Meet Faiza, a young mother to three children. The 23-year-old currently lives in Kenya, but she is a refugee from Somalia after having escaped with her aunt in 2002. Faiza was unable to finish her high school education due to lack of school fees. Faiza was married in 2010 to her husband, who works as a cleaner. She used to sell second-hand clothes, but has since stopped due to her health condition. The family now lives in a single room in Nairobi. Faiza has been diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, or a protrusion of intestinal tissue through the abdominal wall. If not treated, Faiza may suffer intestinal incarceration, obstruction, or strangulation. She requires hernia repair surgery to return the intestinal tissue to the abdominal cavity and mend the weakness in the abdominal wall. Faiza is unable to raise the $440 needed for this procedure. "I want to be in good health and provide for my family together with my husband," says Faiza. Let us help her access the medical care she needs.

“I want to be free from breast cancer and have a healthy old age,” 58-year-old Josphine shares. She is a mother of six children, all now grown up, and lives in Kenya with her husband. In September of last year, Josphine noticed a lump in her right breast. She visited several local clinics, but was not able to get a clear diagnosis. Josphine eventually received an x-ray and biopsy this June, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. If left untreated, the cancer could spread, potentially resulting in premature death. To avoid this outcome, Josphine needs to undergo a mastectomy. However, she cannot afford to pay for the procedure on her own. She and her husband—who work as a farmer and a newspaper vendor, respectively—need all of their combined income to meet their daily needs. Although her family has managed to raise $156 for the procedure, this still falls short of the amount needed. For $740, Josphine will be able to receive her mastectomy. This sum will also cover the medications, lab tests, and six-day hospital stay Josphine will need to recover fully from the procedure. Let's help make it possible!

Meet Jefferson, an 18-month old baby boy from Guatemala. Jefferson lives with his parents and brother who watches him while their parents work. Their mother weaves textiles and tends to the home, and their father is a farmer. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK), shares that Jefferson "loves to play with a little toy motorcycle" that his brother gave him. Jefferson is acutely malnourished, and "is far below the average height and weight for his age," his doctor shares. "We worry that without intervention, his health will continue to decline." He is currently living with symptoms of a weak immune system -- diarrhea and a fever. He doesn't have much energy, and can only say a few words. Without treatment, Jefferson faces serious long term effects. “His physical and mental development will be stunted and he will be unable to reach his full potential," WK adds. For $535, Jefferson will receive nutritional supplements to recuperate his weight and height, and deworming medicine to help him fight off some immediate symptoms. His parents will also receive nutritional education to help them provide long-term care. “I am so thankful for this program that you have made,” shares Jefferson’s mother. “You are helping so many families, and to want to help us is just incredible. We hope Jefferson will be able to get better soon.”

Meet Chhean, a caring mother of five from Cambodia. Chhean is 53-years-old and has a pytergium - a benign growth on the inside of her eyelid - in both eyes. She tells us, “I fear I will go blind.” Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, explains, “For the past 15 years, Chhean has had blurred vision because of the pytergiums in her eyes. Her eyes burn and itch and are red and painful. This makes it hard for her to work on the rice farm and care for her home and family.” $150 covers the cost of pterygium surgery for both of Cheean’s eyes. With surgery, Cheean’s pain will subside and we can also help quell Cheean’s fears about going blind. Let’s get Cheean this long-needed treatment!

“I cannot wait to recover, when everything is done I wish to resume my activities and take care of my family,” says Rivelina. Rivelina is a 32-year-old mother who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Rivelina runs a small business with her husband in Haiti, selling cakes, pastries, and drinks. She loves cooking and using computers, and takes care of her one-year-old daughter. Her family relies on the income from her business, but her work has been interrupted by her illness and numerous hospital visits. Rivelina first felt discomfort over a year ago, but was only recently diagnosed with breast cancer. “During this period, Rivelina became unable to take care of her activities, and became weak and sad,” says Project Medishare, our medical partner. $1500 will fund surgery to remove Rivelina’s affected breast, as well as follow-up care. “Treatment will save her life,” says Project Medishare. “I am hopeful,” says Rivelina. “I know that breast cancer is a severe disease, but I know that everything will be fine after I receive treatment.” Let’s help Rivelina get healthy and return to taking care of her family!

