Bright is a three month old baby who lives with a single mother, who works in small scale, subsistence farming. Bright was born with with bilateral clubfoot, which will make it difficult to wear shoes or to walk. Because of limited income - and because she is young and this is her first child - Bright's mother has been struggling to find the right care for Bright since he was born. Fortunately, Bright and his mother were connected with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. With their assistance, Bright has been scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on November 4th, at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Bright's mother needs your help to fund this procedure, which will cost $935. Bright’s mother says: “After seeing the work that you do here, I have hope that my baby will grow up to have a normal life.”

Ju is a 27-year-old woman from Thailand where she lives with her friend. She used to work as an assistant cook with her friend until her accident. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and watching movies. On January 2nd, her friend was driving Ju home from work on her motorcycle when they were in an accident. When Ju regained consciousness three days later, she found herself in a hospital and learned that she had fractured her left pelvis. She cannot walk, and cannot sit up due to the pain. She has to stay in a reclining position. She experiences pain in her left pelvis, especially at night when it is cooler. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Ju will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for February 18th and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help her walk again and regain her independence. She will no longer be in pain and she will be able to work again. "I planned to earn money, but instead I brought a problem home. Now my mom has had to come here to help look after me. I feel stressed because now I am in debt. I will need to go back to work to earn money and pay back my debt", Ju said.

Thea is married and has a 19-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. Both of his children are in school. He and his wife have a small grocery store in front of their house where they sell drinks and snacks. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV and listening to the news on the radio. For the past four years, Thea has had increasing tingling and numbness in both of his hands. He has intermittent pain and difficulty grasping items. Both hands are affected, but his right hand is significantly worse. It has become so debilitating that he cannot work in the store, and much of the responsibility has fallen to his wife and children. A neighbor recommended that Thea visit our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre, where specialty surgeons diagnosed him with carpal tunnel syndrome. This occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. He needs a carpal tunnel release - an incision in the palm of his hand over the carpal tunnel ligament and a cut through the ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. Now, Thea needs help with the cost of the $572 procedure. The cost covers the operation, hospital stay, medications, and post-op physiotherapy. Thea says, "I feel bad that my hands are weak and I have pain. I hope the operation will help to fix my hand so I can run our grocery store and support my family."

Saros is a 17-year-old 8th grade student from Cambodia. Her family includes two brothers, three sisters, and her parents, who fish to support their family. Saros enjoys swimming, playing with her friends, and watching TV. Her best subject in school is Khmer literature, and she wants to be a lawyer when she is older. In 2019, Saros was burned by fire on her left foot. She went to Vietnam for treatment. Since then, burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her toes and ankle and making it difficult for her to walk. When Saros learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her walk easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Saros says, "I hope my foot can move and be comfortable again."

Lekitony is a kind 13-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of nine children. He and his family are from a Maasai community in a remote village where people mainly practice livestock keeping to support themselves. He is very hardworking and helps his parents look after the cattle in search of pasture and water. Lekitony was diagnosed with right genu valgum, meaning his right leg is bowed inward, causing his knees to touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often stemming from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has a difficult time walking and experiences pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lekitony. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 15th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lekitony's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lekitony shares, “When I run, my knees knock and I fall. Also, most of the time my knees hurt.”

Erick is a four year old boy, living with his parents and five siblings. He is a charming and playful fellow, who loves football. Erick was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition which causes his legs to bow outward, making it difficult for him to walk, and causing him pain. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, has stepped up to help Erick access the corrective surgery he needs. They are requesting $880 to fund this procedure, which is scheduled to take place on June 7th at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, and which should restore Erick's mobility. After he heals, he will be able to engage in a variety of activities, and the risk of future complications will be greatly diminished. Erick’s father says: “We have hope that our son could have his legs corrected here.”

Prisla is a charming and social 5-year-old girl. She is an only child born who loves to play with other children. Prisla's parents separated when she was around two years old and she has been raised by her father with the help of her grandparents and uncles. The father is a small-scale famer who also does casual jobs to get money to support her upbringing. At two years old, Prisla was severely burned when she accidentally dipped her hands in a pot of boiling water. Prisla was never taken to hospital and instead treated with traditional medication at home. Prisla is now having difficulty using her hands in daily life activities due to her contracted fingers. Prisla has been scheduled for surgery to start correcting the right-hand fingers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is helping Prisla receive treatment. On May 12th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her finally straighten her fingers. AMH is requesting $639 to fund this life-altering procedure. Prisla’s uncle, who brought her for care, shared, “Her father cannot afford to take her to hospital, please help get her fingers corrected.”

