Sambo is a 63-year-old rice farmer who lives in Prey Veng province with his wife, who is also a rice farmer. In his free time, Sambo enjoys going to the pagoda to pray, and studying Buddhist books. In 2002, Sambo suffered a bad insect bite on his right ankle that caused severe swelling. After some weeks with no improvement, he underwent a drainage procedure at a local hospital. Unfortunately, the wound never healed properly, and continued to cause pain. In 2010, Sambo visited Children's Surgical Centre, at which time the doctors recommended a biopsy. Sambo became too nervous to undergo the procedure and went back home. Now thirteen years later, he has returned as the wound area has gotten worse over time. Sambo has now been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer which can form around chronic skin injuries. He experiences itchiness, pain, and difficulty bearing weight on his right ankle. If left untreated, the carcinoma may grow and cause further complications. Sambo traveled three and a half hours seeking treatment at Children's Surgical Centre. On October 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform an excision and skin flap procedure to remove the cancerous tissue and help him feel comfortable again. Now, he needs help to fund this $673 procedure. Sambo shared, "I hope I can finally stop this problem and go back to work on the rice farm."

Jacinta is a 45-year-old woman who works as a small-scale farmer and her husband is a private primary school teacher. They have been married for 26 years and together have five children. Their oldest child is 25 years old and has completed university, and their youngest is 11 years old and in primary school. They shared that they have struggled but managed to raise school fees for their children through farming. They own a four-room old mud house where the main source of energy is firewood. Three years ago, Jacinta began experiencing troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling on her neck. The swelling has grown and has become painful. She visited Kabale Referral Hospital and surgery was recommended but she missed a couple of appointments, got discouraged, and gave up. A friend recently referred her to Rushoroza Hospital for help. Jacinta has been diagnosed with a nodular goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland with cells that have grown into a lump. In addition to the mild pain, Jacinta also experiences periodic airway obstruction which is very concerning for her and her family. Jacinta is worried about the future if she is not treated and has been told she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jacinta to receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 25th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Jacinta says, “I pray for a successful surgery so that I may look and feel my normal self again. I will continue with my farming once I am recovered.”

Raphorn is a 27-year-old casino worker who lives in Prey Veang province with his parents and brother. His parents are rice farmers, and his brother repairs air conditioners. Several weeks ago, Raphorn accidentally cut his hand with a knife. He took care of his wound by visiting a pharmacy for dressings and medication, because he could not afford to visit a clinic. Several days after his accident, he noticed that the wound was red and swollen. He visited a nearby hospital, and the doctors informed him that he was suffering from cellulitis, a common but potentially serious bacterial skin infection, which would require an incision and drainage of the infected wound. The area surrounding the wound is now swollen, tender to the touch, and painful, and he is unable to work. When Raphorn learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 25th, surgeons at CSC will perform debridement of the infected skin and skin flap surgery to heal the wound infection so that he can work with his hand again. Raphorn is able to contribute $100 to the cost of the surgery and needs help with $673 to fund his procedure and care. He shared, "After surgery, I hope that my hand looks good and the infection is gone so I can go to work again."

Mon, a homemaker and devoted mother to a four-year-old daughter, works part-time as a waitress while her husband earns a living as a motorcycle taxi driver. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends during her free time. Last year in September, Mon began experiencing a hard abdomen and uncomfortable bloating. If she overeats, she has difficulty breathing and feels pain. Following a diagnosis of a right ovarian cyst, she has been recommended to undergo an oophorectomy, a surgical procedure aimed at removing her ovaries. Fortunately, Mon is scheduled to undergo her oophorectomy on June 15th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $913 to cover her procedure and care costs so she can heal. Mon said, “It’s good that you save so many people with the same condition. Not many can save lives like this.”

Besufikad is an energetic 4-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football with other children. He enjoys eating Shiro with injera, meat, and vegetables and loves drinking milk. He has one older sister; she is in grade three at a community school. Besufikad's mother used to work at a government office, but she had to stop working in order to care for him. People around her support her with food and house rent. They live with her sister, who is paralyzed. She and her family are dependent on unreliable support, thus they are unable to afford the recommended treatment for Besufikad. Besufikad was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Besufikad is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Besufikad's mother said, “If he gets the treatment and becomes well, I may be able to start working again. I will educate him. I hope he will become a doctor.”

Rabira is a 20-month-old toddler from Ethiopia, who loves playing with his toy cars and laughing with his parents. Rabira's mother and father have separated, and his father has taken it upon himself to raise Rabira and his one sibling. Rabira's father, who had to leave school when he was young, is starting to attend night classes, so that he can gain more education, and find work that will provide for his family. Soon after he was born, Rabira's father noticed that Rabira suffered from problems going to the bathroom. He brought Rabira to the nearby health center for evaluation, where it was determined that he had been born with hypospadias. If his condition is left untreated, Rabira would continue to experience urinary dysfunction, and might develop cancer or fertility issues later on. Due to financial constraints, Rabira's parents were unable to access care for him at the local hospital. Fortunately, the family was referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, and now Rabira is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 24th, at BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of Rabira's procedure and care. Rabira's mother said: “After the surgery, I hope he will be normal and pass urine normally as other children. And if he gets better I want him to go to school and graduate school. Become a person who earns well and supports himself. And when I get old I hope he will be able to support me.”

