Robert is a 56-year-old mechanic from Uganda. He is a father of six children, all of whom are in school. Robert attended school when he was young until the third grade, and later learned to be a mechanic through on the job training. His wife works as a farmer. For the last three years, Robert has had an inguinal swell that has caused him discomfort over time. Whenever he is doing strenuous activities or laughing, the swell becomes painful. Robert has always tried to manage his condition with medicine, but since it was not effective in suppressing the pain, he sought care at Nyakibale Hospital. Robert was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, and doctors recommend he undergo a hernia repair surgery. Without treatment, he will continue having pain and may suffer from hernia strangulation. However, Robert is not able to afford his cost of care due to financial constraints with supporting his family and is requesting help. Fortunately, on December 22nd, Robert will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, needs $230 to fund Robert's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and to return to his daily life activities. Robert shared, “I hope to have a new life after my surgery and continue with my mechanic work, supporting our family.”

Mendero is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is married with ten children. 30 years ago, Mendero began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty breathing. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mendero receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 28 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Mendero says, “I hope to continue with cultivation when I am done with surgery for the care of my family.”

Saad is a child from Ethiopia. He loves to play football with his friends. He is the youngest in a family of four children. Saad was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Saad is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on June 28. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Saad's procedure and care. After his recovery, Saad will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Saad’s mother says, “We are poor farmers with low income...It is our hope to get the surgery and to see our child in a healthy and good position by your support.”

Chhen is 60 years old. He is married with three sons, one daughter, and fifteen grandchildren. He likes to read books about Buddhism, listen to monks pray on the radio, and go to ceremonies at the pagoda. Chhen heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his neighbor. He traveled for five hours with his daughter to reach CSC for treatment. Three years ago, Chhen developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. It is difficult for him to see things clearly, recognize faces, do any work, and go anywhere outside by himself. Chhen says, "I hope my eyes can see more clearly than now so that I can recognize the faces of everyone, do any kind of work, and go anywhere by myself. I want to help my family do some housework, like cook, clean, and take care of my grandchildren." Chhen will undergo treatment on January 16 to help him see clearly again and improve his quality of life. Doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. Our medical partner is requesting $292 to fund his treatment.

Nkhamanga is a 60-year-old maize farmer. He and his wife live in a small village in rural Malawi, and they have seven children and thirteen grandchildren One year ago, Nkhamanga began to develop difficulty urinating. His condition worsened over time, to the point that he now has to be catheterized to go to the restroom. This severely impairs his ability to farm and provide for his family. Upon arrival at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, Nkhamanga was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate. Nkhamanga is scheduled to receive treatment on January 19. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $726 to cover the cost of the operation and post-op care. After surgery, Nkhamanga is expected to make a full recovery and return to daily life without the discomfort he has been experiencing this last year. "I needed this surgery very much," Nkhamanga says. "This is a bad problem. Now, I will be fine!"

Chech is a 22-year-old farmer who has two sisters and three brothers. She likes to do housework and help her family on the farm. When she was a baby, Chech developed an ear infection. The infection spread to both ears and perforated the tympanic membrane in each. She experiences recurring ear discharge, pain, and hearing loss. Her condition makes her unhappy. Fortunately, Chech learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from a relative. She traveled for six hours by taxi to reach CSC for treatment. On October 19, 2016, surgeons performed a myringoplasty in each ear to repair the perforated tympanic membrane and stop the ear discharge and pain. Over time, her hearing will improve. Now, her family needs help to fund this $831 procedure. Chech says, "I hope for the ear discharge to stop and to have good hearing."

At 14-months-old, Jaime “loves to play with his brother and sister," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "His sister loves to put him their little hammock and swing him back and forth." The youngest of four children, Jaime lives with his family in a village in Guatemala. After his mother noticed that he was not growing well, Jaime was brought to WK’s clinic. They diagnosed him with acute malnutrition, a condition that results from a nutrient deficiency over an extended period. Children with malnutrition face the possibility of stunted mental and physical development, setting limitations later in life. With treatment, "Jaime will avoid the long term effects of malnutrition and develop the ability to concentrate and eventually succeed in school," WK says. WK explains, “Jaime’s mom weaves blouses, while his dad is a day worker in the next village over.” With their income, they are unable to pay the expenses for Jaime’s treatment. With $535, Jaime will undergo a three-month micronutrient support program to treat his malnutrition. During this period, Jaime’s nutrient levels will be gradually restored through food supplements. Jaime’s mother will work with a nutritionist to receive an intensive course on healthy eating. WK states that this program, “will give [Jaime’s mother] the background to better provide healthy, nutrient-dense options for her children.” Jaime’s mother shares, “It is so good that you want to help my baby.”

