Jecinta is a delightful 4-year-old girl from Kenya. She is playful and jovial. Born with a birth condition her journey began at Kiambu Hospital, where dedicated healthcare professionals initiated a treatment plan to address the condition. She was prescribed braces as part of her comprehensive care to correct her clubfeet. With the support of her mother, she embarked on a hopeful journey towards improved mobility and a future filled with possibilities. The braces played a role in maintaining the corrections achieved through casting and other interventions. However, along the way, and because of the hardships, Jecinta, like many children, faced challenges in using the braces. Unfortunately, she lost to follow-up at Kiambu Hospital, and the regular monitoring and follow-up appointments ended. Over more than a year with no follow-up, Jecintas deformity recurred. Currently she tiptoes as she walks and feels pain. Fortunately, Jecinta and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Jecinta's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she be able to walk well, with no pain and discomfort. Her self-esteem will also improve, and she will continue with her education without any hardship. “I will appreciate if consider my daughter to undergo surgery so that she can stand on her feet and walk confidently like other children,” Glory, Jecinta’s mother, told us.

Chorvy is a 19-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and her two younger siblings. Her father is a welder, and her mother is a clothing factory worker. Chorvy is taking courses in management at a local university, and when she isn't studying, she likes to read books. Several years ago Chorvy was in a motor vehicle accident, and sustained facial trauma. Since then, she has had headaches, nosebleeds, and nasal congestion on the left side of her nose. Medications purchased from the pharmacy do not alleviate her symptoms. As a student, she cannot afford to pay for a private clinic consultation, but she is finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate or study when she has headaches. She is afraid she might have to drop out of school if she is not able to keep up with her classes. A friend told her about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Doctors at CSC's care center have diagnosed her with a left deviated septum, and have scheduled her for unilateral endoscopic sinus surgery on August 8th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. After she has recovered, Chorvy should be able to live symptom free. Now she needs your help to fund this $319 procedure. This sum will cover her surgery, medication, and hospital stay. Chorvy said: "I hope the surgery stops my headaches and it will be easy to breathe."

Doreen is the firstborn in a family of three children, raise by a single mother. She now earns a living through tailoring, which she learned from a friend. One year ago, Doreen began to experience symptoms, including a small painless swelling on her neck, which has grown over time. Currently, she experiences airway obstruction especially while sleeping and when she walks too fast. She can no longer carry a heavy load on her head because of neck pains. In June 2023, Doreen attended a medical camp in Kabale municipal. There, she was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, or an enlarged thyroid, and was referred to our medical partner's care center Rushoroza Hospital for surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Doreen receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 25th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Doreen says, “I want to look and feel normal again through surgery. I pray for a successful surgery. I will continue with tailoring after complete recovery.”

Addah is a subsistence farmer. She is married and a mother of five children. She lost her mother some years back, but her father is still alive. She is the fourth born in a family of eight children, but unfortunately, four of her siblings passed on. She did not study at all, but her husband studied up to the sixth grade. They all do small-scale farming to earn a living. Her children are doing well, and the last born is now nine years old. For six months, Addah has been experiencing abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding. She went to different clinics and was transfused with blood, but her condition remains the same. This condition has caused her a lot of discomfort, and she has no peace of mind. She finds it hard to be in public because of her symptoms. She has been diagnosed with aub-endometrial hyperplasia. To heal she needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $253 to fund Addah's surgery. On December 16th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Rwibaale Health Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms and she can get back to her full life. Addah shared, "I hope to gain peace of mind and resume my duties of farming happily.’’

Oun is a 47-year-old grandmother who is married with two daughters, one son, and two grandchildren. She and her husband both work in construction. At home, Oun likes to cook for her family and play with her grandchildren. Last year, Oun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience blurry vision and have difficulty seeing in bright or low lighting. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out independently. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 5th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure. Oun said: "I hope, after surgery, I can see clearly, return to work, and take care of my daughter."

Kolaboth is a 21 year-old university student who lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and younger sister. As the first in his family to attend college, Kolaboth is in his third year of studying Economics. Right now, he enjoys research, but he does not know what he would like to do once he graduates. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer with his friends. Around four years ago, Kolaboth began experiencing a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and trouble sleeping. Frequent illness caused him to miss school and he is unable to play sports like he used to. Kolaboth was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Kolaboth, which is scheduled to take place on September 14. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Kolaboth of his symptoms and help him live much more comfortably. He shared, "I hope I can feel better and continue my studies without always having an infection."

