Sean is in 6th grade and lives with his parents and his older brother. His parents are rainy day rice farmers and have several cows for milk. Sean likes to read and watch TV and loves it when his mom makes curry soup for dinner. He would like to be a policeman when he is older. Sean has a rare genetic disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which mostly affects boys. He suffers from chronic pain and progressive muscle weakness in both his legs. He has an uneasy gait and difficulty climbing stairs. His neighbors told his parents about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and urged them to visit for diagnosis and treatment. While there is no cure for his genetic disease, surgeons plan to release and lengthen his Achilles tendons on both legs, which will allow him to walk more easily. Sean needs help with the $541 cost of the procedure, subsequent leg casts, and physical therapy. His mother said: "It is hard to see our son in pain when he tries to walk; we are grateful the doctors will be able to help him walk again."

Nat is a 48-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Two of his daughters are married, and the other lives at home and is a seller of fish in the local market. His wife is a farmer and a fish seller too. For at least 7 months, Nat has experienced pain in his right hip. He was treated at a clinic by injection but only had brief relief from the pain. He visited our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) in April but was unable to have surgery due to the pandemic. Nat returned recently and is in constant pain from his right hip. He is unable to walk without a crutch, his gait is unbalanced, and he is now unable to work. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Nat of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for November 24th, and Nat needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. "I hope the pain in my hip will go away and I can return to farming and supporting my family," shared Nat.

Win is a 40-year-old man. He lives with his mother and step-father in Tak Province in Thailand. He used to work in a restaurant until his vision deteriorated and he could no longer work. His mother and his step-father are agricultural day labourers. The income they earn is not enough for their family and sometimes they make and sell charcoal to earn extra money. Win has cataracts in both his eyes but the doctor plans to do surgery on his right eye first. The vision in both his eyes are so poor that he can only perceive light. His mother has to help look after him, washing and feeding him since he cannot see well. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Win. On November 9th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Win's natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. "I was so happy when I heard that I will be able to see again," he said. "I want to work once I can see again, so that I can repay our loan. I want to look after my mother and step-father in the future, and one day I want to become a [Buddhist] monk."

Heng Ly is a 37-year-old math teacher. He is married and has one son and one daughter. When he was around six years old, Heng Ly had a severe ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or eardrum, in his right ear to perforate. As a result, Heng Ly experiences pain, ear discharge, and hearing loss, as well as recurrent ear infections that make it difficult to work due to frequent illness. Heng Ly traveled to the care center at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), to receive treatment. On October 26th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear to close the perforation. CSC is requesting $464 to help fund this procedure, including medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Heng Ly shared, "I really hoping my hearing will improve after my surgery, and that the ear discharge will stop happening."

Sopheak is a 31-year-old married man who lives with his wife and his parents. For work, he grows vegetables at home that his wife sells at the market. He also helps with chores around the house. He loves to read, play classical Khmer music, or watch movies on his computer in his free time. When he was ten years old, Sopheak contracted polio and since then, he has experienced difficulty walking. Over time, this has led to muscle atrophy and a weakening of the tendons in both legs. It is difficult for him to stand for extended periods of time, resulting in loss of work and income. Sopheak traveled to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. On August 30th, doctors plan to perform a tendon lengthening procedure on his left foot. This procedure will increase the flexibility of Sopheak's ankle, and once he has fully recovered, he will be able to walk more easily. Now, he needs help to fund this $541 procedure. Sopheak shared, "I am excited to get healthy and walk more, so that I can also work more often to support my parents, and I hope to start my own family."

Ivan is a three-year-old boy and the only child of his single mother, though his father has three other children with his wife. Ivan and his mother live at his grandparent’s home. Ivan’s grandparents are small scale farmers growing mainly maize, vegetables, and green bananas. Ivan’s mother helps her parents in farming to be able to also provide and care for her son. Ivan was born with a congenital deformity of his toes where they are webbed together. This year, it has been hard for Ivan to play and do all the things his friends like to do. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation is helping Ivan receive treatment. On September 2nd, surgeons at their care center will perform a surgery so he will no longer be in pain. Now, his family needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Ivan’s mother says,"I am not able to afford my son’s treatment cost please help him have his toes corrected. He is complaining of pain more as days go by.”

Amutuhaire is a 32-year-old farmer with a small piece of land from Western Uganda. Amutuhaire was educated by a local preacher up until high school, but she had to pause after the preacher was transferred away. Before getting married, she took up temporary work as a cleaner. Amutuhaire's husband is a taxi conductor, but isn't able to earn a lot. They live in a rental house. Unfortunately, Amutuhaire lost her first child last year a few hours after delivery, leaving her devastated by the loss. She is again an expecting mother. Amutuhaire received a full antenatal package in our medical partner's care center, Nyakibale Hospital. Her doctor recommended an C-Section due to her earlier risks and the shortness of the time interval between pregnancies. The procedure will reduce the chances of uterine rupture which could happen if normal delivery is attempted. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $252 to help fund this procedure. Amutuhaire shares her story, “I have hopes that I will go home with a child this time because my first experience was quite tragic. I never even got a chance to carry my child because he was put on oxygen as soon as he was born then minutes later, he was dead.”