Meet Florence, a 46-year-old wife and mother of five children from Kenya. Florence lives with her husband and children in a rural Kenyan village. While Florence takes care of the children at home, “her husband and first born son work in a butchery,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). According to AMHF, over the past year and a half Florence has experienced “lower abdominal pain, discomfort and difficulty in passing urine.” Florence and her husband visited several hospitals hoping for successful treatment, but her condition was never properly diagnosed. After each hospital visit, Florence would be prescribed medicine only to have her symptoms reappear shortly thereafter. Eventually, “a CT scan revealed that Florence has adenomyosis” — a typically benign condition that is diagnosed mainly among middle-aged women. The condition occurs when the innermost part of the uterus, the endometrium, extends into the muscular wall of the uterus. Despite having moved into the muscular wall, the endometrial tissue continues to act as it did before being displaced, which usually results in an enlarged uterus and abdominal discomfort, as is the case with Florence. To treat her adenomyosis, $790 will cover all of the necessary costs for Florence to receive a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). This operation will remove her uterus and cervix, ensuring that the problem will not return in the future. The total cost of treatment also includes five days of hospital care and the necessary laboratory tests for a successful surgery. “We expect that a TAH for Florence shall alleviate her of the chronic pain she currently experiences," adds AMHF. Relieved by the prospect of receiving treatment, Florence shares, “This problem has made my life very difficult. I hope the operation will be successful so that I can continue serving my family.”

This is one-year-old Fafane from Haiti. She lives with her mother and grandmother while her father is still in school. Fafane was born with a cleft lip and palate which has made it difficult for her mother to breastfeed -- and feed -- her. Luckily, our partner, Project Medishare, is ready to help. With $960 they will be able to do a cleft lip and palate repair surgery for Fafane. This will make it easier for her to eat, among other things. "I am excited," says Fafane's mother. Together we can put Fafane's parents at ease and improve the quality of this baby girl's life moving forward. Let's do it!

Exildah is a 3-year-old girl from Zambia who was born with a condition that makes her legs grow sharply inward. Commonly referred to as “knock knees,” Exildah’s situation is so extreme that it can only be treated with surgery. Without treatment, Exildah will never be able to walk normally. Exildah’s grandmother is her biggest advocate. She has taken her granddaughter from doctor to doctor to try and find someone who could help, but was repeatedly told that there was nothing that could be done. She refused to give up as she continued to watch Exildah struggle to remain balanced when standing, let alone when walking, and she pushed forward with seeking treatment. Fortunately, Exildah’s grandmother was finally referred to CURE’s facility in Zambia, where surgeons are confident they can treat Exildah’s case. It will cost $1000 to perform the surgery she needs, as well as provide her with the appropriate follow up work. Exildah’s family wants her to get treatment and live a normal life, but they live in one of the poorest regions of the entire world. Paying for her care out-of-pocket is absolutely impossible. We need to cover the cost of her surgery and give her a chance at a happy and healthy life.

Daisy is a less than 1-year-old baby with hydrocephalus or “water on the brain,” one of the most common abnormalities affecting children around the world. Hydrocephalus develops when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked, causing a build up of excessive fluid in the ventricles of the brain. If left untreated, Daisy’s doctors say the condition will lead to significant brain damage, developmental delays, blindness, and ultimately a premature death. Fortunately, there’s a good chance that with surgery, Daisy will life a full, normal life. Daisy’s doctors say, “this surgery will literally save this child’s life, as children who develop hydrocephalus are extremely unlikely to survive past their third birthday.” Daisy comes from a loving, supportive family. Her mother, Christine, was overjoyed when she gave birth to Daisy, her first daughter. But when Daisy began experiencing fevers and seizures, Christine knew something was wrong. She traveled eight hours with Daisy to seek medical attention. Since arriving at the CURE hospital and seeing other babies being treated for the same condition, Christine has gained hope that Daisy will recover stronger than ever.