Meet Nicodemus a 14 year-old boy. He is social and likes inventing new things. Nicodemus is the 4th born in a family of 5 children. He is class 8 candidate at Daystar Primary School in Athi River. The family hails from Athi River in Machakos County. His mother is a vendor and widowed. She sells porridge and chapatis in the construction sites. His mother noticed a sudden change in his walking style last year. Nicodemus also complained of his knees knocking each other a situation which was giving him a rough time to walk and play with her friends at school. He currently feels pain as he walks as the left knee knock the right. He is currently using crutches to walk and his condition is worsening. “I would love to walk like other people, I am not comfortable with walking using crutches and I would like to achieve my passion of becoming an engineer. Any kind of support will be highly appreciated.” Nicodemus informed us.

Natukunda is a small scale farmer from Uganda. She is a mother to two children all still at school. She practices small scale farming along side her husband. Natukunda reported with a swelling on the back which has lasted for a year. She experiences back pain and discomfort Natukunda traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On August 27th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Natukunda needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Natukunda says “I pray that I get a relief from this swelling because it really pains. I am hoping to continue with cultivation after surgery"

Veronicah is a farmer from Kenya. Veronicah is a peasant farmer in her small piece of ancestral land where she lives with her parents and teenage child. Veronicah 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 Veronicah. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 2nd. After treatment, Veronicah will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. “I keep hearing the doctor’s voice over and over-“breast cancer” “breast cancer. I just do not know what to do,” says Veronicah.

Chanthoeun is a 48-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. In her free time, she likes to watch both Khmer and Thai dramas on the television. Twenty years ago, Chanthoeun developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her irritation, burning, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Chanthoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. Chanthoeun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for March 5. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, the irritation will stop so I can see again and go back to my rice farming."

Srey Nith is a 15-year-old aspiring dancer from Cambodia. She has six sisters and likes to watch TV and relax. When she was nine, Srey Nith had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Srey Nith experiences tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear discharge. She has difficulty going about her daily tasks and no longer goes to school. Srey Nith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 7, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Her mother says, "I hope that after surgery, my daughter will feel better and will be very happy."

Richard is a laborer from Kenya. He is married and a father of two children. One day in June, as Richard was going home from work, he was hit by a vehicle and sustained an open fracture of his right tibia bone. He is not able to walk and uses a wheelchair to move. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On July 12, Richard will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again and go back to work once he is fully recovered. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $998 to fund this procedure. “I have a lot of pain and am afraid to delay the surgery. My family is still very young and require my support. Kindly help me so that I can be well again to earn for my family," he says.

Srey Neth is an eight grade student from Cambodia. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She enjoys studying mathematics and reading. Thirteen years ago, Srey Neth had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Srey Neth experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge. She cannot hear and is uncomfortable from the recurrent ear discharge. Srey Neth traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 12, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my ear is healed after surgery and I can hear better. I look forward to returning to school."

Twikirize is a businesswoman from Uganda. She runs a retail shop, and she has one child. For one year, Twikirize has had a progressively growing swelling in her inner right thigh. She experiences pain and discomfort. If not treated, the swelling will continue growing and making it difficult for her to walk. Twikirize traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 10, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Twikirize needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure. Twikirize says, “I hope to have better quality of life after surgery and I will continue with my business of operating a shop.”

Tha is a 34-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, who is an agricultural day laborer, and their two young children. In recent years, Tha has developed pain in her hips. With the help of our medical partner, she underwent a hip replacement surgery on her one of her hips, and she now has to receive surgery on her other hip. At BCMF's care center, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Tha of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for April 5, and Tha needs help raising $1,500 to pay for this procedure. "I am very happy to receive surgery for my other hip," said Tha. "Without your help, I would not be able to afford the cost of the surgery."

Uk is a grandmother from Cambodia. She is a corn and chili farmer. She has one son, two daughters, and six grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. Five years ago, Uk developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision, irritation, clouded lenses, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Uk learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On April 3, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope my vision improves so that I can recognize my family member's faces again."

Teleza is a mother of three from Malawi. She lives with her husband on their small farm, and she spends her days caring for her home and her children. In her free time, Teleza likes to sit and enjoy quality time with her husband. Since January 2018, Teleza has been experiencing pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund Teleza's surgery. On April 3, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. Teleza was thrilled and relieved to find out her surgery would be funded. She is looking forward to going home cancer-free and being able to care for her family and home again. She says, "Thank you Watsi."

Mbabazi is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is married with two children, and both are in school. Mbabazi’s husband is a night watchman. For six months, Mbabazi has had an umblical hernia. The hernia causes her discomfort and if not treated, it may lead to hernia twisting and blocking. Fortunately, on March 8, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Mbabazi's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Mbabazi says, “I hope to get better after surgery and I continue with my farming.”