Susan is a seven-year-old girl in the first grade and the second child in her family. Unfortunately, Susan was involved in a grisly road traffic accident when a vehicle lost control on March 8th, 2021. Five children and the teachers were hit, and one child unfortunately passed away. Susan survived despite sustaining fractures on her right hand and leg. She was brought to our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, and had a fracture repair surgery on her hand and leg. One week ago the plates were removed. Susan's hand has healed well but she has started having severe pain on her leg. When Susan's parents brought her back to the hospital, a X-Ray showed the fracture has reoccurred, and the surgeon recommended a repeat surgery. Without treatment, Susan will continue experiencing the pain, she may never be able to use her leg again, or her leg may eventually heal with a deformity. Fortunately, the surgeons at Nazareth can help. On July 1st, Susan is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Afterward, Susan will freed from pain and will be able to use her leg to walk to school and play again. Susan’s father works temporarily as a welder and her mother is a housewife. Their income is limited and their health insurance can no longer cover for another surgery after supporting the previous one. Therefore, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure for Susan. “We thank God that our child is alive as one child died during the accident. We are hoping her surgery can be successful so that we can see her happy again and not in pain. We plead for her surgery sponsorship, ” Susan’s father wishes for her daughter's full recovery.

Prince is a 8-year-old boy and the second born in a family of four children. Prince's father sells maize and his mother plants vegetables, which she is able to sell sometimes to supplement her husband’s earnings. His family feels they are not well off financially, but proud to own a small house that they live in. Prince was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Prince has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Prince will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 27th. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $569 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Prince’s mother shared, “It is very difficult for us as a family to raise the required funds for Prince’s surgery. We are requesting financial help.”

Abigael is a 14-month-old baby girl and the youngest in her family of three children. Her mother does household work washing clothes and cleaning houses for their nearby homes. Her father separated from the family many years ago. Abigael was born with an amniotic band on her right foot, and a webspace on her left foot and right hand. If these deformities are not corrected, they will make it more difficult for her to walk and hold things using her right hand in future. Doctors recommend Abigael undergo surgery to help correct her condition. However, Abigael's family cannot afford the cost of her care. Fortunately, Abigael will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. She is scheduled to undergo her treatment on May 9th. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,224 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. The surgery will be of great benefit to Abigael at this age because she will be able to heal more quickly and be able to walk like other children even sooner. Abigael's mother shared, “I am appealing for support for my daughter to undergo surgery so that she can live like other children.”

Samuel is a 53-year-old fisherman. He is a father of two children aged 18 and 16 years old. He separated from his wife 5 years ago, and has been taking care of the children since the separation. In December 2020, Samuel was pricked by a poisonous thorn on his foot, which left a wound running from his foot to ankle that has become severely infected. He is in pain and unable to walk comfortably. The wound threatens his mobility and could result in amputation if not urgently attended to. Initially, Samuel tried treating the wound with herbs, but there was no improvement. He visited a nearby mission facility for a checkup and dressing, where doctors treated and washed the wound, but it continued to worsen. On April 1st, Samuel was driven by a well-wisher to our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital and upon review, doctors recommended an urgent debridement and skin grafting surgery. However, the cost of care is difficult for Samuel to afford. He had been depending on support from the local missionaries to pay for his previous medical bills and medication. Samuel appeals for financial support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Samuel receive treatment. On April 2nd, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to clean off the wound and prevent further infection. Now, Samuel needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Samuel shared, “This wound is worsening by the day. I currently limp but I might lose the leg if I don’t get some surgical intervention. My fishing venture cannot even pay for the surgery.”

Neema is a 5-year-old girl and the firstborn to her mother who has three children. Neema started kindergarten earlier this year. She is a hard-working girl for her age, and looks after her siblings when her mother goes out to work on the farm. She also likes to help her mother clean their home and wash dishes. Neema was involved in a fire accident when she was one year old. She had been left in the care of an older child when her parents went out to work on the farm. As the children were playing, Neema walked into a dying fire that had been started to burn cow dung from the cattle shed. She was rescued by a passer-by and was rushed to the hospital, where she was admitted for two months. Neema's wounds healed, but contractures formed on a finger on her right-hand and the toes on her right foot. Her feet and toes are especially painful when she wears shoes and walks for a long distance. Neema's parents are not able to afford the cost of her procedure that will help to treat her contractures. They depend solely on livestock keeping and small scale farming for a living. Neema's parents had not been able to seek treatment for their daughter earlier due to the remoteness of their village, lack of proper medical facilities, and financial challenges. They appeal for help and support for their daughter's surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Neema receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to free up her thumb for better movement and amputate her littlest finger at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $1,088, and she and her family need help raising money. Neema's father shared, “The fire accident has left my daughter with a disability. We hope for her to get treated but we cannot afford the cost. Please help us.”