Lightness is a four-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother in the remote village of Endakasi, situated in Mbulu district in Tanzania. She is one of two siblings cared for by their grandmother after their mother died and their father abandoned them. The family's daily life revolves around farming. However, due to her age, the grandmother cannot fully participate in farming activities and mostly relies on her children to help with provisions and care. Lightness was born with clubfoot on her left foot, a condition where one's foot is twisted or bent out of shape. Due to their limited knowledge about the condition, her family did not seek treatment for her. One day, a glimmer of hope emerged, when Lightness' grandmother crossed paths with someone familiar with our medical partner's program. After an assessment, it was determined that Lightness is suffering from neglected clubfoot, which will require a series of casting sessions, and surgery to complete her treatment. Lightness' care will take place at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, beginning on July 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,119 to fund Lightness' casting and surgery, which will enable Lightness to live more comfortably. Lightness’s grandmother said: “Please help my granddaughter, because I’m too old to provide and to make sure she gets the treatment she needs.”

Gabriel is a two-year-old toddler from Malawi. His parents manage a homestead from which they earn income to support their family. They grow vegetables such as mustard, Irish potatoes, and maize, which they sell to merchants from time to time. Since he was five months old, Gabriel has had an inguinal hernia. This occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, typically in the groin area. This causes pain and other symptoms like fever, weakness, and vomiting. Fortunately, Gabriel is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery on September 3rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $421 to cover the cost of Gabriel's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully relieve his pain and allow Gabriel to live more comfortably. Gabriel’s father says, “I would really like to experience a changed attitude from him from a crying child to a much happier child after surgery.”

Placida is a 24-year-old woman from Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. She is the second-born in a family of eight children. Five of her siblings are currently in school, while three have completed their secondary education. Placida and her siblings lost their father in 2017 when her siblings were still young, and her mother has been struggling to pay for her siblings’ school fees. They live on a small piece of land where they grow maize and potatoes, and they also have three mango trees. Placida sells groceries in a center near her home, to support her mother in providing for the family. Placida had gone to the market to purchase vegetables for her stall when the motorcycle she was riding on her way home got into an accident. The rider lost control, swerved, and crashed into a ditch along the road. She reports that she remained conscious, but suffered a deep cut to her left Achilles tendon. She was immediately brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, with the help of the good Samaritans. She was immediately taken into the operating room for immediate closure of the wound. An X-ray performed later, showed that she sustained fractures on her shin and calf bones. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 1st, Placida will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). This treatment will treat her condition, preventing further complications. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $861 to fund this procedure. Placida says, "I am in a great deal of pain and unable to move around. I am reaching out for your support to help me get this surgery, so I can walk independently and regain the ability to perform my daily activities once I fully recover."