Jesca is a social and cheerful lady from Bugangari, located in the Rukungiri district of southwestern Uganda. At 68, she has been married to her husband for 50 years, and together they have nine children. Alongside her husband, Jesca is a small-scale farmer, selling off whatever the family doesn't use to generate a little income. Since 2020, Jesca has been experiencing lower abdominal pain, backaches, and intermittent fevers. However, her most persistent and troubling symptom is heavy vaginal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with abnormal uterine bleeding and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, where her uterus will be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Jesca's surgery, which is scheduled for March 9th, at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. Once she has recovered, Jesca will be able to resume her daily activities, free of pain. Jesca says: “I was afraid this may turn out to become cancerous, but once I am operated on, I will surely be free from all the pain and worries that I’ve been through.”

Wideline is a 27 year old woman from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her sister and her sister's family. She has not been working because of her illness, but would like to return to school to study business once she is able. Wideline has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Wideline was born with two holes in her heart, one between the upper chambers and another between the lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. It is extremely rare for someone to live to Wideline's age with this untreated condition. Because the care that she needs is not available in Haiti, Wideline will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 1st, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use patches to close the holes so that blood can no longer leak through them. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $15,000 to help pay for surgery. Wideline's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and travel. 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 Wideline overseas. Wideline shared: "I am so excited to finally be able to live a more normal life!"

Justine is a 26-year-old businesswoman from Uganda. She owns a small food-selling outlet in her shopping center. With low sales, it is a challenge for her to raise enough money for rent and expand her business. Her husband operates a motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) with little income as well. Justine and her husband are currently expecting a second child. Unfortunately, Justine lost her firstborn child during delivery and she hopes to deliver a healthy baby with this pregnancy. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband. For this pregnancy, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section because of the short time between pregnancies and the scar from the last pregnancy. She needs to deliver via a Caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child but is unable to raise the funds needed on her own. She appeals for help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Justine undergo a Caesarean section on February 7th. This procedure will cost $252, and Justine needs your support. Justine says, “I hope to deliver a live and healthier baby and I will be glad thus able to resume my business of selling foodstuff.”

Olosirian is a 13-month-old baby boy from Tanzania and the youngest child in a family of four children. His parents are from a small remote town. They breed and sell cattle to make a living, but unfortunately drought conditions have made their work difficult and they have lost most of their cattle. Olosirian has clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape. In the future, this may cause him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Olosirian receive treatment. On January 20th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Now, he and his family need help raising $935 to fund his procedure and care. Olosirian’s mother shared, "our lack of knowledge is what kept us from seeking treatment. I hope it is not too late."

Saoratt is an inquisitive 3-year-old toddler from Cambodia. Saoratt is an only child and lives with his parents and his grandparents in Kampong Speu province. Saoratt's parents work in a local factory and his grandparents grow rice on their ancestral land. Saoratt is too young to attend school, but likes to play with neighbors or go out to the rice paddies with his grandparents. Saoratt's favorite meal is chicken and ice cream! Saoratt suffered an electric burn on his left fingers in April 2022. Saoratt visited a local hospital for burn care but has now developed skin contractures on his fingers. Saoratt cannot hold anything with his left hand, and cries out in pain if his mother tries to straighten his fingers. When Saoratt's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery that will help Saoratt hold objects and bend and straighten his fingers. Now, CSC is helping Saoratt's family raise $495 to fund this procedure. Saoratt's mother shared, "I feel so bad my son's fingers were burned, and I hope the doctors can fix them so he can be like other children."

Saw Kyaw is a 25-year-old man living in Thailand. He currently lives with his older sister, younger sister, mother and her niece. He moved from Burma to Thailand for job opportunities three years ago. He was working in a shop and was able to support two younger siblings who are studying in Karen State in Burma. Around the end of July, he was playing football with friends when he slipped trying to kick the ball. His lower right leg was very painful, but he was still able to bear weight lightly on that leg. At the time, Saw Kyaw didn’t have health insurance, so he went to a clinic instead of the hospital. There they examined his leg, gave him some medication for the pain and advised him to go to the hospital for an X-ray if the pain persisted. Saw Kyaw rested for two days and then went back to work. That day at work, Saw Kyaw was carrying a heavy load when he slipped again. This time, the pain was severe, and he was unable to stand on his right leg. He went to a hospital in Bangkok where they X-rayed his lower right leg and told him that the tibia was fractured. The doctor recommended surgery where they would use a metal rod to connect the bones and set them in the correct position to heal. Saw Kyaw was told that the surgery would cost between 40,000 to 50,000 baht (approx. 1,330- 1,660 USD). He told them that he did not have insurance and was unable to afford the surgery, so they gave him pain medication and bandaged up his leg. He returned to the hospital three times and each time the doctor recommended surgery, but Kyaw was unable to figure out how he could get that kind of money. His employer was not helpful and refused to assist with the cost of the surgery. Since Saw Kyaw didn’t have the money, he decided to just rest and see whether the bones would heal on their own. Saw Kyaw recalled that he had fractured his femur when he was young, and he had used a traditional medicated oil to help heal the injury. He hoped that he could use this on his new fracture. But now he cannot walk properly and cannot work since his accident. He is stressed about his condition and his future. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Saw Kyaw will finally undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 7th and will cost $1,500. He will able to go back to work after surgery Saw Kyaw said, “I would like to go back to Bangkok and find work again so I can go back to helping my family; my siblings who are studying in Burma, and also my mother who is getting older. I also want to save some money for my future. I will not work at the same place though as they have not been kind or caring since I had the accident.”

