Ethan is a three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest of four children. Ethan's parents are separated and he lives with his mother, who supports the family through casual work, mainly as a cleaner. Sometimes, his father will contribute some money for school fees. When Ethan was two years old, he was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Ethan has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Ethan will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 29th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I look forward to overcoming this setback. Ethan has been adapting well since joining school, and I look forward to seeing him do well in school,” Ethan's mother said.

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.”

Sros is a thirty-two-year-old mother of two. Residing in tranquil Kampot province, Sros shares her life with her husband - a rice farmer - and their two children. Their 17-year-old son is working to become a monk, while their 13-year-old daughter studies in fifth grade. Sros is employed at a nearby garment factory, and when she returns home, she devotes much of her time to cooking meals for her family and maintaining a tidy home. Sros has an additional challenge of being hearing impaired and mute. In October 2023, during a rainstorm, she slipped in the mud and twisted her left leg enough to fracture her tibia and fibula - the bones in her lower leg. Financial limitations prevented the family from seeking help at the local clinic, so she sought help from a Khmer traditional healer, who applied a splint to her leg. Her pain still persists, rendering her unable to walk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 4th, Sros will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will align her fractured bone into place for optimal healing so that she can walk again. Sros's husband said: "I hope the doctors can fix her leg so she can come home and not be in pain."