Meet Melina, a 31-year-old woman living in Haiti. Melina is a mother of three who runs a small business with her husband and enjoys working on her stitching projects. However, Melina's declining health has kept her from her work and her hobbies. Melina recently discovered a small bump on her belly that has been diagnosed as fibrosarcoma of the abdomen. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, explains this is “a soft tissue tumor,” which has caused Melina “to lose a significant amount of weight.” Melina is also in extreme pain as a result of this condition, and she has been unable to work at her business or on her stitching projects. Help us raise $1,500 for Melina, so she can receive chemotherapy and undergo an operation to remove the infected tissue in her abdomen. This treatment could restore her health, providing her with a chance at survival and the opportunity to continue supporting her family. Let’s give her that chance!

Adelina is a sweet 15-year-old from Tanzania. She lives with her mother and grandparents, loves to play football (soccer), and dreams of growing up to become a soldier in the Tanzanian defense force. She also lives with unicystic ameloblastoma, which causes benign cysts to swell on her face. This swelling is both painful and extremely uncomfortable, and Adelina has become self-conscious when people make comments about her appearance. Adelina says she loses sleep over her condition, and simply wishes to look normal again. Unfortunately, her mother is unable to pay for medical treatment and her father is indifferent to what Adelina is going through. Together for $1375, the Watsi community can step in and help Adelina receive surgery to permanently remove the swelling from her face. Let's help her go back to school, walk around without covering her face, and play with her friends comfortably again!

Rechel is a hardworking woman from Kenya who is doing her best to take care of her three children after being widowed recently. She used to sell second hand clothing to make a living, but has had to stop due to cervical cancer. Rechel's condition gives her terrible lower abdominal pain, bleeding, and weight loss. If she is not treated immediately, the cancer will spread, eventually causing organ failure. For $885, we can help Rechel receive a total abdominal hysterectomy, which her doctors expect will prevent the cancer from spreading and let her live a normal life. Rechel "hopes to regain her strength and resume her business." Let's help Rechel recover so that she can continue to support her family!

Tadesse has had scoliosis for most of his life. His condition has worsened over the past few years, and it's now so severe that it's reducing his lung capacity and making it difficult for him to breathe. Tadesse is a college student. He's studying biology in the hopes of becoming a teacher. He loves school, but isn't able to fully participate because of his scoliosis. He lives in Ethiopia, and traveled all the way to Ghana to seek treatment from our medical partner, which specializes in the kind of surgery he needs. For $1300, Tadesse will undergo surgery to correct his spine and restore his full lung capacity. This will significantly improve his quality of life so that he can once again enjoy the activities he loves. "My family would be glad for any help you can give me," Tadesse says. Let's make it happen for him!

Eunice is 22 and pregnant with her fourth child. She farms and sells sugar cane, bananas, and sweet potatoes in Rongo (the town market). Eunice has been taking what she learns at Lwala Community Alliance to heart. She now has a dish rack, shower and a latrine—precautions that will help keep Eunice and her family healthy. In Kenya, 19 million people lack access to improved sanitation and water supply. These are serious risk factors for disease, especially for pregnant women and children. Eunice is doing what she can around her house, but giving birth in a hospital and antenatal care will provide the best chances of a safe delivery. For $215, Eunice will receive prenatal care, a hospital delivery and a check-up for mother and child. She told Lwala: “God willing, I want to be able to find good money to educate my children. I also want to have a steady income to help…my family.” In providing Eunice with this essential healthcare, she can focus more on being a mom.

Mercy is a university student studying mass communication at the University of Jos, Nigeria. She loves reading, writing, and singing, and dreams of making a positive difference in the world. For many years, Mercy has battled sickle cell anemia, a disease that causes episodes of severe pain, fatigue, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. Her condition has been well managed by low-cost care from Faith Alive Foundation, but she is now dealing with another issue. Mercy is suffering from osteomyelitis, a condition that causes a deformity of her left knee, excruciating pain, and inability to walk. She needs surgery to remove dead pieces of bones from her leg and enable her to live normally again, but she cannot afford the $1,000 procedure. We hope to cover the cost for Faith Alive to provide Mercy with the care she needs to return to school and continue on a path towards a happy, successful life.