Oscar is a 28-year-old married man from a village in Lilongwe District in Malawi. He has a young child who is not yet of school age, and relies on small-scale farming to support the family by growing maize, groundnuts, and keeping livestock. One year ago, Oscar noticed an itch in his throat and a slight hoarseness in his voice, initially thinking he was developing a cough. However, he later discovered a small painful swelling that has been gradually getting larger. He did not seek medical help as he had no funds to pay for treatment until his mother heard about a care program when she visited our medical partner care center, Nkhoma Hospital. Oscar was diagnosed with goiter, and was scheduled to undergo thyroidectomy surgery. The condition has negatively affected his life as the swelling is painful and sometimes, he experiences shortness of breath. Treatment will relieve him of these symptoms, improving the quality of his life. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is helping Oscar receive treatment at their care center. On March 7th surgeons will perform thyroid surgery so he can regain his health. Now, he needs help to fund this $491 procedure. Oscar says, “Thank you for this opportunity, I am looking forward to treatment and recovery.”

Jayden is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second born in a family of two children. Jayden's father is currently attending welding classes and relies on casual employment to make ends meet, while his mother also earns income through casual work. Jayden was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus or bow legs. When he began standing on his own; his legs showed a noticeable bow outward. The condition worsened as he grew older, prompting them to seek medical attention. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Jaden experiences difficulty walking, expending a great deal of energy, and often crying after walking for a while. Recently, while listening to the radio, they learned about Kafika House, which prompted them to seek consultation. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery and treatment for Jayden at their care center Kafika House. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 5th. Treatment will hopefully restore Jayden's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Jayden’s mother says, “Please help my son. I hope he gets treatment and grows up to be successful.”

Non is a 45 year-old rice farmer and father of two. He lives in Kampong Cham with his wife, son, and daughter. Both Non and his wife work in a nearby rice paddy, and farm vegetables in the off season. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and reading the news on his phone. Four months ago, Non was driving home from work on his motorbike, when he hit a pothole and fell off and fractured his left arm. Non has been receiving treatment from a traditional healer in his village, but his arm has not improved. He traveled three hours to Children's Surgical Centre for consultation. After examination and x-ray, Non has been diagnosed with a fracture of his left ulna and dislocation of his elbow joint. Since the accident, he has been unable to work full-time, and has chronic pain in his left arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On November 20th, Non will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will eliminate pain and improve function in his arm. He shared: "I hope I can have surgery so I can use my arm again for work and my every day tasks."