Zoreka is a farmer from Uganda. He is married and a father of four: three girls and one boy. Zoreka and his wife are farmers. They produce food for both home consumption and for sale. For four years, Zoreka has had a reducible left inguinal scrotal hernia. The hernia causes him a lot of pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on February 14, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to fund Zoreka's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. He says, "After surgery I will resume farming."

On April 10, 2016, Neema was born with a lesion on her lower back which is leaking cerebral spinal fluid. "If not treated," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) tells us, "Neema will be at risk of easily contracting infections. She is also at risk of developing hydrocephalus." Neema is the youngest of four children and lives with her parents and siblings in Tanzania. Neema's mother is a homemaker and her father owns a small business where he sells mats. Although they both work hard, their combined incomes are not enough to cover the operation that Neema needs, as well as the cost of rent and expenses related to their other children. $1,200 will ensure that Neema receives the treatment she needs, which will keep her from developing hydrocephalus - a more serious brain condition - in the future. “I pray that my baby will get well and grow up like her siblings,” said Neema’s mother.

Meet Layoni, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Health Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Layoni was born to a large, loving family. His parents are both small scale farmers and tend a few livestock to support their five children. "Layoni was born with multiple deformities; Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and bilateral clubfoot," AMHF tells us. His neural tube defects were addressed with surgery when he was young, and he is doing much better because he received the medical treatment he needed at the time. "He likes to crawl and sit together with other children drawing on the ground," shares AMHF. He is getting eager to stand and walk, but with clubfeet, a musculoskeletal malformation where the feet are twisted out of shape, his feet and ankles are unable to support weight. With $1160, Layoni will receive surgery, stretching, and casting to reshape and strengthen his muscles. AMHF will provide a surgeon and hospital respite for his recovery, so that Layoni will be able to run around and play with other children. "I hope my grandson will one day be able to walk," Layoni's grandmother shared in their pre-operative interview with AMHF. With our help, Layoni will be able to walk normally.

John Kendy is an active, hard-working 18-year-old from Haiti. "John Kendy's favorite activity is soccer, however for the past several years he has been unable to play; instead he watches matches on TV," our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us. John Kendy is a sophomore in high school and is studying hard to one day become a lawyer or doctor. John Kendy has severe rheumatic heart disease as a result of a fever he had when he was 12 years old. HCA shares, "this fever severely damaged his mitral valve, preventing his heart from pumping adequately and leading to heart failure. If untreated, this would eventually be fatal." Medical care in Haiti is underfunded and often difficult for patients to afford. HCA partners with other nearby organizations to ensure that Haitians can access the medical attention that they need. They have arranged for John Kendy to be transported to the University of Vermont Medical Centre, where doctors will perform surgery to repair his mitral valve. $1,500 will fund preparation and transportation costs for John Kendy to receive the surgery he needs. "I am excited to have my surgery so that I can walk to school without getting tired and start playing soccer again," John Kendy adds.

“Wai is an 18-year-old Burmese man who suffered burns over half of his body six months ago in a work-related accident,” our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. Wai worked in a gas station where he was moving supplies in the storeroom, when an explosion from fumes in the room went off. “When he regained consciousness, 18 hours later, he found himself in a critical care ward. The owner of the gas station and a friend had transported him there,” shares BBP. Wai has third degree burns on his arms and legs, but luckily his head was spared and he suffers no pulmonary damage. “Wai was in the hospital for two months and the doctors recommended a longer stay, but the gas station owner, who paid the bill for two months, refused to take on any further hospital expense. The owner didn’t extend any further compensation to his former employee,” adds BBP. “Wai has largely lost the use of his left hand and his right hand. He is capable of walking, although slowly and with a deliberate pace. He can no longer play cane ball, his favorite pastime, as he can no longer run,” BBP says. Wai needs surgery to remove the damaged tissue from the burns. This procedure will cost $1,500 and will give him increased motion and flexibility in his hands, legs, and joints. “I want to get back to helping my family," Wai shares.

“Maung Win is a 45-year-old man who lives in Burma with his wife and 18-year-old son,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “He has lived in the township his entire life and works as a shop vendor with his wife. Their son is currently studying at college.” “Maung Win has rheumatic heart disease,” reports to BBP. “He is often tired and feels tenderness in his chest. It is difficult to breathe when it is hot at home. Due to his conditions, he has to take medicines every day and has to buy more medicine once a month. It is difficult to afford to costs of medicine and is sometimes difficult to work as a shop vendor due to fatigue.” $1,500 will cover life-saving cardiac surgery for Muang Win. This procedure will increase his ability to breathe and decrease his tiredness. Post-surgery, he should be able to return to work full-time. “After surgery, I want to work hard for my family, especially for my son who is studying at college,” Maung Win says. “I worry for my son and his schooling. I worry that I cannot earn as much money as I can to support my family.”

Linda is a three-year-old girl from Guatemala. A few years ago, Linda's older sister passed away from symptoms consistent with Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmenal disorder resulting in delayed development. However, she was never properly diagnosed, as her family could not afford diagnostic tests. Linda is now showing the same symptoms as her sister. Linda was born a seemingly healthy child, however, “Around the age of 2 1/2 she started to lose development milestones—she used to be able to talk and walk and slowly that dissolved,” says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Now, she has lost the ability to walk, talk or communicate in any way. She has muscle contraction in her hands and legs and has difficulty controlling her movements." WK suspects that Linda has a metabolic disorder such as Tay-Sachs disease or Rett syndrome. Given Linda’s sister’s early death and her mother’s pregnancy history, Rett syndrome is a possible diagnosis. A confirmed diagnosis is needed to help Linda and her family plan how to best care for her. With $1385, Linda will receive a full workup screening for conditions associated with developmental delays, receive routine physical therapy, and receive anti-epileptic medication to decrease muscle convulsions and allow her more comfort. “I will take her anywhere, wherever she needs to go to get care,” says Linda’s mother. “If it’s for her I want to fight."

Nahashon lives in rural Kenya where he works as a farm laborer. He is the father of two boys. Sadly, Nahashon’s wife recently suffered a stroke and passed away, leaving him to provide for his sons. Last year, while operating some farm machinery on the farm where he was employed, Nahashon suffered a deep cut to his right hand. The cut was so severe it sliced through the tendons in his hand. Nahashon’s hand was bandaged by a local clinic but he was unable to afford further medical assistance at the time. Nahashon suffers severe pain and loss of function in his right hand and has been unable to work since the accident. His doctors have advised that without surgery to repair the severed tendons, he will suffer complete loss of function in his hand. For $1,500 the Africa Mission Healthcare Foundation can perform surgery on Nahashon’s hand and restore 90% of the hand’s function, allowing him to return to work and to continue supporting his family.