Vathanak is nine years old and a fifth-grader from Cambodia. He is the youngest of three siblings and lives with his parents and older brothers in Phnom Penh. His father works for a private company, while his mother takes care of the household. He enjoys math, watching big-bike and sports-car videos, and eating soups with lots of vegetables. He hopes to become a businessman when he grows up. For the past six years, Vathanak has been experiencing a blocked nose, difficulty breathing, loud snoring, frequent coughing and sneezing, recurrent fever, and repeated episodes of pharyngitis. His frequent throat infections and breathing difficulties affect his sleep and overall comfort, causing him to become ill repeatedly. Vathanak was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Vathanak, which is scheduled to take place on September 7th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Vathanak of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Vathanak's mother said, “My biggest hope is that my son will be able to breathe and sleep better after the surgery. I want him to have fewer throat infections, feel healthier, and enjoy going to school and playing with his friends without being troubled by these symptoms.”

Jacob is a 52-year-old man from Kenya. Before the accident prevented him from working, Jacob earned a living through casual work and was the primary provider for his family. His wife is a homemaker, and together they have six children. On July 20th, Jacob was in an accident on his way to work. He was on a matatu that was involved in a head-on collision with a motorcycle. The accident left him with severe injuries, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency care. Upon examination, doctors discovered that both of Jacob's legs had sustained fractures. Because of this, he has been unable to work, placing tremendous financial strain on his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 4th, Jacob will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, that will enable him to recover and return to his family and continue providing for them. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Jacob said, "I have always worked hard to provide for my family. My greatest prayer is to walk again, return to work, and continue caring for my wife and children."

Francis is an eight-year-old student who lives in Uganda with his parents and five siblings. He is a bright, cheerful, and confident child who dreams of becoming a driver when he grows up. He enjoys playing football and is known for being very helpful at home. His parents are farm laborers who depend on casual work to support their family. Despite their hard work, they struggle to meet their daily needs and cannot afford the cost of the surgery their son requires. When Francis was about one year old, he began to experience on-and-off swelling in a sensitive area of his body. As he has gotten older, the swelling is sometimes accompanied by pain, especially after sleeping or playing. This has limited his ability to enjoy normal childhood activities. Francis attended our partner’s medical care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a hydrocele. Francis needs surgery, or he will continue to experience painful symptoms. Fortunately, on November 2nd, Francis will undergo hydrocele repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $146 to fund his procedure and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Francis’s mother shared, “Given a chance of support, I am sure my son will get operated on and will get better. My only challenge is finances, but I believe with your support, all will be well.”