Aneth is a one-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. Her parents are both subsistence farmers who grow crops primarily to provide food for their family, selling any surplus at the market to earn a living. She has one older sibling. Aneth has bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both feet are turned inward. Without treatment, clubfoot can make it difficult for children to wear normal shoes and walk comfortably as they grow. Aneth’s family learned about clubfoot treatment through a former patient who had previously received care at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. The former patient encouraged the family to seek medical help for their daughter, giving them hope that Aneth’s condition could also be treated. Fortunately, Aneth's family traveled to Kafika House, where she will first undergo gentle manipulation and casting, a process that will gradually guide her feet into the correct position. After the casting phase, she will undergo a tenotomy procedure to help achieve proper foot alignment. Aneth's treatment will begin on September 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Aneth's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Aneth has a good opportunity to grow with properly positioned feet, enabling her to wear normal shoes, walk comfortably, and participate fully in everyday activities as she grows. Aneth's mother shared, “We are grateful that we were directed here. We hope that through this treatment, our daughter will grow up able to walk well and wear normal shoes like other children."

Nan Maw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her friends in Bangkok in an apartment rented by their employer. She works as a waitress, while her brother and mother still live in their village in Karen State, Burma. When Nan Maw was healthy and working full-time, she would send half of her salary home to support her mother. She dreams of building a concrete house back home for her family. Nan Maw was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Due to her condition, she can only engage in part-time work as she gets tired too easily. Nan Maw is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on August 31st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct her atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Nan Maw's procedure and care. Nan Maw said, “I would like to thank your organization, BCMF, and your donors for your help. If you do not help me, I would have had to give up on my treatment because I know that I could not afford it by myself. I am very happy and thankful to all the donors. You have helped me feel that I can dream again. Before I developed these symptoms, I dreamed of working hard, saving money, building a house back home, and opening my own restaurant. Since I first noticed my symptoms, it felt like my dreams were lost. But now, I can dream again.”

Sopheak is 51 years old and an agricultural tractor operator from Cambodia. He is married and has one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren. During his free time, he likes to watch boxing matches on his phone. About two years ago, Sopheak developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Sopheak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On October 14th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Sopheak can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to help fund his procedure and care. Sopheak shared, "I hope after surgery, I can see better. I hope to go back to driving. I don't want to worry about my eye anymore."