Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”

Romonea is a 10-year-old girl from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. She lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her parents work in the city as sales staff for a beverage company. She is currently in the fifth grade and enjoys reading and writing Khmer. She dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. Romonea was born with a right leg length discrepancy, and the condition has gradually worsened as she has grown older. Because of the difference in leg length, she experiences difficulty walking and pain when walking long distances, which affects her daily activities and mobility at school and home. In the past, her mother brought her to a government hospital, where doctors recommended that she seek further treatment at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 8th, Romonea will undergo surgery to help improve her leg alignment and mobility. Her family needs help raising $582 to fund her surgery and care. Romonea's mother said, “My greatest hope is to see my daughter walk comfortably without pain and have a better future. I want her to be able to go to school, play happily, and live like other children her age.”

Annah is 70 years old and a loving grandmother from Uganda. She is a widow and lives with four of her grandchildren. Her family engages in small-scale farming. For about twenty years, Annah has had a right inguinal hernia. She has experienced on-and-off swelling in her lower abdomen. She had never sought medical attention and instead used local herbs when the swelling was still small. Over time, the condition worsened, and it has significantly affected her ability to work; she can no longer carry heavy loads or bend to tend to her fields. Annah's son brought her to our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Health Center, for further care. Fortunately, on March 17th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $234 to fund Annah's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Annah says, "I have high hopes that after the surgery, I will be well soon and be in a position to support my grandchildren in terms of food and other needs."