Dorothy is a 68-year-old woman from a village in the Lilongwe District of Malawi with three married children. She depends on small-scale farming as she grows maize and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes to support herself. Dorothy started experiencing itching followed by a lump in her left breast which kept growing in size and became painful. She visited different health centers where she was unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment until she was seen by a surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital who conducted a free clinic at her nearby health center. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she needs to undergo mastectomy surgery. She is willing to undergo the procedure but is unable to afford the surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Dorothy’s life as she feels pain in her breast and is worried that the cancer could spread. Treatment will relieve Dorothy of the pain and she will no longer be stressed. Dorothy is requesting $567 to fund treatment from our partner, African Mission Healthcare. Dorothy says, “I am looking forward to treatment and full recovery.”

Brian is a teenager from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of seven children. He stopped going to school last year in March after he fell ill and currently stays at home mostly in pain. His mother is a subsistence farmer and his father works on construction sites to provide for the family. The family does not have a medical insurance coverage and cannot raise the required amount of money to pay for Brian's treatment. Brian has a painful swelling in a sensitive area which impacts his movement and his ability to engage in any physical activities. He has been to different hospitals without any improvement. Earlier this year, Brian was brought to BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital where he underwent tests and has been scheduled for an urgent surgery. Brian was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Brian has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and future fertility problems. Brian will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 22nd. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Brian says, “I want the pain to go away so that I can go back to school.”

Saw Kler is a 14-year-old boy who lives with his parents, three older sisters, and one younger brother, in a village in Karenni State, Burma. Saw Kler’s parents and two of his older sisters are farmers. When he is older, Saw Kler would like to become a minister. Saw Kler stopped going to school two years ago as he began to have frequent seizures. Doctors found that Saw Kler has a heart condition that requires the replacement of two heart valves and the repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Because of his condition, Saw Kler feels tired and has an irregular heart rate, resulting in an inability to walk long distances. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for the complex surgery Saw Kler needs. The procedure is scheduled to take place at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital on April 9th, and once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably, and to have a more active and healthy life ahead. Saw Kler said: “I feel sad when I see my friends are playing football and having fun. I want to play with them, but I cannot run like them, as I always feel tired. I want to continue my studies if my condition improves.”