Daniel is a one-month-old baby boy from Tanzania, the second born in a family of two children. Both parents are involved with small-scale farming. They grow maize and beans, which they sell and also leave some for food for their family. They shared that they have a big challenge of cultivating enough due to elephants destroying their crops even before they are ready for harvest and also some seasons don't get enough rain. Daniel 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, Daniel has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Daniel will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $765 to cover the cost of surgery for Daniel that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 16th and will drain the excess fluid from Daniel's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Daniel will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Daniel’s mother says, “Please help correct our baby’s condition, we are unable to afford the treatment cost."

Bu is a 53-year-old man who lives with his wife, two sons and two daughters in a refugee camp in northern Thailand. He and his family fled there from Karen State, Burma, due to conflict in their area. Every month, Bu's household received 1,514 baht (approx. 50 USD) as part of their camp rations. Bu's oldest son works on farms outside of the camp as a seasonal day laborer. He makes 1,100 baht (approx. 37 USD) per month. The rest of Bu's three children are students, and his wife is a homemaker. Despite receiving free primary health care services and schooling in the camp, Bu's family is struggling to make ends meet every month. Bu started to suffer from back pain and fever in 2015. He also experienced slight discomfort and a burning sensation while urinating. When he went to the camp's clinic, run by Malteser International (MI), he received oral medications. For a few months, his symptoms and pain disappeared, but later on, they returned. Whenever the pain would worsen, Bu would receive more medication from the camp's clinic. On 2 July 2020, when Bu's symptoms worsened, he went back to the clinic to received more medication. Noting that he kept returning to the clinic with severe symptoms, Bu was referred to Mae Sariang Hospital for further treatment. At the hospital, he received a blood and urine test, as well as a kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) x-ray. The doctor informed him that he has a stone in his left kidney. The doctor then referred him to Suandok Hospital in Chiang Mai for further treatment. On 29 July 2020, Bu saw the doctor at Chiang Mai Hospital. The doctor told him that he needed to undergo an intravenous pyelogram (IVP), a type of diagnostic test that uses an injection of contrast material to evaluate the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Once he underwent the IVP, the doctor diagnosed him with a type of kidney stone called a staghorn stone. Bu was then scheduled to receive surgery to remove the kidney stone on 16 August 2020. Unable to pay for his treatment, MI referred Bu to Burma Children Medical Fund for assistance accessing surgery. Currently, Bu experiences back pain and a burning sensation while urinating. He sometimes experiences headaches and cannot breathe well because of the severe pain. In his free time, his favorite thing to do is to help with household chores and grow vegetables for his family. Now, Burma Children Medical Fund needs your help in funding the cost of Bu's $1,500 surgery. Bu shared, “I still experience back pain and a burning sensation while urinating. Sometimes due to the pain, I have a headache and I have difficulty breathing. But I am very excited that I will be free from this prolonged pain after surgery."

Sambo is a 4-year-old student from Cambodia. He has recently started elementary school. He lives with both of his parents and his older brother. His parents sell goods at the local market to earn a living for their family. Sambo shared that he likes to play ball with his friends and go for walks with his family. In July 2019, a snake bit Sambo on his right hand. His mother took him to a local hospital where they performed a fasciotomy and skin graft. However, the wound did not heal properly. The fingers on his hand have contracted and he can no longer easily move them. When Sambo's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On July 8th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to to help him regain good use of his hand and fingers. Now, Sambo's family needs help to fund this $474 procedure. His mother said, "I am worried he will miss a lot of school because he cannot write with his hand that way. I hope this surgery can make his fingers work well again."

Gilbert is a calm and polite boy. He is the second born in a family of four children and hails from Dagoretti in Nairobi county. He is in 3rd grade at a primary school in Nairobi and aspires to be a pilot. Gilbert was brought to our hospital by his mother because he was experiencing pain and could not walk long distances. He has had this condition since he was three years old and it has significantly impacted his ability to go to school. Gilbert's mother shared that, “I sometimes carry him to school as his knees knock against each other which hinders his movement. But when I have money, I will pay for a motorbike to take him and his brother to school.” His mother works part-time cleaning houses, washing clothes, and performing other household work she may be given. Gibert's father is a street pastor and works as a street vendor. The family lives in a one-bedroom rental house in Nairobi and they shared with us that they feel life is hard because they do not have the resources to buy everything they need. Gilbert was able to already have his right leg treated which is now healed. He now needs support for the surgery on his left knee. With both knees healed, Gilbert will be able to walk comfortably and continue with his studies.

Seng Hour is a 21-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She enjoys watching television, cooking for her family, and taking care of her daughter. In 2017, Seng Hour stepped near an open flame and burned her right foot and ankle. The burn has caused the skin around her ankle to tighten. She is unable to walk without support, and has difficulty fitting her shoe on her foot and bending her ankle. When Seng Hour learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six hours seeking treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to walk and move her foot and ankle easily again. Now, she needs help to fund this $448 procedure. Seng Hour said, "I hope that I will no longer have any pain in my foot and I can walk without any difficulty again."

Samwel is a 14-month baby boy from Tanzania, the third born in a family of three children. He was born healthy but after one week his parents started noticing that his head was growing significantly. They took him to several hospitals where he was given medication but his condition was worsening. They were referred to another hospital in another city where Samwel was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and a VP Shunt was placed for him when he was three months old. He was discharged home doing well until a week ago when he started getting regular fevers. His mother noticed that there was a wound on his stomach and they could see the tube that was placed when he was three months old. Samwel’s father heard about treatment for children with hydrocephalus at Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center ALMC from our outreach team and when his son got sick he reached out for treatment and support. Samwel’s father is a subsistence farmer and his mother is a housewife. They do not earn enough to be able to afford Samwel’s needed treatment. Samwel 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, Samwel has been experiencing increased head circumference and frequent fevers. Without treatment, Samwel will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,362 to cover the cost of surgery for Samwel that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 13th and will drain the excess fluid from Samwel's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Samwel will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Samwel's father says, "I have been to several places for my son's treatment, right now I cannot afford this other surgery he needs. Please help him get this needed treatment."

Muswahili is a construction worker from Uganda. He is a married father of ten children. Two of his children so far have had to drop out of school due to lack of school fees. Four of his daughters are married and are small-scale farmers. Muswahili mostly constructs locally muddy-made semi-permanent houses because he does not have training as a builder, but learned hands-on. His wife is a tailor but is not currently working. Muswahili presented with a bilateral palpable mass in above his inguinal region, which he reports having had for almost ten years now. He experiences pain and discomfort because of it. Muswahili traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 12th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Muswahili needs help to raise $206 to fund this procedure. "I hope to get healed from this condition so that I can continue hustling for a brighter future for my children." Muswahili says.