Alphatina is a 29-year-old woman from Kenya. She is the mother of two young children and loves to spend time with them. Before her accident, Alphatina traded in second hand clothing and potatoes in order to supplement her husband's income from his work as a carpenter. In July of 2016, a stove that Alphatina was using exploded, leaving her torso, hands, and neck badly burned. She was in the hospital for six weeks undergoing treatment. Alphatina's burns did heal, but formed scar tissue—called contractures—that restrict her movement. Doctors have recommended contracture release surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,176 to fund Alphatina's surgery. She is scheduled for treatment on March 14, 2018 at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. She is looking forward to having a full range of motion once again. "After this surgery," Alphatina says, "I would want to be healthy and continue bringing up my children together with my husband."

Kamanyire is a 50-year-old husband and father from Uganda. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), he primarily relies on farming to provide for his wife and eight children. About three years ago, Kamanyire began feeling pain in his right groin, or inguinal area due to a hernia. Hernias are external bulges that appear as a result of organs being out of place. Unable to afford treatment at a hospital, Kamanyire initially turned to herbal remedies to help with the pain. Unfortunately, the remedies have not been effective. AMHF informs us, “because of the pain from the hernia, Kamanyire is unable to [work]. Currently, he looks after someone’s cattle and is paid little money for his sustainability.” They add that Kamanyire is at risk for serious complications, such as ‘intestinal obstruction, incarceration and strangulation.” AMHF can relieve Kamanyire of his pain with hernia repair surgery. During surgery, his organs will be placed in their appropriate locations, and his abdominal wall will be repaired, to prevent further hernias. Treatment will cost a total of $220, which includes surgical fees, medication and a two week stay at the hospital. “We expect that after the treatment, Kamanyire will no longer be in pain and the risk of intestinal obstruction, incarceration and strangulation will be eliminated,” states AMHF. “Thank you for providing a treatment program for the poor,” says Kamanyire.

Meet Deus, a ten-month-old boy from Uganda. Our medical partner, the Kellermann Foundation (KF), tells us, “Deus has malnutrition and his various symptoms including lethargy, oedema, susceptibility to infections, and delayed growth.” Malnutrition is an extreme lack of vital nutrients and is especially common in Uganda where it affects roughly 38% of children under the age of five. KF tells us, “Deus is the only child of Shallon and Denis who are small farmers. They own their own land and grow potatoes, beans, maize and matoke, but do not have enough to sell for extra income to pay for medical care.” For $375, Deus will be hospitalized for ten days to receive therapeutic foods to rehabilitate him back to good health. Deus’ family lives near their extended family and they all enjoy attending church together and singing in the choir. Deus’ mother tells us, “I appreciate you healing my baby.”

"Moise is a smart little boy, he was okay when suddenly he became unable to walk," Moise mother says. A few months ago she noticed that her three-year-old son was having trouble supporting his head and moving on his own; she took him to our partners, Project Medishare in Haiti, and a CT scan revealed that Moise has hydrocephalus. Moise is the third born in his family and used to go to school and play with his siblings. His parents are poor farmers and they cannot afford the cost of the surgery Moise needs to recover. For $1260, Moise will receive a surgery that "will positively change his health condition," and remove the excessive fluids that are putting pressure on his brain. After the operation, Moise will resume healthy development and regain all of his faculties. His grandmother shares, "I am very happy because my little son is going to have the surgery to fix his condition, we don’t have the money and you provides care to him, thank you very much."