Baraka is a 15-year-old boy who is in fifth grade, and resides with his uncle in Arusha. Seven of Baraka's ten siblings have passed away, as has his mother, after a prolonged bout of ill health. Baraka's father lives in a different region of the country, and has entrusted his care to the uncle, who has six children of his own. When Baraka was a young child, he fell onto a lighted stack of firewood while playing. He sustained severe burns - which were successfully treated - but which have left him with residual scar contractures around his mouth, and on and under his arm. Baraka lived with these contractures for a long time, until he met a neighbor, who told Baraka and his uncle about Plaster House. Baraka's uncle was unable to bring Baraka to Plaster House, so their neighbor, Charles, undertook to do so. Baraka is looking forward to treatment, as the contractures have negatively affected his confidence when he is interacting with other people. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Baraka receive the care that he needs. On August 16th, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery, which will enable Baraka to have improved mobility, functionality and appearance. Now, he needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Baraka says: “I desire an improvement in my facial appearance. Right now, I lack confidence in how I look. I hold the hope that this treatment will bring about a substantial transformation in my appearance.”

14-year-old Rosemary lives with her parents in a mining town high in the mountains of central Bolivia. Her father is a farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. Rosemary is in the ninth grade and especially enjoys studying chemistry; she hopes to become a scientist one day. Rosemary was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a large hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without circulating properly through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, can help. On November 8th, Rosemary will undergo heart surgery at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Once she has recovered, Rosemary should be able to live the life of a healthy 14-year-old. Now her family needs your help to raise $1,500 for her procedure. Rosemary said: "I am very excited to go back to my school and my friends after surgery with a normal heart."

Seak is a 19-year-old farmer, living with her parents and two older siblings in Kampong Thom province. Her father is disabled and cannot work, while the rest of her family members are rice farmers. When she is home, Seak helps her mother in the house, and likes to listen to music. On September 11th, Seak was riding her motorbike on her way home, when she collided with a tuk-tuk. She fell from her bike onto her left arm, lacerating her left hand on the concrete. At the local clinic, an X-ray of Seak's arm revealed that she had fractured her humerus - a bone in her upper arm. While she was transferred to the local hospital for care, she was unable to pay, and returned home. Her arm is swollen, and she lives in constant pain, only using her arm and hand with great difficulty. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 12th, Seak will undergo a fracture repair procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $483. This surgery will repair her bone, enabling her to use her arm again. Seak's family needs your help to raise the funds to pay for her procedure. Seak said: "After surgery, I hope I will have no pain and can work like before to help my family."

David is the fourth child in a family of five living in Gikindu village in Muranga county, Kenya. David is in grade 6 at Gikindu Primary School, and his mother describes him as a playful boy who is always on the field playing football. He admires Messi, a football player in Europe who always inspires him to play for the national team. His mother is a farmer, and his father is a primary teacher. One sunny afternoon, five years ago, David and his friends gathered at the field to play. During the game, he fell and sustained an elbow injury. He was taken to a nearby hospital where a plaster was applied, then started therapy. Despite these interventions, his injury deteriorated and his elbow began to deform. David and his mother visited Kijabe Hospital, where they were referred to our medical partner's care center AIC Cure International Hospital for an orthopedic review. David is now scheduled to undergo Distal Humerus Osteotomy surgery on November 28th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the costs of the surgery. The treatment will be impactful on him because he will be able to use his arm normally again, lift things, and also help in doing household chores. “I am looking forward to seeing my son using his hand fully like other children,” says David’s mother.

Shem is a 14-year-old student from Kenya who is studying in class seven. He is the youngest in his family of eleven. Shem's parents practice small-scale farming of maize, and his older siblings work labor jobs to help provide for the family. A few weeks ago, Shem was injured playing football and fractured his lower tibia and fibula. He is experiencing pain and cannot use his leg, which is preventing him from being able to go to school, play with friends, and help his family at home. Shem needs to undergo surgery to heal, and his family requests assistance with the surgery costs. Happily, Shem was able to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for assistance. On November 1st, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Upon recovery, Shem will be able to use his leg again, allowing him to attend school and participate in activities with friends and at home. AMH is requesting $1,145 to help fund this procedure. Shem shared, "It has been hard to carry out my normal duties, especially going to school. I really look forward to getting well so that I can fully depend on myself as before."