Shantel, a friendly nine-year-old girl from Kenya, is the eldest of two siblings in her family. She is currently in primary school and enjoys playing with her friends and making new ones. According to her parents, Shantel adds vibrancy and liveliness to their household. Her father works as a casual laborer in construction sites, while her mother is a greengrocer in their neighborhood. About two weeks ago, while Shantel was walking along the road with her mother, sister, and her mother's friend and her daughter, a vehicle lost control and flipped over towards them, resulting in injuries to all of them. Shantel was hit on the left leg and sustained bruises on her thigh and an open fracture of the tibia (shinbone) as confirmed by an X-ray. She is currently in chronic pain, and is unable to walk. Doctors at our medical partner's care center have recommended a procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), but the family is unable to meet the cost of surgery. If left untreated, Shantel may develop serious complications and may never be able to use her leg again. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Shantel receive treatment. On April 9th, surgeons at Nazareth Hospital will perform an ORIF procedure to allow her to walk easily and alleviate her pain. Now, Shantel's family needs help to fund this $1,049 procedure. Shantel’s father says: "Please help my daughter. Since the accident involving my family, I have not slept but I thank God that they are all alive. I request for support so that my daughter's leg can be treated, and she can go back to school."

Keisha is a 5-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She is the first child of her parents. Keisha has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid which surrounds the brain - accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. The accumulation of fluid has caused Keisha’s head to expand beyond a normal range. Without treatment, Keisha will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Keisha is scheduled for surgery to put a flexible plastic tube called a shunt in her brain to redirect the cerebrospinal fluid into another part of her body. Draining the excess fluid from Keisha’s brain will reduce the pressure and greatly improve the quality of her life. With proper treatment, Keisha will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Keisha is scheduled for surgery on December 8th at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in the country where this care is currently available. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery. Her family is grateful Keisha is able to have surgery to prevent long-term damage to her brain.

Kunthea is a 35-year-old homemaker from Cambodia. She moved back home to a rural area in Kampong Thom province after being unable to find work in Phnom Penh City during the pandemic. She lives there with her parents and a younger brother. Her father is a fisherman and her mother is a homemaker. She has six sisters who are married and live nearby to help her care for her parents. At home, she spends her time cooking, cleaning the house, and occasionally babysitting the children of her sisters. One year ago, Kunthea had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Kunthea experiences pain, purulent ear discharge, and hearing loss. She often has headaches and cannot sleep well at night. She cannot communicate clearly with others and it is difficult to hear someone when they are talking to her, which she shared makes her embarrassed. Kunthea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On February 13th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Kunthea shared: "I hope I will have a healthy ear drum, not worry about disease going into my brain and have improved hearing as well."