Meet Maria, a 46-year-old woman who lives in Kenya. “Maria has been a house help in the same household for almost 25 years, and she is originally from Tanzania,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Maria has a lump in her right breast. She first felt a lump in her breast last year and went to a local public hospital. After testing, Maria was informed that the lump is benign and it was removed. Early this year, she felt a lump again in the same breast,” AMHF explains. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer and needs a mastectomy to remove the cancerous part of her breast. “We expect that after the surgery and subsequent chemo and radio therapy, Maria will no longer have recurring lumps," AMHF says. “Maria has never been married and is a proud mother of a playful three-year-old boy. Maria's aged parents are small-scale farmers back in Tanzania and are barely able to fend for themselves, and all her siblings are married and raising their own families. Maria goes back home once or twice a year to visit her family,” AMHF explains. "One day I will go back home and start a business that will enable me support my son,” says Maria. A mastectomy will cost $740. AMHF reports, “Maria is not able to raise the funds for her treatment and up to this point, her employer has been catering for all her medical bills. Maria's employer is not able to raise the funds needed for Maria's surgery.” Let's help Maria be cancer-free so she can continue to work and care for her son.

This is Chrislove. She is 12-years-old, and lives in Haiti with her mom and two sisters. She is shy and intelligent, and likes to write poetry and draw pictures. Chrislove had a severe case of strep throat when she was a young child, and it was left untreated for a long time. As a result, it damaged two valves in her heart. Chrislove has had to miss school for the last three years due to the cardiac condition called rheumatic heart disease. Her heart can no longer pump blood through her body with enough force, and if left untreated it could be fatal. If Chrislove gets medical attention soon, she could see a full recovery, and will get a chance to lead a normal life. Chrislove’s mother can’t afford the $1,500 surgery, and needs our help. Together we can help Chrislove receive the treatment she needs and grow into a happy and healthy young woman. Chrislove says, “I have been sick for so long it is like a dream to know that I will be healthy again. Thank you to everyone!”