing stool) was put in place at day three and after six weeks a pull-through procedure was done. This was to create an anal opening. In order to keep the newly created anus from closing, Irshad’s parents were advised to do dilation which according to them, they faithfully did. Upon review, the doctor noted that the anal opening was not well dilated and would need a revision. The doctor then referred them to Watsi Medical Partner care center BethanyKids Hospital where surgery has been recommended. If not treated, Irshad will not be able to pass stool normally. The cost of buying colostomy bags has proven to be quite expensive for his parents and thus, they have resulted to using old clothes. This puts little Irshad at risk of infection and scarring at the colostomy site due to occasional leakages. Irshad’s parents hoped that the national health insurance fund would help fund the treatment, but since it is a repeat surgery, their request was turned down. Irshad’s father is employed casually as an office messenger while his mother is a full-time mom. Irshad is the second born of two children. He lives with his parents and elder brother in a two-room rental house in the coastal region of Kenya. His father assures that he can raise Kes15,000, but that is not enough to support the surgery needed and thus appeals for help.

Kyobutungi is a student from Uganda. She is the third born in a family of four children. Her mother operates a ladies’ hair dressing salon, which she says is located deep in the village. Because of the location, she gets few customers thus earning little profit. Her father is a private primary school teacher who teaches in a small nearby school and his salary can only enable him to sustain a living for the family. Kyobutingi lives in a family-owned three roomed semi-permanent house in which she stays together with her parents, two brothers, and one baby sister. She came to the hospital with her mother. She has a mass over her right eye for the past two years. The mass is painful on touch and causes her eye to itch. Kyobutungi traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 14th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Kyobutungi needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Kyobutungi's mother shared, “I hope that my daughter will be well after her surgery is done.”

Brightness is a baby from Tanzania. Her parents are small scale farmers of maize and vegetables for their own consumption. able to support her children. Brightness was diagnosed with genu valgus. Her legs are bowed inward so that her knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, She cannot walk without pain and discomfort. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Brightness. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 1st. Treatment will hopefully restore Brightness's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Brightness’s mother says, “I am scared of how bad my daughter’s legs are being deformed, please help treat her I have no means of raising the money.”

Mary is a peasant farmer from Kenya. Three years ago, she felt a painless lump on her left breast which was dismissed as a fatty lump at a local clinic. In 2018, the lump became painful and she sought medical care. She was still advised to wait. However, in 2019, she sought treatment from a different hospital. She had a biopsy done and cancer was suspected. She came to our facility where an x-ray was done and surgery recommended. Mary and her husband tend to their small farm to eke out a living. The mother of 4 children does not have any medical insurance and was not able to raise the funds required in the previous facility. Her children are not in any employment making it hard to consolidate funds needed. Mary has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Mary. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 3rd. After treatment, Mary will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Mary says, “My hope is to have the cancer treated so that I continue providing for my family.”

Turyasingura is a 7-year-old child from Uganda. He is the forth born in a family of four siblings and all are still in school, except the youngest. Turyasingura studies at Kahoko Primary School and is currently in primary class one. His mother says had it not been his condition, he would have currently been in primary two but because of his condition, he missed promotional examinations last year because of the pain he had. His mother earns a living through practicing small-scale farming while his father works as a carpenter. Since his birth, Turyasingura has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. This causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on April 7th, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $139 to fund Turyasingura's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Turasingura's mother says: “I hope that my boy will be fine after his surgery.”

Nisriya is a young beautiful and playful girl from Ethiopia. Nisriya is the second-born girl in a family of three girls. She comes from a peasant family where her father is the sole breadwinner of the family. He is a casual labourer who relies on daily wages to make ends meet. Her mother is a housewife who delivered her third child in September 2019. Nisriya was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. She had a colostomy done but it is currently giving her multiple issues. She faces stigma from society forcing her parents to hide her from the public realm. If not treated, she will be at risk of infections in the colostomy area and continue suffering discrimination. After her recovery, Nisriya will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Nisriya is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on November 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Nisriya's procedure and care. Her dad said, “It is my hope that my child will get successful surgery and I hope when she heal completely she will go to school. And I hope I will get her a good school working hard since she loves education."