Fabrice is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three children. Fabrice 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, Fabrice has been experiencing irritability and and increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Fabrice will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Fabrice that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 30 and will drain the excess fluid from Fabrice's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Fabrice will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. “Our entire family was shocked to learn of this condition but we are all praying for God’s will in Fabrice’s life,” says Fabrice’s mother.

Michelot is a student from Haiti. He lives in a small village in southwest Haiti with his mother and other relatives. He attends a high school near his home, although he often misses days of class because of his illness. Michelot has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart is damaged because of an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and it cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Michelot will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove his damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $35,000 to pay for surgery. Michelot's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Michelot's family overseas. He says, "I have been praying for a long time that one day I could get my heart fixed. I am very happy to have this chance!"

Phae is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has a daughter, three sons, and eight grandchildren. She enjoys watching Thai dramas on TV. Two years ago, Phae developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Phae learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 4, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope my eye surgery makes my vision clear so I can continue my work at the farm and I can lead an independent life."

Merline is a girl from Haiti. She lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince with her parents, two brothers, and one sister. She is in the second grade and likes math and reading. Merline has a condition called pulmonary stenosis, in which one of the valves in her heart is too small, causing blood to back up and not circulate properly. To correct this condition, she will need to undergo a catheterization, in which a catheter with a balloon on its tip will be used to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. This procedure is scheduled for August 22. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $3,500, and they need our help raising an additional $1,500 to fund the procedure. Her mother says, "I am excited for our daughter to have this procedure so that she can run and play without me worrying about her."

Mary is a woman from Kenya. She is a mother of four and used to work as a farmer. Due to recent health problems, she has had to stop working, so her husband is the only one providing for the family. For three years, Mary has been experiencing leg and spinal pain. Painkillers have not worked, and she has difficulty walking. She visited our medical partner's care center, where she underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy, a compression of the spinal cord. She needs to undergo a spinal fusion surgery, scheduled for July 23. Now, Mary's family needs help funding this $1,500 procedure. Mary says, “My wish is to be able to walk upright again and with no pain. I want to be there for my family."

Htin is a 52-year-old man from Burma. He is a motorbike taxi driver, and he lives with his wife and two daughters. He is the sole earner for his family. Early this month, Htin got into a motorcycle accident while he was riding. Currently, he experiences pain in his right elbow and pinky finger, which were both fractured in the accident. He also scraped his leg in the accident, which causes some discomfort as well. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Htin will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for June 19 and will cost $1,500. After surgery, Htin will be able to do his job a again and can support his family financially. He says, "If it had been my left hand, I would not have considered surgery, but I need my right arm in order to do my job. It is just important for me to get back to work."

Evenlight is a young student from Tanzania. She is the first born in a family of four kids. Unfortunately, she lost her father when she was three years old. She is in her final year of primary school education. For six years, Evenlight has been experiencing regular infections, trouble breathing, and sleep apnea. Frequent illness causes her to miss school. Evenlight was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Evenlight, which is scheduled to take place on May 17. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Evenlight of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Evenlight’s mother says, “I wouldn’t want my daughter’s condition to hinder her from her studies. I would love for her to be able to study without being sick and be able to pass and go to high school."

U All is a 44-year-old monk from Burma. He used to work as a painter, but since becoming a monk, he has only painted for pleasure and occasionally if he needs money. Generally, he survives off of donations of food and money from Buddhists in the area who visit his forest temple. Experiencing severe abdominal pain, U All was diagnosed with bile duct stones in August 2017. Relying first on medication from the hospital, he started to manage the pain with traditional medicine when the medication from the hospital stopped working. U All has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, U All's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), U All is scheduled to undergo his biliary obstruction repair on April 18. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of U All's procedure and care. “After surgery I want to continue my life as a monk," says U All. "But, there is still a part of me that wants to become human again and work as a painter.”

Srouy is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He has two daughters and one son. He enjoys watching the news on TV. One year ago, Srouy was in an accident with a machine that caused a fracture in his right forearm. It is difficult for him to use his right arm and hand. He is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 8, Srouy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. This procedure will help him move his arm easily again. He says, "I would like to be able to have normal hand function and be able to live without pain."

Saony is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two daugthers. She likes spending time with her family. When she was five years old, Saony had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Saony experiences ear discharge and discomfort. It is difficult for her to hear, and she has discomfort from the ear discharge. Saony traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 12, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I am looking forward to going home and spending time with my family."

Kervens is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents, two older sisters, and two older brothers in Jacmel, a city on the southern coast of Haiti. He is in the ninth grade. Kervens has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, making it more difficult for the heart to properly circulate blood through his body. Kervens will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 25, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter into his heart and use a device to close the hole. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery. Kervens's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Kervens's family overseas. He says, "I am looking forward to being able to play soccer after my surgery!"

44-year-old Paw is originally from Burma, but has been living in a refugee camp in Thailand for the past 20 years. She lives there with her husband and their two young daughters. While Paw’s husband sometimes finds miscellaneous work as a day laborer outside the camp, neither of them has a steady job. They primarily rely on the aid given out in the refugee camp. At the beginning of this year, Paw began experiencing heart palpitations on a regular basis. These palpitations frighten her and leave her extremely fatigued. Sometimes, she is so exhausted from the palpitations that she can only walk short distances at a time. The refugee camp’s health center referred Paw to Mae Sot Hospital, where she was diagnosed with atrial septal defect. This means that there is a hole in the wall that divides the upper chambers of her heart. As a result, oxygen-poor blood mixes with oxygen-rich blood, and her brain, organs, and other body parts receive an inadequate oxygen supply. Paw needs surgery to close this hole in her heart. However, without a reliable income, she and her husband cannot pay for the procedure. But we can help. By raising $1,500, we can pay for Paw’s operation on December 10, as well as her lab tests, four-day hospital stay, and travel to Chiang Mai for doctors’ visits. Paw’s family was very distressed when she received her diagnosis. But by securing her surgery, we can help them take steps towards their hope of someday moving out of the camp. “I want my children to have a better future in the U.S.,” shares Paw.