Srey Touch is from Cambodia and lives with her husband, their 11-year-old child, and her cousins. Her husband is an electrician and her cousins are welders. Srey Touch works as an accountant in a school. In her free time, she likes to cook and check her social media. In November 2023, Srey Touch was in a traffic accident that resulted in damage to her left ulnar nerve, impacting the muscles in her ring and little fingers. She also experiences loss of sensation in her hand and muscle dystrophy between her index finger and thumb on the left hand. These conditions affect her ability to hold heavy objects and cause discomfort while working and performing daily activities. Srey Touch was referred by relatives to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On July 18th, surgeons will perform an ulnar nerve exploration and transposition procedure on her left hand to improve her hand function and overall well-being. Srey Touch is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $472 more needed for the surgery and physiotherapy that she requires. Srey Touch hopes to use her hand and fingers more easily, to improve her function at work, and perform daily tasks without discomfort.

Bukhari is a seven-month-old baby boy from Kenya, the youngest of three children. His father works as a casual laborer, mainly at construction sites, while his mother is a homemaker. Bukhari was born at home with a noticeable swelling on the lower part of his back. His parents initially hoped it would lessen over time, but as the weeks went by without any change, their concern grew. After a month, they took him to a nearby hospital, where he was examined and then referred to a treatment facility in Nairobi. Determined to help their son, Bukhari’s parents returned home and began raising funds to cover their journey to the recommended facility. During this time, a family friend advised them to seek help at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH). After tireless efforts, the family was able to gather enough funds to bring Bukhari to BKKH for a thorough examination. Bukhari was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine doesn't properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, he faces serious risks, including potential paralysis of his lower limbs, infection, and developmental challenges. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Bukhari receive treatment. On August 5th, surgeons at BKKH will perform a spina bifida closure surgery to alleviate complications associated with the condition, allowing healthy growth and development. Now, Bukhari’s family needs help to fund this $856 procedure. Bukhari’s father says, "From the moment he was born, we have been worried about his health. We are hopeful that he receives the treatment he needs and recovers quickly."

Ustinah is a 50-year-old farmer and a mother of five children. Born in a family of 16, she has 2 brothers and 13 sisters. Just before joining primary school class seven, her mother had a serious fracture of her leg. Ustinah remained at home nursing her. By the time she recovered, her classmates had moved on to higher levels, discouraging Ustinah from continuing with her studies. Ustinah and her husband grow food crops like beans, maize, and potatoes for home consumption and sell off the surplus to generate an income for the family. Five years ago, Ustinah began to experience troubling symptoms, including an anterior neck swelling accompanied by shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and swallowing, numbness, and inability to tilt her neck sideways. She was examined and requested to do a scan and run some thyroid tests. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ustinah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on October 8th, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Usitnah says, “At times at night, I am unable to breathe. I stay awake until morning, and this has made things difficult for me and affected my health. I believe that with your support, I will be able to undergo my surgery and will get better.”