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.

Rem is a 47-year-old rice farmer from Kandal province in Cambodia. He is married, and has two sons and three daughters. Two of his daughters still live at home and attend public school. Rem's wife works in a local clothing factory. A month ago, Rem was involved in an accident while driving his motorbike. During the accident, Rem fractured his left femur. A local clinic asked him for $300 before they would do surgery, which he couldn't afford. He subsequently visited a Khmer traditional healer, who placed a bamboo splint, with the intention of stabilizing the bone, and to promote healing. However, Rem's fracture has become infected, and the bone has not healed properly. He cannot walk or farm his land and he is in constant pain. A friend in the village urged him to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further care. On August 1st, Rem will undergo a fracture repair procedure at CSC's care center. During the procedure, CSC doctors will also address the wound infection. Rem is able to contribute $100 to his care, and CSC is requesting $483 to cover the remaining costs. Rem said, "After surgery, I hope that I don’t have pain and can walk normally."

Timoth is a 22-year-old man from Nairobi County, Kenya. He has five siblings and lived with his father in Murang'a for a while after his mother passed away. Timoth decided to move to Nairobi due to a difficult home situation, and for the past year, he has been driving a motorcycle as a casual laborer. On June 17th, 2023, Timoth was driving his motorcycle and was hit by another vehicle. He was rushed first to a nearby health center for first aid and then to our medical partner's care center. X-rays of Timoth's leg showed that he had a closed fracture in his left femur. Timoth said that since the accident, he's been experiencing a lot of pain, but he hopes to receive treatment so he can get back to his normal life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 22nd, Timoth will undergo a fracture repair procedure called open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will relieve Timoth of his pain and enable him to return to work. Now, AMH is requesting $1049 to help fund Timoth's procedure. Timoth is subsidizing $148.00 of this amount. Timoth said, "I had many plans for my life. I had hopes that once I completed paying for the Motorbike and it became mine, I would greatly improve my status. Unfortunately, this happened, and now I can only pray for support so that once recovery takes place, I can get back to my normal life"

Lolutori is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania. He and his two siblings live with their parents, who are nomads. For the past two years, the family has been going through a difficult time due to a severe drought, which has made water and food scarce. The family has had to move frequently in search of better pastures for their animals. Lolutori has been diagnosed with genu valgus, or bow legs. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Because of this condition, Lolutori experiences difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lolutori. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Treatment should restore Lolutori's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lolutori’s father says: “With our living condition, him not being able to walk properly makes it hard for the family. We hope he will be able to walk properly like his siblings.”

Hok is a 27-year-old mother of two from Cambodia who lives in a rural province with her husband and sons. Her husband is a fisherman, and Hok stays home to care for their young children. She loves music, especially traditional Cambodian songs, and enjoys sewing clothing for herself and her children. Hok has had a recurring ear infection since she was five years old. The infection has caused a cholesteatoma- an abnormal skin growth- to develop in the middle ear behind her eardrum, leading to ear discharge, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Hok has difficulty hearing and is sometimes embarrassed to go out because of the pus from her ear. Hok traveled to our medical partners at the Children's Surgical Centre to receive treatment. On March 6th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear during which ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. CSC is requesting $926 to cover the procedure, medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Hok said, "I'm tired of having this my whole life. I want surgery to help my hearing and I want to be able to sleep without the ringing noise."

Elias is a 10-month-old baby boy from Kenya, and the first child born in his family. Elias and his parents live in their ancestral home and rely on his grandparents for support, as his mother is a homemaker and his father is still in college. Elias 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, Elias has been living with an increasing head circumference since the age of four months. Without treatment, he may experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery to treat Elias' hydrocephalus. The procedure, which will drain excess fluid from Elias' brain and reduce the intracranial pressure, is scheduled to take place on February 22nd at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. With proper treatment, Elias should be able to develop into a strong and healthy young boy. Elias’ mother says: “I am really feeling bad because I have no way of helping him.”

Wilson is a charming 2-year-old toddler from Kenya. He was born with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. Without treatment, Wilson can experience difficulty walking or wearing shoes. When Wilson was born, the hospital referred Wilson's family to our medical partner's care center. He started casting treatment when he was a month old but did not respond to treatment. On July 10th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery that will allow Wilson to walk easily as he grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund this surgery. Wilson's father shared, "Any support to help my son walk with his feet is highly appreciated."

Leonardo is a 9-month-old boy who lives with his parents and older brother in a neighborhood of La Paz, Bolivia. His father is a maintenance worker and his mother is a homemaker. Leonardo was born with a heart condition called total anomalous pulmonary vein return. This means that the blood vessels between his lungs and heart connect to the heart at anatomically incorrect locations. As a result, his body cannot obtain enough oxygen, and he has required an external oxygen tank since he was born. Our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) will perform a surgery to detach the blood vessels and reconnect them in their correct locations. HCA is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Leonardo's surgery scheduled for June 21st. Leonardo's mother shared, "We are all praying that after this surgery our son will be able to breathe normally."

Nelson, who is 29 years old and unmarried, lives in Kenya and works as a casual laborer on construction sites. In October 2023, Nelson fell from a tree where he was working. His right leg was injured and he was taken to a hospital in Kiambu, where an X-ray showed he had a closed ankle joint fracture. He was admitted to the hospital and put in traction. The surgeon there told Nelson that he would need a procedure that requires surgical plates for implanting in his leg to stabilize the fracture. Nelson and his family could not afford this, thus Nelson has been trying to go about his life and his work, despite the fracture and the pain it causes him. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On March 20th, Nelson will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at Nazareth Hospital. This procedure will mean that Nelson will no longer be in pain; he will heal well, and resume working. Now, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. “I have almost given up since I cannot pay for treatment. I would greatly appreciate the help so that I may be well and resume my job. I also hope to have a family of my own soon.” Nelson said.

Thorn is a 46-year-old mother who lives with her husband and her three children. Her oldest daughter is 22 and studies at a university, her second daughter is 18 and is in secondary school, and her youngest daughter is three and does not yet attend school. She and her husband are both rice farmers in Takeo province. Her free time is taken up by cooking for her family and cleaning the house. A month ago, on the way back from the market, she was in a motorbike collision and fractured her right tibial plateau. This is an injury in which she broke her bone and injured the cartilage that covers the top end of the bottom part of her knee. She went to a local hospital where they took and X-ray but did not treat her because she had no money to pay. She is in constant pain and cannot walk. She cannot care for her children, and cannot help her husband in the rice field Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On December 14th, Thorn will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will help her walk again without pain. Thorn said: "I hope after the operation I can ride my motorbike again, have no more pain, and can take care of my family."