Sopha is a 22-year-old teacher from Cambodia. She has two brothers and five sisters. When she has free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and cooking. Five months ago, Sopha fell off a motorcycle and fractured her left forearm. She received initial treatment at a nearby hospital, however she still experiences swelling and pain in her wrist. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 25th, Sopha will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $465. Treatment will help Sopha's fractured arm to heal properly and allow her to use her arm normally again. "I hope that my arm will no longer have any pain and swelling, and the fracture will heal so that I can return to work," Sopha said.

Joe is a 12-year-old student from Thailand. He moved to Mae Sot in early 2019, in search for better education. He now lives at a boarding house while studying at a migrant learning center. Joe noticed his blurred vision since he was five years old. Although he told his parents about it, his parents thought it was not that serious; they just told him that his eye sight will get better with time. As Joe did not experience any pain, aside from blurry vision, Joe stopped complaining about his problem to his parents. Joe continue to have a blurred vision, especially in his left eye. After he moved to Mae Sot, he told his uncle about his eye sight. His uncle made arrangements for him to meet with a medic, who later found that Joe has a cataract on his left eye and that it needs to be fixed in order for Joe to regain a clear vision in his left eye. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Joe. On December 10th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Joe's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Joe said, “I don’t know yet of what I want to be in the future, but all I’m looking forward to is to ride a bicycle and play with my friends without any difficulty seeing.”

Aziza is a young student from Tanzania. She is twelve year old and the second born in a family of three children. She is currently in class six and her best subjects are mathematic and Swahili. She would love to be a teacher when she grows up. Aziza is being raised by one of her aunts while her other sibling are being raised by other relatives, this after their mother past away four years ago. Their father developed a drinking problem and was not taking care of the children, so their relatives decided to help the children since they would miss meals and they didn’t have anyone to wash their clothes or provide them with other needs. When she was three years old, Aziza fell on an open fire when playing with her two siblings. She suffered wrist burns and after a hospital stay, she was discharged to continue with dressing the burn at home. Unfortunately, she healed with contractures on her left wrist. In October last year, Watsi donors funded her her wrist contracture release and skin graft. She now needs her fingers released as contractures make it impossible for her to move her fingers freely. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Aziza receive treatment. On February 19th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery so she will be able to move her fingers and hand freely. Now, she needs help to fund this $608 procedure. Aziza requested, “Help me have my hand fully released and be able to use it in my daily activities without challenges.”

Joselyn is a peasant farmer from Uganda who was diagnosed with goitre. She has suffered for the past five years, complaining of difficulty breathing, headache and consistent palpitations. She is not able to perform most of her daily work. Joselyn was not able to get funds for surgery previously so continued struggling with the condition. She came to our facility and had surgery recommended. With successful surgery, Joselyn will be able to lead a normal life. Joselyn is a mother of 10 children. They are not in any formal employment and thus unable to help their mother. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Joselyn receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 10th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Joselyn says, “I hope to have a successful surgery so that I continue with cultivation at my farm.”

Joseph is a young boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth born child in a family of 7 children and also comes from a polygamous family and has 10 siblings inclusive of his step-siblings. His parents are small scale farmers in Northern Tanzania. His father often traverses into Kenya to sell Masai herbal medicine to supplement income and meet the daily demands of his big family. When Joseph was two years old, he slipped by boiling tea in his mother's hut. He suffered burns on his right hand and right side of his head. He spent several months in the hospital recuperating from the burns. Unfortunately, he healed with contractures on his right hand that has limited his ability to use his right hand. Joseph had surgery in October to release his wrist and now he needs to have another surgery to have his fingers released. Joseph is struggling to write in his class one studies due to contractures on his right hand. He has to learn how to write with his left hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Joseph receive treatment. On January 7th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to he will be able to use his hand and even move his fingers independently. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Joseph says, “I like how my hand looks now, and I am able to use my hand to carry things. I hope that if I get another surgery it will look more okay.”