Dismas is a boda boda taxi driver from Kenya. He is a bright and hardworking young man from a highland region in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Dismas is the third born in a family of four. He studied up to the 7th grade in primary school, but then had to stop attending due to the school fees. Now he lives in a rental house with his wife and their son. His parents live in a place far from him in a semi-arid area, and he moved to look for work and to earn a living. Before his recent accident, Dismas was employed as a motorcycle driver and his limited wages enabled him to sustain his family and give his parents a little support. After a severe road traffic accident about three weeks ago, Dismas was taken to the hospital on a stretcher and is still unable to walk. The bill for his care has been accumulating and he had no funds to pay due to his current state and inability to work. Well-wishers helped him pay the bill and he was discharged home with his fracture stabilized on a splint. One of his brothers reached out to a friend who knew of our medical partner's care center, Kapsowar Hospital, and he was brought in to see if they could help him. An x-ray found that he sustained fractures of the distal tibia and fibula. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 26th, Dismas will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. After he heals from this surgery, he will be able to walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1145 to fund this procedure. Dismas says, "It really hurts when I see my family suffering. I am worried about their future if my condition doesn’t change. Kindly help me get well so that they may not be impacted even more.”

Denis is a charming and friendly three-year-old boy. Denis's mother is a single mom, and she has a small business selling fruits and vegetables to support her family. Denis has a twin brother, along with another sibling. Denis has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition in which the knees angle inward and touch one another when his legs are straightened. This is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Denis's gait is affected. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Denis receive treatment. On April 8th, he will undergo corrective surgery at AMH's care center. Treatment will hopefully restore Denis's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Now, his family needs help raising $880 to fund his procedure and care. Denis’s mother shared, "now that my son’s insurance is not covering the surgery, I won’t have any means to raise the money. Please assist me."

Hiram, an eleven year old boy, lives in Mombasa county in Kenya. He is the lastborn in a family of three and has two sisters. He is raised by a single mother who sells fish for their daily living. Hiram is in grade five and was born with club feet, which he lived with until this year. He had never been to any hospital for help until they heard about CURE hospital's mobile clinic in Mombasa. Fortunately, Hiram was able to undergo treatment for his right foot last September and the surgery was successful. Hiram is so happy to have undergone the first surgery on his right foot and is optimistic that even his left foot will be corrected well now too. Hiram is scheduled to undergo surgery for his left foot at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Hiram's clubfoot repair. The treatment will be of great impact to him because he will finally be able to put on both shoes, walk confidently, play football (which he is very excited for) and continue with his studies uninterrupted. “I am grateful to the donors for providing support to pay for my right foot which has healed well. I am looking forward to walking, playing with my friends, and continuing with school,” Hiram told us.

Emanuel is a strong 15-year-old and the third born in his family of eight. Emanuel completed his primary education two years ago, however was not able to proceed to secondary school due to the high cost for his family. Emanuel's parents work as small-scale sustenance farmers who grow maize and vegetables. His father also fishes from nearby Lake Victoria to earn an income. Emanuel has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a congenital muskuloskeletal condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. As a result, Emanuel experiences difficulty walking, running, and wearing shoes. Fortunately, Emanuel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Emanuel's surgery. After treatment, Emanuel will be able to walk with ease and lead a normal life. Emanuel’s grandmother says, “When I saw my grandson’s foot I knew it could be treated as I have seen others treated. I need your support for him treated too.”

Lydiah is a 39-year-old woman, living with her husband and teenaged child in Kenya. While Lydiah works as a vegetable vendor - traditionally known as a mama mboga - her husband is employed as a clothing vendor. On her way to work in March 2021, Lydiah was hit by a motorcycle. She sustained a fracture of the right femur, necessitating three surgeries and multiple trips to the hospital. Despite the care that she has already received, an infection of the fracture has set in, and if Lydiah doesn't receive treatment soon, she risks losing her leg and becoming permanently disabled. Currently, Lydiah cannot walk, and is confined to a wheelchair. Lydiah is scheduled to undergo surgery for the infected fracture on May 24th, at the AIC Kijabe Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Lydiah's surgery, which will enable her to walk again. Lydiah says, “I haven’t been able to go to the market to sell my vegetables because of the fracture and multiple infections. I am afraid of losing my leg and being unable to walk. I am in constant pain and need support to get this treatment.”