Juoneck is an 11-year old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her father - a construction layman - and her mother - a self employed roadside grocery seller - and a younger sibling. Juoneck is passionate about pursuing her education, as she hopes to become a doctor. Juoneck lives with clubfoot, a congenital condition that limits her mobility, and impedes her participation in playing, sports, and long-distance walks. Despite these challenges, she remains determined in her pursuit of education and her dreams. Her parents recently met a good Samaritan, who was astonished to discover that Juoneck has been living with a treatable disability. The Samaritan directed them to our partner's center for treatment. Juoneck's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. There, on December 22nd, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on Juoneck. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Juoneck's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily and to participate in sports. Juoneck’s mother says: “I hope my daughter’s spirit won’t be limited by the condition she was born with. I hope this treatment will help correct her leg.”

Hellen is a nine-year-old girl who is approaching grade one. She is one of nine siblings, three of whom share the same congenital condition of clubfoot. Both of her parents are farmers. They cultivate maize and millet for food and sell the surplus to earn money for other expenses. Unfortunately, Hellen’s father, who is advancing in age and has clubfoot, cannot work extended hours. Therefore, his mother toils diligently on the farm to ensure they yield sufficient harvests. Hellen has clubfoot on her left foot and, fortunately, Hellen's family visited our medical partner's care center, the Plaster House NGO. There, the team began clubfoot treatment on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Hellen's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will use night casts to aid in her full recovery and later be able to walk comfortably. She did not receive treatment as a baby because of her parents' lack of knowledge about the condition and financial barriers. However, one day, a glimmer of hope emerged when Hellen’s father crossed paths with a young boy who had once faced a similar challenge but had now fully recovered. Filled with renewed hope, he inquired about how this transformation had occurred. The boy’s story revealed the existence of our medical partner's care center to Hellen’s father. Filled with optimism, he hurried home and shared this life-altering discovery with his wife. Together, they decided to bring their precious daughter and three of her siblings to The Plaster House. Hellen’s mother says: “I am glad there is a chance for my daughter to get treatment, I hope she doesn't have to live with this disability for the rest of her life.”

Phineace is nearly six years old and a lively student from Kenya. He loves playing with his friends and with toys. His youthful mother was overjoyed when she gave birth to a handsome boy, and she named him Phineace, a name which she says would be close to her name (her name is Phanice). His mother works as a salesperson, selling solar panels. She is paid on commission, which results in limited income. Phineace has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, making even the wearing of shoes a problem. Phineace's clubfeet makes it difficult for him to walk. He loses his balance and often falls. Phineace and his mother visited our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital, where the doctors determined they could help. Surgeons will perform clubfoot treatment on October 24. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Phineace's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Phineace hopefully will be able to stand upright, stop walking on tiptoes and no longer have to crawl to avoid falling. Hopefully, he will be able to walk well, run, play with his friends and continue with his education like other children. “I am appealing to the people of goodwill to help my son undergo surgery so that he can walk like other children,” Phineace’s mother told us.

Steeve is a 14-month-old toddler from Haiti. He is an only child and loved deeply by his mom and dad. Steeve has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Steeve has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Steeve will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Steeve at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on September 19. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Steeve's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Steeve will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Steeve's family is hoping that the surgery will stop the progression of brain damage from hydrocephalus. They are looking forward to watching their toddler grow older and are hopeful for healthier days ahead.

Linn's Baby is a four-day-old girl who lives with her parents and three older sisters in a village in Thailand. She is so young, that she is not yet named. Her parents are day laborers. Linn's Baby was born with multiple health challenges including Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. In addition, her mother noticed that she wasn't passing stool, and when the doctors examined her, they discovered that she also has a condition known as imperforate anus. What this means is that Linn's Baby was born without an opening, which is a birth condition that occurs while the fetus is still developing in the womb. To address her condition, Linn's Baby will undergo surgery on August 4th at Mae Sot General Hospital, to place a colostomy, that will allow her to pass stool until she grows bigger and stronger, and better able to tolerate additional surgeries. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs of this procedure. Her mother said: "I cannot watch my daughter suffer from these conditions. I think she is crying because she wants breastmilk. She is my first baby born with such conditions. My other daughters are all healthy. I feel very sad for her.”

Meet Joshua: a playful and social seven year old boy who is also the third born in a family of five. He is currently a first-grade student and takes great pleasure in reading, both in school and at home. Joshua and his family live in Odure, a charming village situated near the Kenya-Tanzania border. His father runs a small shop right in Odure, while his mother devotes her time as a dedicated housewife. Joshua, having undergone a healthy birth, was okay until the age of five when his mother noticed his unusual walking style. Not long ago, they became aware of the Cure Hospital Mobile Clinic, which was set to take place in Oloitoktok, conveniently close to their village. Upon visiting the clinic, the doctors determined that Joshua would require knee repair surgery to help him walk. This treatment holds great promise as it would enable him to walk without limping and, more importantly, allow him to attend school like his fellow classmates. Currently, due to his walking difficulty, it is hard for him to go to school. The surgery presents a life-changing opportunity for Joshua to lead a more active and fulfilling life. Joshua's mom told us: “I would request support for my son to undergo surgery and resume his normal life.”

Meet 42-year-old Khin who lives with her husband in Thailand. Both Khin and her husband work in a wool factory. In March 2023, Khin felt overwhelmingly tired. She received an injection at a local clinic, but she didn't feel any better. A few days later she became dizzy, and fainted. Subsequently, she developed back pain and gastrointestinal issues. She has now been diagnosed with a myoma - or uterine fibroid - and advised to have her uterus and cervix surgically removed, to prevent future health complications. Khin is scheduled to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy on May 25th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once she has recovered, Khin's overall health should improve, and she will be free of the pain that currently lives with. Khin said: “When I first heard that I would need surgery, I felt stressed because I have no money. But when I learned that I have a donor, I felt relieved. In the future, I will continue to work in the factory.”

Ann is a 45-year-old woman from Kenya and a mother of four children aged between 23-27 years old. Her husband passed away in 1999. Her children have been unable to secure steady jobs, and Ann works as a casual laborer washing clothes to provide a living. However, she shared that her income is inconsistent, as it depends on the availability of work. She lives alone in a single room. Ann does not have medical coverage and is requesting assistance with her treatment costs. In April 2023, Ann slipped and fell on the road causing a fracture in her right wrist. She went to a local pharmacy for first aid and has since been using hot water and salt to treat the fracture due to a lack of medical coverage. However, her hand has continued to swell, and she is in chronic pain, making it challenging to use her right hand. A church member recommended Ann visit Kijabe Mission Hospital for review. Through church members’ contributions, Ann received an X-ray, and the doctor recommended she undergo surgery to treat the fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 15th, Ann will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will heal the broken bones and enable her to use her hand again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Ann says: “I can’t use my hand because it is broken. I am unable to work and sometimes sleep hungry because I depend on my hand to work and earn a living. I need the surgery to earn a livelihood.”

Moses is a playful four-year-old boy from Nyandarua County in Kenya. He is the seventh and youngest child in his family. Both of his parents are peasant farmers. Moses was a healthy child at birth. However, last year his mother noticed an unusual bending of his legs towards each other, known as knock knees. At that time, Moses' mother was told to wait until Moses was older before considering treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund hemiepiphysiodesis surgery for Moses, which is scheduled for April 18th at AIC Cure International Hospital. This procedure, also known as guided growth, will gradually correct Moses' angular limb deformity, enabling him to walk comfortably as he grows older. “I will appreciate any kind of support purposed to help my boy walk normally like other children.” Moses’s mother told us.