Kelvin is a motorcycle (bodaboda) rider from Kenya. Kelvin was a passenger motorcycle rider (bodaboda) and was on his way to work when he hit a donkey cart. His jaw and left shoulder broke on impact. Kelvin was rushed to the nearest hospital where first care was administered and put on painkillers. The pain was intense and could not be eased by painkillers. His parents brought him to Kijabe. After the review was done, surgery to repair the mandibular fracture was advised. If not treated, Kelvin will not be able to feed on hard solid foods, and working will be difficult. Further, he will be at risk of further complications on the closed fracture. Kelvin has since been dependent on family, friends and well-wishers for well-being. He had no savings whatsoever and cannot raise the funds needed for his surgical care. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 17th, Kelvin will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The surgery will allow Kelvin be able to feed well and reduce further complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $640 to fund this procedure. “I am not sure I still want to operate a motorbike taxi when I recover,” says Kelvin

Joseph hails from Juhudi in Lamu county. He is married and had two children who passed away 2 years ago due to heart disease. His wife left home on losing the two children and due to the hardship they were experiencing in the family. Joseph is a farmer and a house attendant in one of the farms in Lamu. He lives in a one-roomed mud-house. Joseph has a condition called Blount disease causing bow legged. This condition has affected his normal life like walking; he complains of pain. He cannot walk for a long distance or work for many hours. Joseph is scheduled to undergo high tibial osteotomy, a surgery that will help him walk without difficulty as well as alleviate pain on her. . He cannot afford the estimated bill and thus requests support.

Chit is a 30-year-old man who lives with his wife, daughter, son and father-in-law in Noh Poe Village, Myawaddy Township, Karen State, Burma. Chit’s daughter and son go to school. Chit, together with his wife and father-in-law work as farmers on land they rent. Chit’s family does not have regular income, but they sell durian and betel nut that they grow in their garden. Seven years ago, Chit started to experience pain in his lower left abdomen. He also had difficulty passing urine so he went to Myawaddy Hospital for help. He received an ultrasound and an x-ray before the doctor informed him that he has a urinary tract infection (UTI) and a kidney stone. He was treated for the UTI but he did not received treatment for the kidney stone. He was given a follow-up appointment for every month, to receive medication for the abdominal pain. He continued to return for his appointments until late-2018, but when he did not feel better he followed his neighbour’s suggestion and sought help at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand on 20 February 2019. When Chit arrived at MTC, he received an ultrasound as well as a urine and blood test. After the tests, the medic informed him that he has a kidney stone and he was prescribed some medication. On 29 February, MTC referred him to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. At MSH, he underwent an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and was asked to return to MSH for his follow-up appointments and he returned several times. Eventually, he was told that the kidney stone had moved into his urethra and that he would need to undergo laser treatment to break up the stone. Currently, Chit still experiences pain in his lower left abdomen and sometimes he has difficulty passing urine. He worries that his condition will get worse if he does not get treatment. Sometimes his urine has blood in it, especially when he drinks less water and he has difficulty passing urine. Sometimes, he feels like the pain of his abdominal is worse and he is not able to walk or work. He is unable to sleep, and he feels more comfortable when he lies down and rests. In his free time, Chit loves to forage for vegetables in the forest.

Lin is a 66-year-old woman from Cambodia. She likes to listen to the radio and do the housework in her free time. One year ago, Lin developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurry vision and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Lin learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On July 4, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $398 procedure. She says, "I hope that I will be able to see clearly and can help with work around the house."

Esther was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sick and short of breath. Esther lives in Port-au-Prince with her parents; she likes listening to music and going to church with her parents. Esther will fly to India to receive treatment. On August 6, she will undergo cardiac surgery. Another organization, Rotary International, is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. Her family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany her family overseas.

Naika is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in the seventh grade. Naika has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Two of the four valves in her heart are damaged because of an infection she suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, her heart cannot properly circulate blood through her body. Naika will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 27, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attampt to repair her damaged valves; if this is not possible, they will implant artificial replacements. Another organization, The Mitral Foundation, is contributing $8,500 to pay for surgery. Naika's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Naika's family overseas. Her mother says, "I am hopeful that after this surgery my daughter will gain strength and energy."

Nyo is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, daughter, and son in Myawdddy Town, Karen State. Two years ago, Nyo experienced a sense of tightness in her back. One night in the beginning of March 2019, she started to experience severe pain in her upper abdomen. Doctors want Nyo to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Nyo's CT scan and care, scheduled for April 17. “I really want to see my children,” says Nyo.

Ma Saung is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her grand-parents and nine-year-old brother in Thanbyuzayat, Mon State. Currently, the tightness of her hamstring tendons make her weak and prevent her from walking properly. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of an Achilles tendon lengthening procedure for Ma Saung, which is scheduled to take place on May 2. This procedure will elongate her Achilles tendon, allowing increased motion at the ankle joint. “I feel depressed when I see other children running and playing,” said Ma Saung. “I really want to walk on my feet.”

Sor is a 21-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has two brothers and two sisters and likes watching You Tube and playing on Facebook. When she was fifteen, Sor had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Sor experiences ear discharge, pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. She is unable to hear others. Sor traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 6, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope that after surgery, my hearing will improve and I will no longer have any pain or discharge."

Ma Kyin is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two daughters in May Pala village, Kyain Seikgyi township, Karen State. She and her husband provide for the family by farming rice fields near their home. For about three years, Ma Kyin has been experiencing discomfort and pain in her abdomen. She has been diagnosed with a uterine mass. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ma Kyin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ma Kyin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on January 29. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will be no longer be in pain and she will be able to help her husband with farming again. Ma Kyin said, “I was nervous about surgery at first, but I know that I must get the surgery for my children so I can continue working to provide for my daughters. I want them to attend school and complete their education."

Mugisha is a boy from Tanzania. His father is a journalist, and his mother is a stay-at-home mom. Mugisha has been diagnosed with windswept deformity. His left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward, making it painful and difficult to walk. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he cannot walk comfortably. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Mugisha. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 2. Treatment will hopefully restore Mugisha's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. His father says, “Please help us.”

Jeanslyn is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and brother in a small fishing village on the coast of northern Haiti. He enjoys going to school and helping his family around the house. Jeanslyn has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot with tricuspid atresia. This is a fairly complex heart condition, including an absence of one of the heart's four valves, a muscular blockage of a second valve, and a hole between two chambers of the heart. To determine if Jeanslyn's condition is operable, he must undergo a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is not available in Haiti. During the procedure, a catheter probe will be inserted into his heart to perform the necessary measurements and tests. On December 17, he will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive the scan at our medical partner's care center, Clinica Corominas. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Jeanslyn's travel expenses, catheterization procedure, and lab work. His mother says, "We are very happy that our son can finally have this test, and are praying for a good result!"