Ruthmeeah is a one-year-old baby girl living with her parents near the northern coast of Haiti. Ruthmeeah was born with a rare, congenital heart condition, known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition is characterized by four separate defects of the heart, including a hole between the heart's two lower chambers, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Ruthmeeah will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to prevent blood from leaking through it; they will also remove the blockage from the valve. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6,000 to pay for Ruthmeeah's surgery. Ruthmeeah's family needs your help to raise an additional $1,500 to cover the costs of her pre-surgical prep, labs, medicines, and follow-up appointments. This money will also be used to pay for passports and for the social workers who will accompany Ruthmeeah and her family to the Dominican Republic. Ruthmeeah's mother said: "Our family has been praying very hard that our daughter would survive long enough to have this surgery, and we are so glad that our prayers are being answered."

Rodah is a 62 year old farmer. She and her husband, who is disabled, have three children who are all married. Rodah plants vegetables for sale, and gets some foodstuff from her children, who live far from home. She also has dairy cows, whose milk is used for home consumption, as well as for earning money. During an altercation with a family member, Rodah suffered a fracture of the lower part of her humerus bone in her right arm. She went to a local hospital, where the fracture was confirmed by an X-ray. Her right arm was splinted, and put into a sling. The fracture is painful, and Rodah is unable to use her right hand. If the fracture isn't treated appropriately, her hand may not heal properly. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On April 3rd, Rodah will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. After the surgery, Rodah will no longer be in pain, and she will regain the use of her hand. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Rodah says: "My hand really hurts. I can't do anything now, and most things at home are paralyzed as I was the only one working. I am kindly asking for help so that I can get back to my usual way of living."

Puttra, who is 17 years old, lives in Kampong Speu, a province just outside of the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. His parents are pig and cow farmers, and he has three younger sisters. In his free time, Puttra plays soccer with his friends and feeds the cows near his house. In the future, Puttra would like to be a teacher of Cambodian studies. Puttra has nasal polyps in each nostril that result in discharge, poor sleep, and pain, including frequent headaches. He has been using medications that his mother regularly purchases at a pharmacy to manage these symptoms, but his condition has not improved. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is here to help. On March 8th, Puttra will undergo a bilateral polypectomy at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which should permanently alleviate all of his unpleasant symptoms. Puttra and his family need your help to raise $388 to fund the surgery. Puttra hopes that after surgery, this problem will be gone, and he can focus on school.

Peace is a 65-year-old farmer and a mother to three children. Her eldest daughter is in the army, middle child is in the police force, and the youngest one is married to a farmer. During her studying days, her wish was to be a nurse but she lost her father in high school. Unfortunately, her mother couldn’t raise her school fees leading her to drop out. She has been married for 32 years, and she and her husband are farmers. She shared that together they enjoy attending church services, preaching to the young generation, and caring for each other. Five years ago, Peace began to experience troubling symptoms, including anterior neck swelling, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and swallowing with persistent heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with nontoxic goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Peace receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 28th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252. She and her family need help raising money. Peace says “I hope for a full recovery once am operated and with God's mercy, I think all will be well.”

Kuong is a 76-year-old retired rice farmer. She is a mother to four sons and four daughters, and the grandmother to 13. She and her husband live in Battambang province, but no longer work in the rice fields due to their age. They live with their youngest son who is a rice farmer. At home, Kuong cooks for the family and likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Kuong developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her light sensitivity, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus she is unable to travel on her own. When Kuong learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery, and implant a new lens in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Kuong said: "I hope after surgery, I can see again. I can see my grandchildren's faces and take care of myself better."

