Clement is a small-scale farmer from Kenya. He was born and raised in a small village called Bugar where most of the people living in the area are farmers or find other casual jobs. He is married and has six children: two girls, and four boys. He did not attend school and communicates only in his mother tongue, called Keiyo. His family lives in a small mud house with a thatched roof and grows their food from their small farm, which mostly consists of maize and beans. Last week, Clement sustained a severe injury on his right leg after he was involved in a road traffic accident while going to the market. He was a passenger on a motorcycle that lost control and fell into a ditch leaving him and the rider with severe injuries. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where they received first aid and were later referred to our medical partner's care center for treatment. An X-ray revealed an open right tibia fibula fracture. Quickly Clement was rushed to the operating theatre for surgical debridement of wounds and casting. He was admitted to the hospital and is awaiting fracture surgery. He is unable to walk and is in great pain. Clement likes spending his days on his farm and as the breadwinner of the family, he's now feeling distressed because he can’t provide for them due to his condition. He is worried about the obstacles his family would face if his leg is not treated, having also been diagnosed with arthritis. The family doesn’t have funds to pay for his surgery and he's appealing for support. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 6th, Clement will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will reduce his pain and help him walk easily again. After complete recovery, he will be able to resume his work and support his family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund his treatment to help him heal. Clement says, “I want to be pain-free and healthy. I hope to be happy again and have a good life. My family needs me the most.”

Saray is a 16-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. His parents are rice farmers, and he has an older brother and an older sister. When he is not working, he enjoys playing football, volleyball and games on his phone. He also likes to sing with his friends. Four months ago, while playing football, Saray fell on his shoulder and a mass appeared and grew quickly. A biopsy revealed that he has osteosarcoma of the shoulder, a rare type of bone cancer in which cancerous cells produce irregular bone. Although osteosarcoma is rare, it is the most common childhood bone cancer. He cannot move his shoulder and experiences persistent bone pain. Fortunately, a CT scan revealed that cancer has not yet spread. This diagnosis is very difficult for a young man with his whole life ahead of him. When Saray's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled there to see a specialist. On December 8th, surgeons at CSC will perform a shoulder disarticulation procedure, during which they will separate his entire arm from the shoulder joint. This procedure will remove the mass, avoid metastasis, and allow Saray to seek further treatment. Now, he and his family need help raising $446 to fund his procedure and care. Saray shared that he hopes that cancer will not reappear after the mass is gone, and he can be without pain.

Tereza is a small-scale farmer and a mother to five children. When she was young, she left school after completing primary school class one. Her father died when she was still young, so at the time her family could not proceed with her education and the school fees. Last March, Tereza lost her husband and now she lives in their three-room mud house for shelter. Tereza shared that she sold a pig to be able to raise money to come to Rushoroza Hospital hoping for treatment. Five years ago, Tereza began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small neck swelling that started small but has been slowly and progressively increasing in size. She is worried about the long-run results if not treated on time. She was diagnosed with a non-toxic goiter and the medical team has recommended surgery which she cannot afford. She needs the surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Tereza receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Tereza says, “I hope to look normal again and get rid of my fears of the future outcomes of this goiter. I pray for a successful surgery. I will continue with farming to be able to take good care of myself and my family.”