Meet Rajan, a five-year-old boy from Nepal. “Rajan was scaling a wall with his friends when he fell on his left leg,” shares our medical partner, Possible. “Since then his leg has swollen and is causing him a great deal of pain. He needs help using the washroom, getting dressed, and doing other activities he enjoyed doing independently before.” Rajan has a broken leg and will require surgery for it to heal properly. “He and his family had to walk for seven hours to come to the hospital. Had it not been for this hospital, they would have had to take him to a private clinic. Rajan’s family struggles to make a living, They farm and sell firewood and the produce is not enough to feed themselves for even six months of the year.” For $579, Rajan will undergo open reduction and internal fixation surgery. The surgeon will align the bones in his lower leg and insert metal hardware to fully stabilize them so that they heal properly. Four to six weeks after the procedure, the bones should be healed enough for Rajan to begin recovering the strength and mobility in his leg. In time, he will be able to walk normally. "I'm so grateful that Rajan is getting healed, otherwise he would have a difficult life with unaligned bones," his mother says.

“I really hope that something can be done so that my daughter can have her functional hand back. I will be happy to see her grow up and become an independent, hardworking, and successful young lady,” says Faith’s mother. Meet Faith, a two-year-old girl from Tanzania who has lost functionality of her right hand due to a burn contracture in her fingers, shortening and weakening her finger muscles. “Faith pulled a kettle full of hot water and the water spilled over, burning her hand and leg. She was rushed to the hospital and Faith was treated for a few months and the wounds healed, but her fingers contracted and reduced her ability to hold things,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Faith is the only child to her single mother. “She likes to play with toys that give out sound and she used to be able to hold the toys and play well, but now she can only use her left hand. Faith’s mother is employed at a non-government organization in data entry. She gets minimal salary and it has been difficult to cover the cost of their daily needs as well as Faith’s surgery,” continues AMHF. For $550, we can fund a contracture release surgery, elongating the muscles and increasing the functionality of Faith’s hand. “Faith will have a functional hand, she will be able to hold things and effectively perform various activities as she continues to grow up,” AMHF concludes.

Dominga is a cancer survivor who is one surgery away from being on a path toward a normal and healthy life. After being diagnosed with stomach cancer, Dominga received surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy through Wuqu' Kawok's Complex Medical Care program. The surgery required a colostomy (diversion of her intestines into a bag). Now that she is cancer free, Dominga is a candidate for a reverse colostomy. This surgery will enable her to process food normally again and become more mobile and physically active. Wuqu' Kawoq's Medical Director says, "Dominga is an amazingly strong woman who shouldered through a really tough chemotherapy and surgery regimen without a single complication or complaint. She is delighted to have survived cancer and is really excited about the possibility of no longer needing a colostomy."