Mathew is a teenager from Kenya. Currently, he is not in school and herds the family cattle as part of his daily activities. He is the fourth-born in a family of nine children, and his first-born brother is the breadwinner. He does bodaboda business (motorcycle taxi) and has a pool table in the community where he charges a few shillings per game. Mathew was born at home, and a few days later his older brother noticed that he was not passing urine properly. His parents didn't take any action, thinking it was normal. His brother didn't know what to do at the time because he was not old enough to take Mathew to the hospital. Now 17 years later, Mathew's brother decided to take him under his wing and take him to the hospital despite not being subscribed to any health insurance program. They visited several hospitals, but nothing was done. A neighbor then referred them to a nearby clinic. Mathew was examined at the clinic and referred to BethanyKids for further review. His brother gathered some funds and managed to raise enough to bring Mathew for examination. Mathew was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility and cancer. Fortunately, Mathew is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $847 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Mathew's brother says, "I want my brother to be in good health and I know that this surgery will help boost his self-esteem."

Queen is an adorable 4-month-old baby from Tanzania. Her mother is a sole proprietor who has recently started a new small business, while her father works as a security guard. Queen has an older sibling. While their current income is limited, her mother is confident that her new business provide for their family's basic needs. Queen has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Queen's parents took her to a nearby hospital, but they lacked the needed specialized medical staff. Concerned about waiting a long time for a consultation, Queen's father visited another hospital but experienced the same issue. Queen's father then visited the hospital of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), where the doctors were able to diagnose the condition and recommended surgery. On November 18th, Queen will undergo clubfoot repair surgery that will allow her to learn to stand and walk as she grows. AMH is requesting $935 to fund this procedure. Queen's father shared: "We have been traveling far and wide in pursuit of a cure for our daughter. We're determined to see her feet get back to normal. We appeal for your financial support to help our daughter receive treatment."

Christopher is the first born in his family of three children. He works in different homes taking care of cows or farming work. Although Christopher would have liked to go to college after completing secondary school, his family couldn't afford it. As a result, he earns limited income from casual labor jobs, which he shares with his mother who needs support. On Wednesday 5th October, as Christopher went to feed the cows, one cow pushed him to a corner and he was squeezed against the wall until he sustained fracture of the right clavicle. He is unable to attend to his duties that give him income and he is also experiencing pain. Christopher came to hospital accompanied by his employer. He is currently not in a position to fund his treatment and thus request for assistance. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 13th, Christopher will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Christopher will be able to use his hand without feeling pain. He will also be able to resume his daily duties and continue to support his mother. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Christopher says, “I have a lot of pain and am afraid because I rely on my hands to make a life. I request for help so that I can get my hand treated. I hope to return to my regular workload soon so that I may work and help my needy mother."

Safia is a bright student - she is an orphan who is still mourning the loss of her mother who passed on in February 2022. Her father died a few years ago, and she lives with her relatives in Moyale. She has not been able to attend her classes since she started feeling unwell. She is the last born in a family of five children. She does not have medical coverage and is unable to raise the required amount for the surgery. She first experienced a small itch on her leg at the beginning of April 2022. She later experienced swelling in that area, and she did not have any feeling on the infected leg. Over time, the situation worsened and developed pus. She now has a chronic wound on her left leg that requires debridement and skin grafting. Safia was referred to our medical partner's care center Kijabe Hospital by friends after her condition did not improve. She visited the facility and underwent a sequestrectomy on the 8th of September and now needs a debridement and skin graft procedure. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Safia receive treatment. On September 14th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure so she can walk without straining and be able to attend school and continue with her studies. Now, Safia needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Safia's aunt says, “She has been away from school for almost five months now. Her condition keeps getting worse that she is unable to walk. We even have to carry her to the bathroom. She needs this surgery, or she will lose her leg.“

