Meshack is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in his family. His mother is a preacher, and cares for her young children. Despite her responsibilities, she has made strong efforts to find specialized treatment for Meshack after noticing that his hand movement was becoming more restricted. When Meshack was very young, he sustained a burn injury on his right hand. Though the wound has healed, the scars have become tight over time, causing a burn scar contracture. The contracture has affected finger movement and palm opening, making it difficult for his hand to function normally as he grows. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Meshack receive treatment. On February 18th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and skin graft to greatly improve his hand development and future independence. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Meshack's mother says, “His hand cannot open well, and I worry about how he will use it as he grows. I am praying he can get treatment and use his hand freely.”

Boxter is a farmer from Malawi. He is a husband and father of three from Dzungu village in Dowa District. He grows maize, tomatoes, and other crops to support his family. Three years ago, Boxter started experiencing urinary retention. It is a condition he chose to keep to himself, not sharing it even with those closest to him. Despite the discomfort, he continued working and providing for his family, doing his best to manage the situation quietly. Recently, he came to Nkhoma Hospital and waited in the surgical clinic to be seen. He was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Doctors explained that he needs a surgery, known as TURP, to relieve his condition and restore normal function. While this gave him a clear solution, it also brought worry. Boxter began making phone calls to family members, hoping they could help him raise the money for surgery. In the end, they were only able to gather a little, which is not enough to cover the full cost. He was advised to return home and wait until more funds could be found. Still in need and uncertain of what to do next, Boxter was referred to the SAFE Program for consideration. This has given him a chance to be heard and a renewed sense of hope. He now looks forward to the possibility of receiving treatment and returning to his normal life without the burden he has carried in silence for so long. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital determined that Boxter should undergo a prostatectomy. A prostatectomy is a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on April 29th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Boxter's quality of life. Boxter said, “I have stayed with this problem for a long time without telling anyone. I was afraid and did not know how I would manage it. Now that I have a chance to be treated, I am hoping for support. I want to be well again and live without this condition.”

Talia is a sweet and soft-spoken 11-year-old student from Kenya. Her father is a construction worker, and her mother is a homemaker. Despite health challenges, Talia is a determined girl who works hard in school and dreams of becoming a pilot one day. When Talia was very young, her parents noticed delays in her development. She needed therapy to learn how to walk and did not begin speaking until she was three years old. Around that time, she was diagnosed with hearing loss, but her parents could not afford hearing aids. Without them, school has been difficult for Talia, and she has begun to fall behind her classmates. This has made her dream of becoming a pilot feel increasingly out of reach. Her hearing loss also affects her speech, making her hesitant to express herself for fear that others might laugh at her. About three months ago, Talia and her family visited our partner’s medical care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors recommend hearing aids for Talia. Our partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Talia’s hearing aids, which will be fitted on April 28th. This amount will cover the purchase, programming, and fitting of the hearing aids. With these hearing aids, Talia will finally be able to hear, to learn, and to thrive. Now, Talia's family needs your support to have a fair chance at a brighter future. Talia shared, “When I try to speak, and the words don’t come out right, other children laugh at me. It makes me feel very sad.”