Bon is a fifth-grade student from Cambodia. He is ten years old and he has three sisters and five brothers. He loves to play soccer and watch funny videos, and his favorite foods are chicken soup and coconut water. He hopes to become a doctor when he gets older. Eight months ago, Bon had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Bon experiences ear discharge, itchiness, tinnitus, headache, and hearing loss. He cannot hear others clearly and is frequently distracted at school because of his hearing. Bon traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 10th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. "I hope that my son's surgery goes well and he will recover without anymore discharge or headaches." -Bon's Mother

Monica is a farmer from Kenya. She is a widow and a mother of four ranging between 11 and 2 years of age. Sadly, she lost her husband in February 2018 after he was attacked by bandits and his cattle raided. Monica didn’t go to school when she was young, so she can’t write, read or talk the national language of Swahili. Since her cattle were taken, Monica embarked on farming millet and sorghum in the farm left by her late husband. Monica arrived at the hospital after she was assaulted by someone she knows two weeks ago and sustained injuries to her right hand. She is not able to work and is in persistent pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 28th, Monica will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her heal and use her hand again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $771 to fund this procedure. Monica’s brother says, “Or hope is for her to get treated, she is the sole breadwinner to her family.”

Elisha is a child from Kenya. Elisha is the last born in a family of 5. He is currently a nursery school boy and likes reading and scribbling things on a paper. He also likes playing with other children both at home and at school. The family used to live in Marakwet but fled as a result of ethnic clashes. They now live in a village called Kachibora at a farm. Elisha has clubfoot of his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Elisha traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 07. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Elisha's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and wear closed shoes. “Your help will be highly appreciated. Continue doing good.” Elisha’s father noted.

Dennis is a very shy and quiet boy from Kenya. Dennis was born with anal rectal malformation, where he lacked an anal opening. This caused trouble to his parents as he could not pass stool for an entire week when he was born. He had a colostomy created and was required to proceed with subsequent surgeries of the anal opening and colostomy closure. However, for the last 17 years, he has survived with the colostomy. His parents were not able to raise the funds needed for his surgeries. His area chief recently forced Dennis's parents to bring him to Bethany Kids Kijabe after much suffering. At Bethany Kids Kijabe, he was diagnosed and surgery recommended. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. However, the family is still struggling financially. Dennis is the firstborn child in his family. Due to his condition, he has never been to school, being passed by all his 6 siblings who are schooling. Dennis is quite shy and prefers to be alone due to his condition. Successful surgery will allow Dennis to resume a relatively normal life like any other child and perhaps start schooling. His father is a security guard while his mother sells vegetables in their village.The family appeals for help. Dennis is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on October 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,327 to cover the total cost of Dennis's procedure and care. “If only I knew, I would have come here early. I feel like I have wasted his life,” says Dennis's father with regret.

Julia is a young girl from Kenya. Julia lives with her elder sister and parents in a two room rental house in Central Kenya. Her parents are subsistence farmers without an external source of income. Julia is in class one and dreams of becoming a pilot when she is older. One year ago, Julia was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. This hernia causes her pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on August 30th, she will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Julia's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. “I want to be a pilot when I grow up.” says Julia.

Abdirahim is a child from Ethiopia. Abdirahim is a cute boy who loves to play with others. He loves to play football with other children in the village. He also loves to watch animation movies. Abdirahim’s father is retired while his mother was a business woman who supported the family until six months ago when she passed away. Abdirahim has five siblings. Abdirahim underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Abdirahim's case, his colostomy requires closure in order to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $961 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Abdirahim. The surgery is scheduled to take place on September 09 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. His dad said “After the operation I see a bright future for our child. I believe his trouble will come to end. And for us the families, it is a big relief.”

Peter is a young student from Kenya. For three years, Peter has had an inguinal hernia. This condition causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on August 7, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Peter's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I want to be an engineer when I grow up," says Peter.