Ivan is a two-year-old boy from Haiti, living with his parents and four siblings in an urban neighborhood. Ivan likes listening to music and watching the older kids play soccer. Ivan has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several concerns in the heart, including a hole between the two lower chambers and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These conditions prevent blood from passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Ivan weak and short of breath. Ivan will need to fly to the Dominican Republic for treatment. On April 17th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons at Hospital CEDIMAT will patch the hole in his heart and remove the blockage from his valve, allowing blood to flow normally. Another organization is contributing money to pay for the surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is seeking your help to fund the $1,500 needed to cover the costs of Ivan's pre and post-operative care and the travel expenses and documents for Ivan's family and the social workers who will join the family during the trip. Ivan's mother said: "Our family is praying that our son will grow and become a strong and healthy child after surgery!"

76-year-old Smaoh Bernado is a married man from Mpando Village in Mozambique. He has seven children, all of whom are married and in their respective homes. He lives with his wife and grandchildren. In the past, Smaoh was a farmer who grew maize for consumption and commercial purposes to support his family; however, due to his old age, he now depends on his children for support. Smaoh has been using a catheter for the past year as a result of his inability to pass urine. He experiences pain while attempting to pass urine and much discomfort from the catheter. He has been going to a local health center for regular catheter changes until he opted to seek additional evaluation and treatment at our medical partner's care center Nkhoma Hospital. Smaoh was diagnosed with enlarged prostate, and was scheduled for open prostatectomy surgery. His family is unable to cover the complete expenses of the procedure. If left untreated, he may have recurrent urinary tract infections, and he may have to live with the catheter. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Smaoh receive treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at Nkhoma Hospital will perform open prostatectomy surgery which will relieve him of the pain. Now, Smaoh needs help to fund this $530 procedure. Smaoh says, “I look forward to returning home free from this condition.”

Sunnary is a 32-year-old father from Phnom Penh province, Cambodia. He and his wife work in a shoe factory and they have a lively 6-year-old daughter who has just started the first grade. He and his wife enjoy taking walks with their daughter, and sometimes he plays soccer after work with friends. When Sunnary was 12 years old, he fell from a tree, fracturing the bones in his left forearm. His family could not afford healthcare, and he was treated by a Khmer traditional healer. Over the past 20 years, he has developed a left wrist deformity, called distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability. He has weakness and pain in his left wrist, and increasing difficulty using his hand. After so many years of pain, a friend told him about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) where patients who cannot afford care elsewhere can receive free or low-cost care. Doctors have determined that surgery is necessary for his joint instability when nonsurgical treatment fails to restore forearm stability. Sunnary is now scheduled for an osteotomy on December 11th and needs your help raising $469, which will cover the surgery, hospitalization, and post-op physiotherapy. Sunnary shared, "I hope after surgery, I can lift heavy objects again and work hard to support my wife and daughter."