Simon is an 11-month-old baby and the second born in his family. He also has a twin sister. They all came together to our medical partner because the mother couldn’t leave Simon’s twin at home. Their family lives in a remote area in the western part of Tanzania. They are from a community that mainly depends on small-scale subsistence agriculture, depending on the rainy season as their major source of agriculture. They have had a good rice harvest that enables them to provide food for their family. And then they sell the little harvest surplus they have, to afford other basic needs. Simon has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, they visited our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery to heal his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Simon's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to wear shoes and walk easily. Simon’s mother says, “I wish my son to be free from this disability so that he will be able to play with his twin sister as they grow old.”

Amina is a shy 11-year-old student living in Tanzania. Amina was born with albinism, a condition feared and misunderstood within her culture. But Amina enjoys going to school, as it is when she is able to socialize with her friends. While she is at school, her parents work on people's farms to earn money, and Amina's mother also sells fruits, vegetables, and spices at the market. Amina suffered burns to both of her hands in an accident in 2020. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her burns. Her right wrist has limited extension, which makes it difficult for her to accomplish a variety of daily tasks. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Amina receive treatment. On March 9th surgeons at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre will perform burn contracture release surgery to help Amina to use her hands freely. Now she needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Amina’s mother says: “We are excited that Amina is going to get better after the surgery.”

Nwe Ni is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her mother, her two sisters, and her older brother in Karen State, Burma. Nwe Ni used to work as a homemaker, but stopped once the goiter in her neck became enlarged. Her discomfort began in November 2019, when Nwe Ni started to experience neck stiffness and swelling. Currently, she also has trouble with insomnia, leaving her tired and prompting her to rest during the day. At the same time, she has lost her appetite and, with her neck swollen, at times it feels constricted. In February 2023, Nwe Ni was referred to the Mae Sot General Hospital for further investigation. The doctor there diagnosed her with a multinodular goiter and told her that she would require surgery. Nwe Ni’s mother told the doctor that they could not cover the cost of surgery, and they were referred to Burma Children Medical Fund, which is seeking $1,500 to fund Nwe Ni's thyroidectomy, which is scheduled for March 8th, at Mae Sot General Hospital. She and her family are looking to you to help cover the costs of her life-changing procedure. Nwe Ni said: “I am so delighted when I heard that I could have this mass removed. It feels so heavy, and I am not comfortable living like this. I would like to say thank you so much [to the donors] and you will always be in my prayers for your assistance.”