Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

Victoria is a 21-year-old married woman from Kafwetsera Village, Lilongwe District, in Mozambique. She and her husband have two young children who are not yet in school. The family depends upon growing maize for their income. Since January 2023, Victoria has been experiencing painful swelling in her abdomen. She visited two health centers in her area, where she was given medication that did nothing to relieve her discomfort. Victoria then decided to come to Malawi to seek medical help. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Victoria to access treatment for an epigastric hernia. On May 9th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, which will alleviate her pain and prevent dangerous complications from occurring in the future. Now she needs your help to raise $421 to fund this life-changing procedure. Victoria says: "I am glad that help has been found. Thank you SAFE for this great opportunity."

Meet Naw Dell: a 53 year old woman who has been suffering from multiple kidney stones for the past ten years. In 2012, she started experiencing severe back pain. She finally went to a hospital in Burma, but her treatment was delayed due to the Covid-19 epidemic, and the political turmoil in Burma. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, and Watsi donors Naw Del was able to travel to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) in Thailand, where she underwent abdominal scans. In addition to the multiple, small renal stones that were found, a large stone was discovered in her left kidney, which is currently blocking the left urethra. The doctor was able to drain her bladder, but he determined that Naw Del needs a nephrectomy, to remove her left kidney. Burma Children Medical Fund is now requesting $1,500 to fund Naw Del's surgery, which is scheduled for May 23rd, at Mae Sot General Hospital. Until she has this procedure, Naw Del will continue to live with severe back pain. Naw Del said: “Thank you BCMF and the donors for supporting me. I want to help my family again. After I have recovered fully, I want to be able to do my household chores and look after my grandchildren."