Tricia is a three-month-old baby girl from Kenya who lives with her single father. When she was in 6th grade, Tricia’s mother had to drop out of school because her parents could not afford her school fees. Her younger siblings also faced the same fate, which forced Tricia’s mother to be responsible at a young age. Back at their ancestral home, she is the breadwinner. She has a small kiosk where she makes and sells tea and mandazi. Now that she has not been working for some time, the family is struggling to make ends meet. More than one month ago, Tricia started to have fevers. She was not feeding well, and whenever she did, she vomited. After a few days, her mother noticed that her head was also increasing in size. Tricia has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Tricia has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Tricia will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Tricia's mother had faced many challenges getting treatment for her daughter. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Tricia will undergo a shunt insertion surgery on October 7th. This procedure will drain the excess fluid from Tricia's brain and reduce intracranial pressure. With proper treatment and care, Tricia will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Tricia needs your help to raise $719 for this procedure. Tricia’s mother says, “My family is really looking forward to Tricia’s treatment because when she gets well, I will go back and help provide for them.”

Shahidu is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married with three children. He has never attended school and cannot read or write, so he is unaware of his children's ages or classes. Shahidu primarily grows crops for his family's consumption. Three years ago, Shahidu was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. He has been experiencing abdominal pain and swelling, a feeling of weakness or pressure in the abdomen, and discomfort when bending over, coughing, or lifting heavy objects. These symptoms worsened over time, causing him significant pain and difficulty performing daily activities. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the protruding intestine and can be life-threatening. Fortunately, on October 2nd, Shahidu will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Shahidu's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Shahidu said, "I just want to be healthy again to focus on farming and provide for my family. This pain has made life hard, but with the surgery, I believe things will get better. I’m grateful for the help, and I look forward to getting back to work and making sure my children have a better future."

Meet Roeut, a 66-year-old woman living with her husband in Battambang province in Cambodia. They have five children. Nine years ago, Roeut experienced episodes of intermittent, involuntary tearing from her right eye. She sought treatment at a clinic in Siem Reap province, which included eye drops, massage therapy, and the suctioning out of purulent material from her eye. Later, she underwent cataract surgery for both of her eyes. However, she continues to experience blurred vision, persistent tearing, and discomfort in her eyes. An ophthalmologist referred Roeut to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Surgeons at CSC diagnosed her with obstruction and infection of the right lacrimal duct, indicating a blockage in the tear drainage system of her right eye. On July 16th, Roeut will undergo dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. This procedure will address the tearing, watery eyes, and potential infections, due to impaired or blocked tear drainage. Roeut and her family are able to contribute $100 but need your help to raise $297 more to fund the procedure and post-op care. Roeut said: "After surgery, I hope my eye feels good again and I will have good vision and no tearing."