Mathayo is a 13-year-old and the 5th born in his family of seven children. They are being raised by their mother after Mathayo's father remarried. When Mathayo was a one-year-old he was involved in a fire accident. The mattress he was sleeping in caught on fire. He was taken to hospital for treatment, but he lost his feet and some fingers. His wounds healed completely but after three years, he started to develop an infection. Now he cannot walk without support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mathayo finally receive treatment. On March 17th, surgeons will perform a skin graft procedure to help him heal well and be able to walk without support. Now, Mathayo's family needs help to fund this $747 procedure. Mathayo says, “I had lost hope of this wound ever healing but now I see a glimmer of hope.”

Gatguon is an 8-week-old baby girl from a remote area of South Sudan. The civil war in South Sudan has made it difficult for many to access healthcare and treatment, including Gatguon's family. Gatguon was born with swelling in the back of her head. Upon referral to Old Fangak Clinic, the doctor diagnosed Gatguon with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Gatguon is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Gatguon urgently needs spina bifida repair surgery to correct the condition and reduce risk of infection. Unfortunately, this treatment is not available for her in South Sudan. Dr Jill Seaman and her team at Old Fangak Clinic facilitated Gatguon’s travel to Kenya – a long and difficult journey for a sick baby. Now, doctors at our medical partner's care center in Kenya will perform the surgery she needs. Gatguon’s parents have two kids. Her mother is a stay-at-home mom and her father is a vegetable farmer. They are hopeful that baby Gatguon will be treated and that they will continue taking care of her and loving her unconditionally. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gatguon's family raise $1,151 to cover the cost of spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 20th and will hopefully spare Gatguon of further complications and allow her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Gatguon’s mother shared, “We hope that our child will be treated.”

Thavong is a determined 15-year-old girl. She's the oldest of four children in her family, with two younger brothers and one little sister. Thavong is a hard-working 6th grader, who enjoys reading books and listening to music when she's home. Her father earns a living as a policeman. Three months ago, Thavong developed a chalazion in her left eye, causing her itchiness and irritation. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. As a result, it has become progressively more difficult for her to see clearly, concentrate, and study. When Thavong's family heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for one and a half hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, on February 24th, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Thavong will no longer have to live with the uncomfortable symptoms of her chalazion, and will be able to see clearly again. Our medical partner is asking for $187 to help fund Thavong's procedure. Thavong says, "I hope after surgery my eye improves so I can return to school and not worry about my eye anymore."