Misheck, who is two years old, is the youngest of four children in a family that lives in the Dedza District of Malawi. His parents are divorced, and because his father no longer supports the family, his mother depends on growing maize and groundnuts to provide for her children. For four months, Misheck has been experiencing painful swelling on the right side of his scrotum. The swelling appears when he cries or strains himself. His mother took him to several health centers where he was given medicine, but they did not alleviate his discomfort. His uncle decided to bring Misheck to the hospital for evaluation, where he was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. Misheck requires surgery, which his family cannot afford. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help. On May 4th, Misheck will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, which will cost $421. Without this treatment, Misheck faces the possibility of developing life-threatening complications, such as hernia strangulation. His family is looking to you to help raise the funds to cover the costs of Misheck's surgery. Misheck’s uncle says: “I am glad that my nephew will get the help he needs, and I look forward to his full recovery."

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."

Vangilista is a small-scale farmer in southwestern Uganda. She is in her 50s, and a mother of 7 children, all of whom have either completed school or are still in school. Vangilista did not receive formal schooling herself. She raised her children with the money she earns from farming. However, the land she farms is small, and most of her effort is focused on producing enough to feed her family. Any surplus is sold to generate income for sustaining her family. Two years ago, Vangilista began experiencing heavy bleeding, lower abdominal pain, backache, and other worrying symptoms. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Vangilista needs to undergo a total hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $219 to fund Vangilista's surgery. On August 24th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Vangilista will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Vangilista says, “I hope when I am operated on, bleeding will stop plus all my other symptoms. I hope to get your support because I have nowhere to get money to pay for my surgery.”