Patrick is a three-year-old boy from Malawi. He is the youngest of two children. His parents are farmers who grow maize, beans, and groundnuts to support the family. A year ago, Patrick started experiencing a painful swelling on the right side below his waist. His mother took him to a nearby health center, where she was advised to seek medical help at Nkhoma Hospital. Patrick was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia and was advised to have corrective surgery. This condition causes him abdominal pain whenever the swelling appears and his parents are worried about their child’s health. If left untreated, it may lead to more health complications. Treatment will relieve Patrick of the pain and alleviate his parents’ stress. Patrick is scheduled for surgery on March 12th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $421 for the surgery. Patrick’s mother says, “I am looking forward to my son’s treatment and recovery so that he can be happy again.”

Aye is a 25-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her parents, grandfather, aunt, brother, sister and daughter. She and her sister are homemakers, while her father is a day labourer. Her brother works in a garment factory, and her mother and aunt are unemployed. Since Aye was 12 years old, she has experienced difficulty passing urine on and off. In October, this worsened and she now has blood in her urine and severe pain in her lower back. Doctors want Aye to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Aye's CT scan and care, scheduled for December 20th. Aye said, "I have been experiencing these symptoms for so many years but because of financial problems, I have never receive proper treatment."

Anne, a seven-month-old baby from Kati, is adored by her parents and three siblings. Anne was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. She previously underwent surgery to correct the condition, but the surgery was unsuccessful. She requires a shunt to drain excess fluid from the brain and reduce intercranial pressure. Without treatment, Anne will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is helping Anne receive treatment at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in the country where this care is currently available. On April 10th, surgeons will perform a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery, giving an opportunity for Anne to grow into a strong and healthy young girl. Now, Anne's family needs help to fund this $957 procedure. Anne's mother says: "I hope this surgery will allow my daughter to grow up healthy"