Milka is a 48-year-old woman. She is the mother of three children, between 6 and 26 years. She works harvesting tea at a tea plantation, while her husband gets jobs working at construction sites. Their income is not enough to pay for life-saving surgery, and they do not have medical coverage. Milka woke up one morning at the beginning of February this past year and discovered a lump in her right breast. It was painless at first, but later became painful. She went to a clinic in her local area, but was referred to a bigger facility that offers cancer care. She came to Kijabe Hospital this month where she had an ultrasound, mammogram, and a core biopsy that revealed cancer. Milka has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. Doctors recommend a mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing, or spreading. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Milka. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 8th. After treatment, Milka will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Milka says, "I might be scared that I am losing my breast, but I know it is important to stop the cancer.”

Meet Sokhorn, a recently married 27 year old man, living with his wife in Cambodia. Sokhorn works at a factory that produces automobile and motorcycle plates, and when he has free time, he enjoys swimming, running, and keeping up with current events. In August 2022, when he was on his motorcycle delivering food, Sokhorn was in a collision with a car. He fractured his left tibia, and was operated on at a local hospital. An external fixation device to keep the bones in place was used, and Sokhorn was sent home to heal. Because he lacked the money to do so, Sokhorn never followed up with the doctors who treated him. He now finds that he has no range of motion in his ankle; has lost all sensation in the area where the surgery was performed, and he is unable to walk. He feels so unwell overall, that he no longer goes to work, leaving his wife as their sole support. Fortunately, a neighbor introduced Sokhorn to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where he was diagnosed with a chronic infection of his wound, and osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone. Sokhorn needs debridement of the wound and reconstructive surgery, in order to save his leg and to heal completely. Thanks to Children's Surgical Centre, Sokhorn is scheduled for this life changing procedure on October 6th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Now he needs your help to fund the $991 required to cover the costs of his surgery and care. Sokhorn said: "I hope the doctors will fix my leg so I have no more infections. I want to find work so I can support my wife and have a good life with her."

Nhel is a 54-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and has one son and two daughters. Nhel lives with his wife and their youngest daughter. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and caring for his grandchild. This past July, Nhel was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture of his left humerus. He visited a private clinic after the accident, but he unfortunately could not receive treatment due to financial constraints. It is currently difficult for him to use his left arm, and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 1st, Nhel will undergo fracture repair surgery, which will heal the fracture and allow him to regain use of his left arm. Now, he needs help to fund this $483 procedure. Nhel says, "I hope my pain will stop and I can use my left arm again."

Oun is a 64-year-old homemaker. She is married and has three sons and one daughter. Her family lives in Kampong Som with their youngest son who is disabled. Her husband is a motor taxi driver. At home, Oun does the cooking and cleaning, and cares for her son. Four years ago, Oun had a severe 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, Oun experiences infection, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to sleep well due to tinnitus and frequent ear discharge. Oun traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 16th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She shared: "I hope after surgery my ear will get better and stop having the pus and infection, reduce the ringing sound, and improve my hearing."

Lekitony is a kind 13-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of nine children. He and his family are from a Maasai community in a remote village where people mainly practice livestock keeping to support themselves. He is very hardworking and helps his parents look after the cattle in search of pasture and water. Lekitony was diagnosed with right genu valgum, meaning his right leg is bowed inward, causing his knees to touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often stemming from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he has a difficult time walking and experiences pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Lekitony. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 15th. Treatment will hopefully restore Lekitony's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Lekitony shares, “When I run, my knees knock and I fall. Also, most of the time my knees hurt.”

Rong is an elderly retired rice farmer who has developed a cataract in his left eye. He is a widower and has two daughters, three sons, and twenty grandchildren. He used to farm rice on the family plot, but as he has grown older, he spends time at home and lives with his oldest daughter who is a farmer. He likes to play with his grandchildren and listen to the monks pray on the radio. When Rong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. "I would like to go outside by myself and see all the faces of my grandchildren well," shared Rong as he talked with us about his future.

