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."

Say is a 68-year-old woman from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. She used to work as a farmer, but she has now stopped due to her age. She is a widow; her husband passed away from malaria about 30 years ago. Say has three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren. She currently lives with her youngest daughter, who is a farmer and grows rice. In her free time, Say enjoys listening to the radio and hearing monks' prayers. About two years ago, Say developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Say learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 25th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Say said, "I hope that after my surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can recognize my relatives more easily, participate in ceremonies, and carry out my household chores more effectively."

Eyob is a 10-year-old boy who lives with his parents and two younger sisters in Ethiopia. His father works with an electric company, while his mother is a home maker. For the past four years, Eyob has been experiencing severe tonsillitis which has caused extreme throat pain, loss of appetite, high fever, trouble swallowing, and breathing difficulties. This has affected his sleep and rest, and he often feels disappointed when he's unable to help his sisters with their homework or when they seek his assistance. When he was younger, his parents tried treating him with traditional remedies, hoping he would get better, but the condition persisted. Eyob was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Eyob, which is scheduled to take place on August 10th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Eyob of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. His parents say: "We hope that our son can go back to being a happy, energetic boy, so he can go to school without interruptions, and play with his sisters, like other children."