Andrew is a ten-year-old boy from Kenya who was born with a swollen area near his navel. The swelling is caused by a hernia of the intestine, and poses a risk of further intestinal complications. Andrew's mother has been carefully monitoring the situation and has taken him to various hospitals. Although she has been advised to seek surgery for her son, she has been unable to raise the necessary funds. Andrew's condition has been gradually worsening, and is now affecting his ability to speak. The African Mission Healthcare Foundation is asking for $500 to perform surgery to repair Andrew's hernia. Our support will help Andrew recover fully, allowing him to return to a normal, productive life.

Candelaria is a 46-year-old mother of two from Guatemala. Recently, she sought medical attention for sharp abdominal pains. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The good news is that Candelaria's tumors can be shrunk through chemotherapy. Shrinking them will reduce her pain and increase her life expectancy, but the cost of chemotherapy is out of reach for her family. For $1,475, Candelaria can receive chemotherapy treatment that will effectively decrease the size of her tumors. Let's help Candelaria get the care she needs to improve her quality of life and allow her to focus on caring for her children.

Sou Heang is a 40-year-old mother living in Cambodia. A few months ago, Sou Heang was in a motorbike accident and broke her arm. Although Sou Heang visited a local village healer to repair the fracture, it has not healed and Sou Heang's arm is becoming increasingly painful. Sou Heang owns a small roadside shop where she sells vegetables and household items. Since the accident, Sou Heang has not been able to move her arm enough to work. For $300, we can fund Sou Heang's bone realignment surgery. This will restore mobility to her arm and help her go back to work to support her family.

Sylvia is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her aunt in Kenya. Sylvia has a dislocated left elbow which makes it difficult for her to use her arm. If her elbow is not operated on, Sylvia could lose function of her entire arm. Sylvia's mother passed away from chronic illness when Sylvia was less than two-years-old. Sylvia's aunt works as a house maid, but she barely makes enough money to take care of Sylvia, let alone pay her expensive medical bills. If we can raise $1200, Sylvia will receive elbow reconstruction surgery. This surgery will make it possible for Sylvia to regain full range of motion in her elbow joint and use her arm properly. Sylvia dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up and this surgery will allow her to work towards this goal.

Jaquelin is a beautiful young girl from Guatemala who has been losing weight rapidly. Due to a lack of money, her mother is searching for a factory job to support her child. Jaquelin is currently living with her grandmother. Jaquelin lacks nutrition in her diet and experiences chronic medical problems as a result. In addition to weight loss, Jaquelin has chronic diarrhea and is not developing normally.” For $300, we will be able to provide Jaquelin with nutritional rehabilitation and help alleviate her chronic medical problems. Let’s help Jaquelin live a healthy and strong life!

23 year-old Pamela is in her third trimester of pregnancy. Soon, she and her family will be welcoming a baby into the world, with a little assistance from the maternal health program run by Lwala Community Alliance, one of our medical partners in Kenya. For $215, Pamela and her baby will receive antenatal visits from community health workers, learn about the danger signs in pregnancy, and give birth in a facility with skilled providers. Her baby will also have a check-up after he or she goes home. Pamela and her family are small scale farmers. They grow maize, beans, groundnuts, cabbages and sugarcane to pay for school fees. Let's help this mother and baby get a great start on life together!

Charity is a 23-year-old woman who fractured her ankle when she slipped on an avocado peel six months ago. As a result of the injury, Charity experiences severe pain and swelling and is unable to walk without crutches. Fortunately, doctors at African Mission Healthcare Foundation can operate to fix Charity’s ankle. With surgery, they’re confident they can stop the swelling, alleviate her pain, and enable Charity to walk. Charity is the mother of a 2-month-old baby girl. She lives in a small village with her husband, John. Due to lack of finances, both Charity and John only studied through the 8th grade. When Charity broke her ankle, she and John used their entire savings to seek medical attention. But when a doctor told her she needed surgery, she and John went home helpless. John does construction work but doesn’t make enough money to pay for Charity’s medical care. Charity currently stays home with their daughter but struggles to do simple things, like carry the baby, because of her injury. It breaks Charity’s heart that because of her medical expenses, she has not been able to buy any clothes for her baby and has had to rely on donations from friends. We hope to cover the cost of Charity's treatment and enable her to be the active, healthy mother she wants to be.