Maria is a beautiful four month old baby from Tanzania who came to our hospital when she just five days old. She is the last born child in a family of five children. Maria was born at home through the help of midwives. This was because the nearest clinic was a long distance from home and Maria’s father was not at home. Soon the midwives informed Maria’s mother that their daughter had a problem with her back and head. This brought panic to her mother and without money, they had to wait for her husband to return. When Maria’s father arrived and saw her condition he had some money with him from selling two of their goats. They depend solely on livestock keeping and small scale farming for their living.  The family took her to our ALMC hospital where she was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus and encephalocele. She has received surgery for Spinal Bifida to save her from getting an infection on the spine that could lead her not to be able to walk or lead to death. She now needs another surgery to help correct the hydrocephalus condition. Her parents are asking for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Maria that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 10th and will drain the excess fluid from Maria's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Maria will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl.

Ben is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father in the mountains south of Port-au-Prince; his parents are both farmers. Ben has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Ben will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On September 24th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will perform open-heart surgery to close the hole with a patch.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Ben'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 Ben's family overseas. His mother said, "We are excited for this surgery so our son can gain weight and have energy."

Su is a 45-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives in Mae Pa, Tak Province, Thailand with her husband and their twelve-year-old son. In her free time, Su enjoys growing vegetables in her garden and getting together with her friends. Su first noticed symptoms related to her health condition three years ago when she experienced severe abdominal pain. Su underwent an ultrasound and was told that she had a stone in her liver. In January 2019, Su’s severe abdominal pain returned. In May 2019, Su underwent a CT scan at Mae Sot Hospital and the doctor confirmed that Su has a bile duct stone. Su has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Su's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Su is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on June 10. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Su's procedure and care. Su says, "I have recently begun to experience pain in my right leg that makes it uncomfortable for me to walk."

Serey is an engineering student from Cambodia. He has three other siblings, and likes to do research and play sports in his free time. When he was nine years old, Serey had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Serey experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, headaches, and pain. It is difficult for him to hear others and often finds it a challenge to understand and communicate. Serey traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On May 9, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. He says, "I hope surgery will allow me to hear again and for the infection to go away."

Roodolph is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents in a small city in northwestern Haiti. He is their first child. He likes playing with cars and going to church. Roodolph has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Roodolph will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On April 17, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in his heart, and remove the muscular blockage. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $18,000 to pay for surgery. Roodolph'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 Roodolph's family overseas. His mother says, "We are very excited for Roodolph to have this surgery so that he can be healthy and active!"

Zaw is a 15-year-old boy who lives with his mother and his 11-year-old brother in Burma. Both Zaw and his brother are students, but Zaw stopped attending when his health deteriorated. Zaw has been diagnosed with atrial septal defect, which means there is a hole in his heart. He needs to undergo heart surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, surgery is scheduled for March 12. Now, his family needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure.

Mi is a 47-year-old woman who lives with her husband and elderly mother in a village in Hpa-an Township, Karen State, Burma. While she looks after her mother and their house, her husband works as a subsistence farmer on their small piece of land. Mi also has a daughter who works in a textile factory in Bangkok. Around three years ago, Mi started to experience what she thought were muscles aches. Later, the muscle aches developed into back pain in the area around her left kidney. For one year, she took pain killers. Later, an x-ray indicated that she had a renal stone in her left kidney. Mi decided to visit our medical partner's care center. Now, she needs surgery to remove her kidney. Surgery is scheduled for February 4 and will cost $1,500. “I just want to recover, go back and look after my mom and the house,” says Mi.

Joseph is a farmer and motorbike taxi operator from Kenya. He is a father of four children. On Christmas, Joseph collided with an oncoming vehicle while riding his motorcycle. He sustained fractures of the tibia and femur, as well as a hip injury. He is not able to walk or move and is also in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 12, Joseph 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 Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Joseph says, “My prayer is to walk out of the hospital with energy and be able to provide for my family. Kindly help me out."

Ephantus is a father of two children from Kenya. In September 2016, he was in a bad road accident. He has already undergone three surgeries to treat his injuries. However, he still has an unhealed fracture on his left tibia. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 15, Ephantus will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Ephantus says, “My prayer is to be able to walk with ease and help my wife raise our family."

Tanica is a student from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her parents and three siblings. She is in the third grade and likes reading and art. Tanica has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. On October 10, she will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in her heart. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Tanica's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. Her mother says, "We would like to say thank you to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our daughter!"