Kwangu is a farmer and a single mother of three adult children. She enjoys taking care of her grandchild and eating maize porridge with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Kwangu was diagnosed with a goiter, which was affecting her movement, daily activities, and health. She was referred to Partners in Hope Medical Center where she was told she needed a thyroidectomy, a procedure where surgeons remove a part or all of the thyroid glands. She is scheduled for surgery on February 27th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,015 for the procedure. Kwangu believes that the surgical operation will help her get back home and be with her children. She looks forward to getting better after surgery so she can continue her farm work and support her family as a single parent.

Juley is a 16-month-old baby from Haiti. He lives with his parents who are market vendors, and his grandparents in a small village near the capital. He is a very cheerful and curious child. Juley has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. Two separate holes exist in and near his heart: one between the two lower chambers of his heart, and a second between two major blood vessels next to the heart. Blood leaks through these holes, leaving him weak and short of breath. Juley will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 2nd, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew the holes closed so that blood can no longer leak through them. Another organization is contributing funds to pay for surgery. Juley's family needs help funding the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Juley's family overseas. Juley's mother says: "Our family will be praying for everyone who is helping our son become healthy!"

Dorcas is a housewife from Kenya. She comes from a family of seven children, she is the third oldest. Her father passed away some years back, but her mother is alive. Dorcas attended school until 7th grade, but she was unable to complete schooling due to financial difficulties. She worked as a house helper until she got married and now is a mother of two children. Currently she picks up temporary jobs, but since she fractured her arm, she has not been able to work. She and her husband rent a single-room timber house with electricity and use charcoal for cooking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On February 29th, surgeons will repair her arm with a procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation, a method to fix severe fractures that can't be treated with a cast or splint. The procedure will help her arm heal well, and she can work again. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $1,079 to fund this procedure. Dorcas says, "I'm kindly asking for your help. I'm looking forward to doing my casual jobs to support my husband to take care of the family."

Simon is a 33-year-old man from Kiambu County in Kenya. He is the firstborn in a family of two children. Simon is now married and a father of two of his own children, aged 10 and 7. He is known for his hard work and dedication. He managed to acquire a motorbike, which he used for ferrying riders to support his family. His wife engages in a casual job cooking in a nursery school. Regrettably, in May 2022, Simon had an accident while driving his motorbike. The incident resulted in an open fracture of the left tibia/fibula bones in the leg. He sought medical attention and underwent surgery. However, after about a year, it was discovered that his injury was not healing as expected. The plate was subsequently removed, and a plaster cast was applied. By October 2023, the plaster cast was also removed due to significant pain. A repeat X-ray revealed that the fibula bone had united, but the tibia bone had not. Simon has non-union of the broken bones, prompting the surgeon to recommend another surgery to help him fully heal. Unfortunately, Simon's inability to work currently has left him unable to cover the costs associated with the recommended surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 1st, Simon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The treatment will reduce the risk of permanent disability and non-union in his leg, enabling him to regain mobility. His current situation not only jeopardizes his ability to return to work but also places a strain on his responsibilities as the head of a family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Simon said, “I am desperate and at the mercy of the doctor. I hope I can get sponsorship so that my leg can be well again; I can be able to walk and also resume my job because my family is looking up on me.”

Margaret is a shopkeeper and a single mother of three. Her kids are all adults. She used to work at a small shop selling exam papers. However, she has not been able to go to work since December because of her pain. She is currently at home without a source of income and does not have medical coverage. She lives in a three-room house which her family shares with her elderly mother. Margaret has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Margaret. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 23rd. After treatment, Margaret will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Margaret says, “I am currently experiencing a lot of pain. This condition has caused me not to be able to work at all. I need this surgery to stop the disease from spreading.”

Hla is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in a village in Bago Division. Hla and her husband are farmers. In early of September 2023, Hla felt a small lump in her right breast. As the lump was not painful and did not cause her any discomfort, she did not seek treatment until the mass started to increase in size. She received an injection from a village health worker, but the mass continued to grow and eventually became slightly painful. Hla experiences slight pain and discomfort in her right breast. Hla sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 12th. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Hla said, "Since my condition has worsened, I cannot help my husband much on the farm. I mostly stay at home and do some household chores. To come to Thailand, I had to borrow money from our neighbors and we need to pay them 5% interest which makes me worried. Thank you to the kind donors and the organization for supporting my treatment cost."

Mark is a cheerful and social 4-year-old boy from Kenya who is in preschool. He is the second to last born in his family. Mark's mother is a businesswoman, selling rice and cereals within the village, and his father is a teacher. Mark's mother shared that he is an independent kid who likes playing with his friends and helping with household duties at home. Mark was diagnosed with a condition known as Left Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, a type of cerebral palsy that causes paralysis only on one side of the body. After going through a series of consultations in different hospitals without any improvements, Mark's mother heard about our medical partner's care center. Mark has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Mark's mother brought him to the care center, and upon review, the doctors recommended surgery. On November 28th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund Mark's procedure. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk confidently, and continue with his education without any difficulty. "I will be happy to see my son walking well like other children." Mark's mother told us.

Anthony lives with his parents and two younger siblings in a mining city in central Bolivia. He is in the fourth grade and loves computer science. His parents co-own a small tailoring shop together. Anthony was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive his body of oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. During surgery, doctors will close the hole with a patch and remove the blockage from his valve. Heart surgery will allow Anthony to live a full, active life, and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund his life-saving procedure. Anthony can't wait to feel better soon and shared: "I am excited to be able to start running and keep up with my friends!"