Mengse is a 15-year-old tailor, originally from Ratanakiri province in Cambodia. He and his family relocated to Phnom Penh in an effort to find better job opportunities. Mengse's father works as a cook for a company that caters weddings, while his mother sells vegetables in a local market. Mengse works as a tailor, but he is hopeful that he will be able to return to school. Mengse was born with a preauricular pit - a congenital condition where there is a sinus tract under the skin that shouldn't be there. It is manifested by a small hole located on his right ear. As often happens in these cases, this small hole has become infected, and a cyst has formed. As a result, Mengse experiences redness, swelling, pain, and discharge. Mengse traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 15th, surgeons from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Now, Mengse needs your help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. Mengse shared: "I hope I can have surgery so I can't feel pain, and so I can do my work and feel better again."

Damaris is a 48-year-old mother from Kenya. She resides in Ngarariga, in Kiambu County, with her husband and three children. Damaris is a homemaker, and her husband sells assorted items in Limuru. Their income is sufficient to pay for food and their children's education. For two years, Damaris has been experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding and cramping, this worsened in December 2023. It has worsened to the point of making caring for her children difficult and she is unable to socialize with her community. Damari went to the district hospital where she was diagnosed with fibroids of the uterus. The physicians recommend a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus. If this condition is not treated, she could develop severe anemia and the fibroids may eventually become cancerous. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $718 to fund Damaris's surgery. On February 27th, she will undergo a hysterectomy at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Damaris will be able to resume her previous activities and care for her children. “I have no words to explain how I am suffering with this bleeding. I humbly request help so that I can get back to my normal life and be able to take care of my family,” said Damaris.

Gasper is a thirteen-year-old resilient boy from Tanzania. He hails from Igwamadete village in the Singida region. Gasper is the eighth child in a family of nine. His parents, both farmers, work tirelessly cultivating food crops to make ends meet to help provide for the family. In June 2023, tragedy struck when Gasper was bitten by a snake on his right arm while he was asleep. His parents rushed him to the Igwamadete dispensary for immediate treatment, but unfortunately, the facility was not equipped to provide the specialized care he needed. Gasper was referred to the General Hospital in Dodoma and admitted for eight days. Following his stay at the hospital, Gasper was then taken to the Katavi region for local treatment, where he remained for four months. Despite their efforts, Gasper returned home to Singida with a developing contracture in his right elbow. This condition significantly limits his ability to engage in daily activities comfortably, including his studies. In their search for treatment, Gasper’s parents encountered another mother who had experienced a similar ordeal with her child. This compassionate woman directed them to Kafika House Center. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is now helping Gasper receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On December 13th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help release the skin limiting the extension and flexing of his elbow. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Gasper says: “I can’t write comfortably because of my hand; I hope my hand will get back to normal.”