When U Eain was 10 years old, he became a monk. Now, at the age of 33, he lives with five other monks in a monastery in Yangon, Burma. As a monk, U Eain doesn't have an income. Instead, every morning, two of the novice monks from his monastery collect food donated by followers in Yangon. In addition, worshipers who visit the monastery donate vegetables, fruits and curries to eat. When the monks preach in other villages, they may receive small cash donations, and when U Eain's parents visit him every year, they provide U Eain with a small amount of money. In this way, the monks are able to cover their basic needs. In February, U Eain went to a town in Mon State to preach. During his second day there, he felt very tired and struggled to breathe, and ultimately, he had to stop preaching. He went to a local clinic, where he received two injections that helped him to feel better. The next day, he returned to his monastery in Yangon. Once he was home, he developed a fever and felt very tired, so he went to a nearby clinic. There, he received an electrocardiogram (ECG). After his results came back, the doctor told him that there were problems with his heart, and U Eain was referred to Yangon Government Hospital for an echocardiogram. On April 19th, U Eain had the echocardiogram, and then brought the results back to the nearby clinic. Due to numerous issues uncovered by the test, U Eain will need cardiac surgery to replace two valves in his heart. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is able to help U Eain access the care that he needs. On October 21st, doctors at Pun Hlaing Hospital will replace the two valves in U Eain's heart, relieving him of the chest pains, rapid heartbeat, fatigue and difficulty breathing that he suffers from now. With his limited income, U Eain needs your support to raise the $1,500 to cover the cost of the procedure. He is hopeful to feel himself again soon and looks forward to returning to preaching and teaching. U Eain said: “I am so happy to receive treatment. I would like to say thank you so much to all of the donors.”

Jovaito is a joyful woman and a wonderful mother to her four children, all of whom are in school. She is in her late forties and relies on farming to make ends meet. Her husband is a laborer who also takes up farming jobs on people's farms to make a living. Together, their income is limited, which makes paying school fees and meeting health needs difficult. For eight months, Jovaito has been experiencing uncomfortable symptoms and lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, in order to remove her tumor and relieve her of her pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $219 to fund Jovaito's surgery. On May 12th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Once recovered, Jovaito will be able to resume her daily activities and take care of her family pain free. Jovaito says, “I never got a chance to study but I have worked so hard to see that my children acquire so much education. I hope to continue with farming to push them farther once given a chance to undergo my surgery successfully.”

Colleta is a 26-year-old woman who works at a small boutique in Nairobi. She is married and has two children, who are four-years-old and five-months-old. Colleta and her family currently live in the capital city, but they plan to relocate to Colleta’s hometown soon. Colletta and her family were involved in a serious car accident last month. Her parents and brother passed away, and her husband and two children were seriously injured and admitted to the ICU. Although her husband’s condition has stabilized, Colleta’s kids are in critical condition and under pediatric intensive care. Colletta sustained a fracture to her right pelvic bones. As a result, she experiences severe pain and cannot sit, turn her body, or feed herself. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Colletta receive treatment. On April 28th, she will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, that will allow her to sit and walk again. AMH is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Colleta shared, “I am in pain and cannot even turn or sit. I am also sad that I lost my parents and my brother. My kids and husband are in critical care and still in ICU. I feel confused and heartbroken.”

U Chit is a 42-year-old husband and father from Burma. He lives with his in-laws, wife and son. His father-in-law works as a day laborer, while his wife and his mother-in-law are homemakers. U Chit used to work with his father-in-law, and also as a motorcycle taxi driver for extra income. However, he stopped working in January when his health worsened. When schools reopen, his son will begin kindergarten. A little over a year ago, U Chit began experiencing dizziness, fatigue, tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing when he exerted himself. A month later, he visited a local clinic where he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, in December 2021, U Chit lost a lot of weight and experienced night sweats in addition to his other symptoms. He was diagnosed with aortic valve regurgitation, mitral valve regurgitation and tricuspid valve regurgitation, and was placed on a waiting list to receive surgery. Because his condition is severe, the doctor recommended that he undergo surgery as soon as possible. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping U Chit access treatment. On April 8th, he will undergo mitral valve replacement surgery at BCMF's care center. After recovery, his symptoms should improve. Now, he needs help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. U Chit shared, "I gave up and I was ready to die before. There are a lot of heart patients waiting to receiving surgery. Since I heard that I could have surgery with the help of donors, I feel like there is hope that I will survive. I have to look after my family because my son is still young. I will always remember everything the donors did for me."

Romeo is a 67-year-old former carpenter and driver from the Philippines. Romeo has five children, and one his sons lives with and supports Romeo through part-time work as a call center agent. In January, Romeo was diagnosed with a hernia, a condition that causes Romeo severe pain on the left side of his abdomen. Romeo has had to stop working due to worsening symptoms. Fortunately, on March 30th, Romeo will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Romeo raise $1,130 to fund this life altering surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Romeo's son shared, "We pray and hope that this treatment will be the way for my father's body to be healthier and his life to be even longer. We want to thank Dr. De Leon who referred us to World Surgical Foundation Philippines and Watsi. Because of this, our father will get the much needed surgical treatment."