Saoratt is an inquisitive 3-year-old toddler from Cambodia. Saoratt is an only child and lives with his parents and his grandparents in Kampong Speu province. Saoratt's parents work in a local factory and his grandparents grow rice on their ancestral land. Saoratt is too young to attend school, but likes to play with neighbors or go out to the rice paddies with his grandparents. Saoratt's favorite meal is chicken and ice cream! Saoratt suffered an electric burn on his left fingers in April 2022. Saoratt visited a local hospital for burn care but has now developed skin contractures on his fingers. Saoratt cannot hold anything with his left hand, and cries out in pain if his mother tries to straighten his fingers. When Saoratt's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery that will help Saoratt hold objects and bend and straighten his fingers. Now, CSC is helping Saoratt's family raise $495 to fund this procedure. Saoratt's mother shared, "I feel so bad my son's fingers were burned, and I hope the doctors can fix them so he can be like other children."

Simeo is a 67-year-old married father of six children from Southwestern Uganda. He works as a small-scale farmer, along with his wife to support their family. The couple has four daughters and two sons. Their oldest daughter is a nun and the rest of their children are married. For the past six years, Simeo has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia causes him paresthesia, backaches, and pain when walking long distances and lifting heavy items. He was examined at a local hospital and surgery was recommended, but the treatment was too expensive. Recently, his condition has worsened. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Simeo receive treatment. On November 8th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Now, Simeo is requesting $230 to fund his procedure and care. Simeo shared, "I appeal for financial support to undergo this treatment. I believe I will get better after the surgery and be able to do my activities well."

Meet Zipporah, who is almost three years old. She has four siblings and lives with them and her parents in Nairobi County in Kenya. Zipporah was healthy at birth. However, when she was about one year old, her mother noticed a swelling in her right thigh, which appeared to affect her mobility. Subsequently, Zipporah was diagnosed with Coxa vara, a deformity of the hip, which causes a shortening of the leg. As a result of her condition, Zipporah limps and experiences pain in her hip. With the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Zipporah is now scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her deformity on February 27th, at AIC Cure International Hospital. This procedure, which will cost $1,224, will prevent further deterioration of her condition. Zipporah and her parents need help to fund the costs of this life-changing surgery. “We would like to request support from well-wishers to help my daughter undergo surgery so that she can resume walking well like other children and enroll in school.” Zipporah’s mother told us.

Nancy is a bright and social 12-year-old student from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Her and her siblings are being raised by their grandparents with the help of amazing well-wishers, since their grandparents are older and appreciate the extra help. Nancy currently attends primary school, and her favorite subjects include Swahili, mathematics, and social studies! She is very friendly and loves to play netball with her schoolmates. However, playing is becoming increasingly difficult due to her condition. Nancy has clubfoot of the left foot. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Nancy and her family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Nancy's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Her grandmother says, "Nancy and her siblings have been in my care since they were babies. We struggle to raise them. That's why well-wishers help. Unfortunately, they can’t help her with her treatment. Please help us."

Saean is a 28-year-old delivery driver working in the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is married and has a three-year-old daughter. His wife is a garment worker. He likes to play tennis and football, read, listen to music, and fish. Saean was in a traffic accident in April and injured his right forearm. After the accident, he went to a hospital for an x-ray but decided to get treatment by a Khmer traditional healer instead. His condition did not improve and his neighbor told him to try visiting our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, he was diagnosed with a right radius fracture with ulnar styloid, swelling, and pain. CSC put a cast on his arm for 4 weeks and his pain has decreased, but now it is time for screw fixation to fully heal his right radius fraction. Fortunately, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre can help. On June 7th, Saean will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure allow him to move his arm easily again and finally heal from the accident. Saean says, "I'm hoping my right forearm fracture is fixed so I can work again without pain."

Elinipa is a beautiful two-year-old girl. She is an incredibly friendly child who loves to play with her five older siblings. At birth, she was a healthy child. It wasn't until she was learning to walk however, that her mother noticed that her legs were slightly curved, yet even so they did not seek treatment assuming it was a minor problem that she would outgrow. Elinipa has now been diagnosed with bilateral valgus, which is a condition caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result of her condition, Elinipa's legs bow inward to the point that her knees touch. This makes walking persistently more difficult as she continues to grow. Through our medical partner's outreach program her parents learned that their daughter needs surgery to correct her legs. Elinipa's parents are small scale famers who depend entirely on what they harvest to make a living. As a result, their income is not enough to afford to take Elinipa to the hospital to treat her condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Elinipa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 13th at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. With this treatment Elinipa's mobility will hopefully be restored, thus allowing her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing her risk of future complications. Elinipa’s father says, “I am worried with how her legs continue to bend inward. Please help us.”

Kay is 43-year-old woman and garment factory worker. She lives alone on the border of Thailand and Burma. Kay supports her parents in Burma by sending them money every month. In her free time, she enjoys reading books about Buddhism. In the middle of 2021, Kay began experiencing pain and abnormal bleeding. By September of 2022, the pain and symptoms had worsened. Kay has been diagnosed with myoma, or a noncancerous growth in the uterus. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, which would surgically remove her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Kay's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Kay is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on September 19th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain or abnormal bleeding. She will be able to go back to work, and to continue supporting her family. “When I recover fully, I will continue to work in the garment factory. I will save my money and I will pay back my debt. I will try to continue supporting my parents,” said Kay.

Hassan is a hardworking 37-year-old from Kenya who works as a casual laborer. He lives in a single-room rental house that costs about $10 per month. On July 25th, Hassan was working as a night guard when he was attacked by unknown people. During the attack, his left leg was hit with a sharp object. He was eventually taken to a nearby health facility for emergency treatment, where he received stitches and was discharged with pain medication. However, his condition did not improve, and he was still unable to walk. Community health workers in the area took Hassan to a nearby hospital, where an X-ray revealed a transverse patella fracture with some displacement. A doctor at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, recommends that he undergo fracture repair surgery. Hassan shares that income from casual labor jobs in Kenya is inconsistent and is not enough to pay for the proposed procedure. He also does not have medical insurance and would need to pay for the surgery in cash. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On August 26th, Hassan will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $979 to fund this procedure. Hassan says, “I am struggling to walk as a result of the fracture. I am unable to get any manual work to earn a living because I cannot use my legs. Surviving without a job is an issue. I need this surgery to be able to work.”

Rose is a seven-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is an only child to her mother, who unfortunately passed away when she was one year old. She is now in the care of her aunt. Her aunt's husband practices farming and grows corn, sorghum, and potatoes. Rose had not been enrolled in school prior to this year due to her aunt's concerns about her condition, but she is now enrolled in kindergarten. Rose has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is twisted out of shape. When she was three, her aunt noticed that she would fall every time she walked and that her legs seemed to be weakening. Rose currently experiences difficulty walking, playing, and carrying out other daily activities. Fortunately, Rose and her family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on July 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Rose's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk easily. Rose’s aunt shares, “...I would love to get her condition corrected, but I have no means.”