Simeo is a 67-year-old married father of six children from Southwestern Uganda. He works as a small-scale farmer, along with his wife to support their family. The couple has four daughters and two sons. Their oldest daughter is a nun and the rest of their children are married. For the past six years, Simeo has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia causes him paresthesia, backaches, and pain when walking long distances and lifting heavy items. He was examined at a local hospital and surgery was recommended, but the treatment was too expensive. Recently, his condition has worsened. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Simeo receive treatment. On November 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Now, Simeo is requesting $230 to fund his procedure and care. Simeo shared, "I appeal for financial support to undergo this treatment. I believe I will get better after the surgery and be able to do my activities well."

Ly is a 62 year old husband and father, living with his wife and youngest child in Cambodia. Ly's wife sells clothes at the local market, while Ly stays at home, playing chess with his neighbor, reading and exercising. For the past six months, Ly has experienced problems with his right middle finger, which is stuck in a bent position. This issue is usually the result of inflammation within the tendon sheath of the finger. Ly cannot straighten or flex his finger, and it is swollen and painful, which makes it difficult for him to carry out simple, everyday tasks. Ly is also concerned that his finger will be permanently bent in its current position. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Ly will undergo a surgical repair of his right middle finger on October 7th, at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre. The surgery should correct Ly's situation, and enable him to return to a healthy and productive life. Ly needs your support to fund the $572 required to cover the cost of the procedure, medicines and post operative care. Ly told us: "I hope after surgery my hand gets better with no pain or swelling. I want to work with this finger and hand again so I can enjoy my life."

John is a hawker (the local name for a street vendor) from Kenya. He has six children all under the age of 18 years. His wife helps at home and John is the family's sole breadwinner. Lately, due to his condition, John has been unable to work. He has no alternate source of income, and shared that he is struggling to raise his family. John first started experiencing a loss of appetite and stomach pain in April 2022. He visited a local health center and was treated for stomach aches, but his condition did not improve. He later started having episodes of diarrhea and has lost a significant amount of weight. He also has been experiencing bleeding that has caused him anemia. As a result, he has had several blood transfusions and hospital admissions. Recently, a biopsy at Kijabe Hospital revealed that John has colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon grow out of control. At the current stage, his doctors feel the cancer can be stopped surgically from spreading. However, the procedure has to be done as soon as possible because it is urgent. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery and needs support. Unfortunately, John does not have medical coverage and cannot afford the surgery. He is requesting financial assistance to support the $1,074 needed for his medical care. John says, “I cannot eat, and I have lost a lot of weight. I have had several blood transfusions because of bleeding. I need this surgery to help fight the cancer.”

Heng is a 75-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She is married and has three sons, one daughter, and seven grandchildren. She and her husband live with their daughter and son-in-law, who is a car mechanic. Two years ago, Heng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her to experience eye tearing, itchiness, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Heng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 1st, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Heng shares that she hopes to see everything clearly again and that she will be able to join ceremonies at the pagoda.

Nancy is a bright and social 12-year-old student from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Her and her siblings are being raised by their grandparents with the help of amazing well-wishers, since their grandparents are older and appreciate the extra help. Nancy currently attends primary school, and her favorite subjects include Swahili, mathematics, and social studies! She is very friendly and loves to play netball with her schoolmates. However, playing is becoming increasingly difficult due to her condition. Nancy has clubfoot of the left foot. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Nancy and her family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Nancy's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Her grandmother says, "Nancy and her siblings have been in my care since they were babies. We struggle to raise them. That's why well-wishers help. Unfortunately, they can’t help her with her treatment. Please help us."

Saean is a 28-year-old delivery driver working in the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is married and has a three-year-old daughter. His wife is a garment worker. He likes to play tennis and football, read, listen to music, and fish. Saean was in a traffic accident in April and injured his right forearm. After the accident, he went to a hospital for an x-ray but decided to get treatment by a Khmer traditional healer instead. His condition did not improve and his neighbor told him to try visiting our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, he was diagnosed with a right radius fracture with ulnar styloid, swelling, and pain. CSC put a cast on his arm for 4 weeks and his pain has decreased, but now it is time for screw fixation to fully heal his right radius fraction. Fortunately, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre can help. On June 7th, Saean will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure allow him to move his arm easily again and finally heal from the accident. Saean says, "I'm hoping my right forearm fracture is fixed so I can work again without pain."