Tin is a 45-year-old man. Originally from Burma, he fled to Thailand over 20 years ago due to civil war. He currently lives with his wife, who works as a street vendor selling various snacks and vegetable, and one of his daughters, who is currently in school. His family also raises chickens, which they sell when they need cash. Tin previously worked as a farmer and a construction worker, but he has recently been unable to work due to his condition. In the future, he hopes to go back to work and help support his family. After an incident that occurred this past April that caused him to be hit in the left eye by a mango, Tin lost his vision in that eye and began to experience headaches, swelling, severe eye pain, and dizziness when attempting to stand. Tin eventually sought medical attention at a clinic. There, a medic checked his left eye, gave him a bottle of eye drops, and told him to seek treatment at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) since they could not treat him there. However, he did not go to MTC right away due to financial constraints. He instead hoped that his eye would recover over time with the help of eye drops. Although his pain was temporarily reduced, the bruising disappeared, and the swelling went down over time, he never regained his vision. The pain in his eye eventually returned, and he noticed that he had a white spot on his left pupil. As the white spot increased in size, his eye progressively became more painful and began to itch. He now experiences discharge and watering in his eye, as well as difficulty sleeping. At the beginning of this month, a small lump appeared near the white spot on his left pupil. The lump gradually increased in size until it bursted on August 13th. After the discharge and bleeding from the lump stopped, he asked his friend to take him to MTC right away. When he arrived at the clinic, he was told to come back on Monday since there were not any eye specialist medics working on the weekend. When Tin returned on Monday, a medic examined his left eye, and he was diagnosed with corneal perforation, a condition resulting from the cornea being penetrated and damaged. Tin was also told that his eye is infected. He now must undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to remove his left eye as quickly as possible before the infection spreads to his right eye. Fortunately, Tin was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), for financial assistance accessing treatment. On August 17th, surgeons at our medical partner's care center will perform an enucleation to remove his left eye. Now, BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund Tin's life-changing procedure. Tin shares, “I feel very depressed and worried about my eye. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I lost vision in both of my eyes. I want to receive surgery quickly to prevent my right eye from becoming infected. Without your help, I don’t think I would be able to receive further treatment. Therefore, I want to say thank you to the donors and the organization for agreeing to support my treatment costs.”

Hiram, an eleven year old boy, lives in Mombasa county in Kenya. He is the lastborn in a family of three and has two sisters. He is raised by a single mother who sells fish for their daily living. Hiram is in grade five and was born with club feet, which he lived with until this year. He had never been to any hospital for help until they heard about CURE hospital's mobile clinic in Mombasa. Fortunately, Hiram was able to undergo treatment for his right foot last September and the surgery was successful. Hiram is so happy to have undergone the first surgery on his right foot and is optimistic that even his left foot will be corrected well now too. Hiram is scheduled to undergo surgery for his left foot at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Hiram's clubfoot repair. The treatment will be of great impact to him because he will finally be able to put on both shoes, walk confidently, play football (which he is very excited for) and continue with his studies uninterrupted. “I am grateful to the donors for providing support to pay for my right foot which has healed well. I am looking forward to walking, playing with my friends, and continuing with school,” Hiram told us.

Ezekiel is a 4-year-old young boy and the second born in a family of four children. He is a charming, playful, and friendly boy. He has not joined school yet though his mother says he never stops telling his father that he wants to go to school like his older brother! In 2019, Ezekiel accidentally stepped into an open fire and sustained severe burns on both of his feet and hands. He was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted for over eight months receiving treatment and therapy. Given the long period he stayed at the hospital, his parents spent every savings they had and had to ask for support from friends and relatives. Despite the treatment, his feet have been severely deformed due to burn contractures, and Ezekiel has difficulty wearing shoes and walking. He has been scheduled for surgery to start correcting his right foot, but his parents cannot afford the treatment cost. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ezekiel receive treatment. On May 10th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him be able to wear shoes and walk easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $639 procedure. Ezekiel's mother says “Wearing shoes is difficult and he complains of pain when he plays. Please help treat him."

Sim is a 59-year-old potato farmer. He is married with three sons and four daughters; his wife is also a farmer. All of his children are married and live elsewhere in their province. In his free time, he likes to exercise, play with his grandchildren, and listen to the local and national news on his radio. A year ago, while spreading insecticide from his tractor, he was overcome by the fumes, passed out and crashed the tractor. His shoulder was paralyzed, and Sim was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right shoulder side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. The injury prevents him from lifting his shoulder, bending his elbow or moving his arm. He is unable to use his arm to work, dress himself, hold his grandchildren or perform most activities of daily living. Sim traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On May 10, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, Sim hopes that he will regain some use of his arm so he can return to farming and support his living. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Sim said: "I hope this surgery will work to allow me to use my arm again so I can work. I feel very poorly, and cannot work or help my wife at home."

Philip is a charming, friendly, and talkative three-year-old boy, and the youngest child in a family of six children. Philip's family has experienced financial challenges, and they are supported by their church. Philip does not attend school yet, but some of his siblings have their education are sponsored and are doing well in school. Philip has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition in which the knees angle inward and touch one another when the legs are straightened. The condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has difficulty walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Philip receive medical treatment. On April 8th, he will undergo corrective surgery at AMH's care center. Treatment will hopefully restore Philip's mobility, allowing him to attend school, participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Philip’s mother shared, "please help my son, he is struggling to walk."