Kembaga is a 55-year-old farmer and a married mother to twelve children - four sons and eight daughters. Most of her children are self-employed as small scale farmers, like herself and her husband. They earn a living from their small banana plantation and also own a few cattle. Fourteen years ago, Kembaga began to experience troubling symptoms. She finds difficulty in swallowing, breathing and sometimes experiences shortness of breath. Kembaga 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 Kembaga receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 9th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Kembaga shared, “I have surely had difficulty in my life because this condition has given me a poor quality of life, but I will surely be thankful to you once I undergo a successful surgery. I hope to continue with farming once I have fully recovered."

Peter is a third grade student from Kenya. Peter is very active and playful like many kids his age. He is the seventh son in a family of eight children. Peter's father repairs household items including basins and jerricans, and his mother is a casual laborer who washes clothes for a living. Their family currently lives together in a two-room mud house. About 10 weeks ago, Peter fell from a tall tree and he sustained a femur shaft fracture and hip dislocation. He currently walks and gets around using crutches, and there is the risk that he may not able to walk on his own again unless he receives surgical intervention. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 17th, Peter will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund his surgery. Peter's father shared, “[Peter] has been unable to go to school since the accident. He can’t walk without the help of crutches and if he doesn’t go for surgery he might be unable to walk normally.”

Gody is a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of his mother's two children, and one of his father's five children. Gody's father works at a butcher shop and is able to get by and support his family. Gody has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Gody traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Gody's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Gody’s mother shared, “we had a little money that we thought we could use to treat our baby but all that money has been used up with no successful treatment. Kindly help correct my baby’s feet.”

Sammuel is an 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is very outgoing and happy, and loves cycling and playing football. Sammuel is in grade five and his favorite subject is mathematics. He attends a government-run school, where his school uniform and meals at schools are supported. Sammuel's mom is a single mom, and works to support herself and her son by washing clothes in their community. Sammuel's dad is a guard in a church and earns limited income, so he cannot support Sammuel and his mom consistently. Since his birth, Sammuel has had a right inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and weakness in his lower abdominal area. He will need to have surgery in order to allow him to be more active and without pain. Fortunately, on March 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $512 to fund Sammuel's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently and resume more of his favorite hobbies. His mom shared, “Sammuel is my only child and I struggled a lot to raise him. Now I don’t need any other life but to raise him well and to educate him. I always dream of him getting older and becoming somebody.”

Sabel is a 5-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third born in a family of four children. Sabel’s father is a small scale farmer and his mother is a homemaker. They work hard to meet their family's basic needs. Sabel was born a healthy child, but when he was born, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his thigh and knee. As a result, he had to undergo a below-the-knee amputation, and the surgery was successful. However, the operation site is not closing properly. If not treated, Sabel could develop a severe infection in this area so the medical team wants to make sure he heals well. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Sabel receive treatment. On February 9th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure. This treatment will allow Sabel's wound to heal well and, once he is fully recovered, he will be able to be fitted for a prosthetic. Now, Sabel's family needs help to fund this $747 procedure. Sabel’s mother shared, “His wound has taken a long time to heal and the doctors have advised he needs a skin graft surgery which we can’t afford. Please help him."

Isaack is a 16-year-old student in Grade 7 hailing from Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. On January 1st, 2021, Isaack sustained a severe injury to his right lower limb after he was involved in a motorbike accident on his way to church. He has a distal femur fracture, and is in great pain and cannot walk. Isaack’s mother is appealing to anyone reading her son's story to help her raise money for a successful surgery for Isaack. Since her son's accident, she has not been able to find stable employment and appeals for financial support. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 25th, Isaack will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him heal well and walk well again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,016 to fund this procedure. Isaack shared, “My hope is to get treated so that I can return back to school as soon as possible.”

Losieku is a nine-year-old boy and the youngest child born to his mother, who has six children. He is a friendly, cheerful and hard-working boy. He has not had the chance to go to school yet, though his father says he has plans to enroll him in school next year if everything goes well. Losieku lives in Northern Tanzania. The majority of people in this area are traditional Maasai and are livestock farmers. Losieku's father has a few goats that Losieku and his siblings take out to graze. They also practice small-scale farming of maize and vegetables as a source of food. About three years ago, Losieku was out playing with his siblings. He fell and his left hand went into an open fireplace where a bit of hot charcoal was burning below ashes. He sustained burns which were treated at home using traditional herbal medication due to lack of money and distance to the closest hospital. Over the years, the skin around his fingers has contracted and he is unable to straighten them. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Losieku receive treatment. On March 3, surgeons at AMH's care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery so that he will be able to use his fingers freely. Now, he needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Losieku’s father shared, "it’s really challenging for my son to carry out his daily activities because of his hand. He is a hardworking boy, and if he gets his hand corrected, it will help him do more with ease.”

Saovory is a 54-year-old vegetable seller with one son and one daughter. Saovory lives with her youngest daughter, who is a student in 8th grade. She makes a living by selling vegetables from a cart around her village. In her free time, Saovory likes to watch the TV news at her neighbor's house and listen to the monks pray on the radio. About four years ago, Saovory developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, photophobia, and sometime tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and doing all the things she needs to do outside. When Saovory learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled with her daughter hoping for treatment. On March 10th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Saovory shared, "I hope after surgery I can see well again so I can have an easier time selling vegetables, taking care of my daughter, and doing my housework."

Navy is a 49-year-old rice seller. She's been married for 15 years and has 2 daughters who are in school. Navy sells rice in front of a factory, but has been unable to work for over a year. Her husband is currently unemployed. Four years ago, Navy started to have pain in her back and on both hips, and she was given steroids to ease the pain. Doctors have diagnosed her with avascular necrosis in both hips. Avascular necrosis, or osteonecrosis, is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Navy cannot walk and is confined to a wheelchair. She is in constant pain, and is depressed because she cannot work to support her family. Fortunately, Navy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). At CSC, surgeons will perform a total hip replacement to relieve Navy of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for February 5th, and Navy needs help raising $1,087 to pay for this procedure. Navy shared, "I hope that I'll feel better soon, and will be able to walk again without pain. I am anxious to return to work to help my family."