Denis is a 22-year-old motorbike driver - the third born in a family of six. His parents separated and now he lives with his mother. He shared that he dropped out of school in grade seven because his parents were not in a position to provide for all of them. His other siblings have been adopted by family members. Denis is single and is hoping to marry when he has a stable income. Currently, he is employed riding a motorbike as a taxi and his daily income is not always guaranteed. Denis needs to undergo surgery so that he can continue doing his normal activities and also reach his desired life of having a stable income and a family. When Denis visiting our medical partner's hospital, he was walking with a crutch and could not put any weight on his left leg. He had an x-ray film that showed a complete fracture of his left femur. His condition causes him pain and he is unable to continue with his work. Denis' family is not in a position to pay the medical fees, and his treatment will be a big financial burden to them. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On April 13, Denis will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Denis needs to undergo surgery so that he can continue doing his normal activities and also reach his desired life of having a stable income and a family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1145 to fund this procedure. Denis says, "It has been hard to carry out my normal duties. I really look forward to getting well so that I can fully depend on myself as before.”

John is a toddler boy from Kenya who is the second-born in a family of three children. His parents separated a while back, and he and his siblings now live at their ancestral home with their mother. John’s mother works around the community, such as tending to farm animals for her neighbors. John's grandparents also help support the young family. Since last year, John has been experiencing pain and discomfort caused by a right inguinal hernia. Although he was a playful boy, John has not been able to be as active as he was before the hernia. Fortunately, on March 14th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery with the support of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $585 to help fund John's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. John’s mother said, “Since last year, I have been stressed as I had no idea what to do. I’m hopeful that he will be treated.”

Sai is a 26-year-old veteran from Burma. He lives at a dormitory for people with disabilities in the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp in Shan State, Burma. He has been unemployed since his injury. In his free time, Sai likes to exercise and garden. However, he is currently unable to do these activities because of his health. In 2019, Sai was shot in his right upper thigh. Following the event, he underwent an X-ray examination which confirmed a fractured hip. A doctor immobilized his right thigh and hip by applying a cast. Nevertheless, he has been grappling with persistent discomfort in his right leg and hip. On July 11th, with the assistance of Watsi, he underwent a CT scan of his hip, revealing a malunion of the hip fracture. Sai's right hip and leg continue to be a source of pain for him, despite his regular use of pain-relief medications. Due to the pain, he cannot stand or walk on his right leg without the support of crutches, and his sleep is often disturbed at night as the pain intensifies during colder weather and nighttime hours. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Sai will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for August 10th and will cost $1,500. The procedure will help him walk easily again without crutches and resolve pain. Sai said; "I feel very happy to receive treatment in an advanced hospital with your help BCMF, Watsi, and my donors. I cannot wait to walk with my leg and become healthy again. Thank you very much."

Roly, who is two years old, is a happy and loving child, who lives with his family in a small town, which is a nine hour drive from La Paz, Bolivia. Roly's parents are farmers. Roly was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. Because of this condition, blood leaks through a hole that connects two major blood vessels next to the heart, leaving Roly sick and short of breath. He needs surgery in order to be able to live a full and healthy life. Fortunately our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is helping Roly access the care that he needs. On March 1st, surgeons at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria will operate on Roly, sewing the hole in his heart closed, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Now Roly and his family need your help to raise the $1,500 necessary to fund this life saving procedure. His mother is hopeful that he will be better soon and said, "We are hoping that our son will have a better appetite and gain more weight after his surgery is finished."

Meet Nafissa. She is a 25-year old woman who shared that she tends to be very shy and reserved. She lives with her parents and her young child in an area of Burkina Faso where conflict is currently impacting their lives deeply. When she was a child, Nafissa developed a painful growth on the left side of her chin. This swelling in her lower jawbone affected her ability to eat, and was determined to be a benign tumor that needed to be removed. Her parents were able to secure the funds to send Nafissa to a hospital in Togo, where she could be treated at no cost to her family. The growth was removed, and for several years, Nafissa did well. However, the growth recurred, and in the middle of last year, Nafissa returned to Togo, where the second growth was excised. This time, however, the surgeon determined that her whole jawbone would also need to be removed. As the doctor in Togo did not have the necessary training to perform the surgery that Nafissa needed, he referred her to a physician with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Miraculously, Nafissa is now scheduled for a major jaw surgery with the leading team at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. As Nafissa's husband abandoned her because of her condition, and provides no support to Nafissa or their child, Nafissa and her parents are looking to you to help fund the $1,500 procedure, which will finally relieve Nafissa of the pain and symptoms that result from the tumor. Nafissa says: “It pains me that I have to stay at home with no friends. Making it worse, I cannot work to provide for my child.”