Samuel is a 15-year-old from Kenya and the second born in his family of four children. He recently sat for his class eight exam and hopes to be an engineer in the future. He was supposed to undergo circumcision a few weeks ago, which was organized and sponsored by their local church, but he missed it due to his birth condition. Samuel is being raised by a single mother, who washes clothes for a living. She is requesting financial assistance to be able to pay for Samuel's proposed surgery. Samuel was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Samuel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 30th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $847 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Samuel jokingly said, “I want to transit and become a man like the rest of my peers. I also want to become an engineer in the future. This condition is making me feel out of place and need to be treated.”

Jojina, a single mother from Malawi, is 52 years old and has five children ranging in age from 15 to 29. They all live together in a two bedroom house, in addition to Jojina's mother, her uncle who is blind, and her four grandchildren. She earns a living by brewing and selling a local brew. Fifteen years ago, Jojina noted a small swelling on her neck that was not painful at the time. At first, she thought it would go away on its own, but it instead got bigger. She visited different herbalists to no avail. In 2022, she visited a nearby hospital, and was referred to the regional hospital, where after examinations, a diagnosis of goiter was made. She was sent home and asked to wait for her surgery date. Early this year, she started experiencing breathlessness and neck pain. She is presently unable to carry heavy items on her head and can no longer work as usual, which has significantly reduced her income. Jojina made a decision to visit our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), after hearing that other people with similar problems had been assisted at the center. Early this month, her diagnosis was confirmed at PIH and a surgical intervention called thyroidectomy was recommended. Jojina could however not afford the cost of treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jojina receive treatment. On April 9th, surgeons at PIH will perform a thyroidectomy to alleviate pain and discomfort, and allow Jojina to resume work and continue supporting her family. Now, Jojina needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Jojina says, “I am patiently waiting to be free from my symptoms, be able to work pain-free, and carry items on my head after surgery.”

Tadesse is a 2-year-old boy from Ethiopia, who loves playing with other children. His mother is a single mom and they live with his grandmother who is sickly. The family has difficulty making ends meet. They rely heavily on donations of food from the government, other charities, and their neighbors. Tadesse was born with an inguinal hernia, causing him pain and weakness. Fortunately, on February 27th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $512 to fund Tadesse's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Tadesse's mother said “I hope with this surgery, my child will heal. I will go to church and give the gift I promised to God if he heals my child. When he is old enough, I will ensure he goes to school."