Mbwana is a child from Tanzania. He has been diagnosed with acquired bilateral genu varus. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Mbwana has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Mbwana. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 6. Treatment will hopefully restore Mbwana's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Mbwana’s mother says, “Please help us.”

Gerson is a young boy from Guatemala. He lives with his parents, grandparents, and twin brother in Guatemala's rural coastal area. He is an active, playful boy, and he loves to spend time painting and drawing. Gerson needs hernia surgery. Hernias occur when part of the intestines bulges through a weak area in the muscles of the stomach wall. Small hernias are often asymptomatic, though they tend to become larger over time, and then create bulges, discomfort, burning, and weakness. A few months ago, Gerson got sick with fever, body aches, and pain in his right leg, which continues to be a great bother to him. Without treatment, his hernia will likely grow, the likelihood that he may develop complications will increase, and his pain will increasingly limit his daily activities. Fortunately, surgery for hernias is very effective and often accomplished without even an overnight stay in the hospital. With $400 in funding, Gerson will receive the case management, medication, surgery, and labs he needs to get his hernia repaired. Surgery is scheduled for November 9. With this treatment, Gerson will be able to live without the pain and discomfort. He will continue going to school and playing with his twin brother. Gerson’s mother says, “My twins are the best gift I have ever received from God. I want nothing more than for my boy to be healthy. My sons are my reason to keep going. Please help me to get this surgery for my son, and I hope that God will repay you fully.”

Ayebazibwe is a student from Uganda. She is 20 years old. She likes singing and reading. Science and business are her favorite subjects. Her father is a night watchman, and her mother is a small scale farmer. A while back, Ayebazibwe began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty breathing and pain. This has affected her work performance. She was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Ayebazibwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 14 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Ayebazibwe says, “I hope when I am done with surgery, I will have peace of mind and continue with studies as I wish to be a doctor.”

Samuel is a 20-month-old baby who lives with his mother and father in Haiti. His father is a vendor, and his mother takes care of Samuel full-time. Samuel was born with a very serious set of cardiac defects known as Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. This involves five heart abnormalities, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and the complete absence of the pulmonary valve. Samuel needs a complicated surgery to repair some of these problems and route blood around his missing valve. Without treatment, Samuel's life expectancy and quality of life will be severely impaired. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,343 to fund Samuel’s air travel to the Cayman Islands for cardiac repair surgery, which is scheduled to take place on July 5. Once there, Samuel will receive the treatment that he needs and will hopefully be able to live more comfortably. "We almost gave up hope that anything could be done for Samuel. We are so glad to know that there are people willing to help him," says Samuel’s mother.