Meet Pho, a 55 year old father of four, who lives with his wife. At home he likes to grow vegetables around his house to supplement the family's diet, and to earn extra money. For the past five years, Pho has suffered from chronic nasal congestion and headaches. He has trouble sleeping and he often has to breathe through his mouth. He could not afford treatment at a local hospital, so instead, he purchased medicine from a pharmacy, which did not improve his symptoms. Left untreated, Pho's condition can cause obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to other serious medical problems. Fortunately, Pho's son told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and the medical work they do for Cambodians. After meeting with the doctors, Pho was diagnosed with a deviated nasal septum. This occurs when the nasal septum is significantly displaced to one side, making one nasal air passage smaller than the other. Now doctors have planned a septoplasty for January 17th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, and Pho needs your help to pay for the surgery, which will cost $397. After his surgery and recovery, Pho will be able to breathe through his nose easily, which will be a big improvement in his life. Pho shared: "I hope after surgery, it will be easy to breathe and the headaches will stop. I will be able to do my work and sleep well."

Sonara is a 37-year-old office worker living in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. He is single and lives with his elderly father and two sisters. His father is the village chief, his older sister works in a music store, and his younger sister works in an office. When not working, he enjoys reading books. Several days ago, he noticed a wound on the sole of his left foot. Since he was 17, he remembers having a small black mole on his foot, but until recently, he did not have pain. The mole has recently increased in size and hinders his ability to walk. Because most people never check their feet for signs of melanoma, unfortunately it often spreads before it is noticed. When Sonara learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform an excision and biopsy of the mole on the left sole, medial plantar flap, and inguinal node biopsy to determine if he has melanoma and if it has spread. In addition, surgeons will replace the part of his sole that has been excised with a local flap. Now, he needs help to fund this $673 procedure. Sonara said: "I am lucky to know about CSC, I hope the pain in my foot goes away and I can return to work."

Saren is a 67-year-old retired farmer from Kampong Speu. She is married with two sons, five daughters, and 12 grandchildren. She lives with her retired husband and one of her daughters. At home, she enjoys going to the local pagoda or listening to the monks pray on the local radio station. Almost a year ago, Saren developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her cloudy, blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Saren learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 6th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She shared: "I hope after surgery I will be able to help my daughter do housework, take care of my grandchildren, and help my family with our rice planting."

Grace is a 50-year-old living in the Nairobi area of Kenya. She is a mother of three children, but shared that she has separated from their father. Her youngest child is in school, and the older children are a 31-year-old handy worker and a 29-year-old preacher trainee. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Grace was doing well financially. She used to sell secondhand clothes at Gikomba market and was able to earn a living and support her children. The Covid outbreak and the subsequent lock downs have made her life and that of her children very difficult, and she is now struggling to pay off a loan. Her condition started back in 2014. She started having abdominal pains and discomfort. The condition became worse about three years ago when pain became severe with a lot of sweating. She has been going to different hospitals and getting treatment without much help. A scan showed that she has cholelithiasis. She has now come to our medical partner's care center Nazareth Hospital and the surgeon recommended a cholecystectomy. Unfortunately, Grace cannot afford the fee for this surgery and needs help to raise the $788 required for it. If not treated, she will continue to have the pain and risks serious complications. Grace says, “I am desperate because the pain is too much, I can’t do my housework well and even my work. I have no one to turn to so I kindly request for support to have this surgery so that my life can be normal again.”

Voeun is a proud 66 year old grandmother, with five daughters, and nine grandchildren. After her husband passed away, Voeun moved in with her youngest daughter, who is a teacher. Voeun used to work as a rice farmer, but due to changes in her vision, she can no longer do so. Three years ago, Voeun developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her sensitivity to light, blurry vision, and tearing. As a result, in addition to being unable to work, Voeun also finds herself unable to help her daughter at home, leaving her feeling as if she is living a life without purpose. When Voeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours to seek treatment. Thanks to their intervention, Voeun is scheduled for cataract surgery on October 4th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, at which time the cataract will be removed, and an intraocular lens will be implanted in her eye. Voeun needs your help to fund the $253 to cover the costs of the surgery, which will enable her to return to a full and productive life. Voeun said: "I hope I can see well enough to take care of myself well and go places on my own."

Joseph is a bright six-year-old student from Kenya. He is the oldest in a family of two children. Both of his parents work as small-scale farmers to support their family. Joseph has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Joseph traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on September 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Joseph's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without difficulty and wear shoes again. Joseph mother says, “I have a very bright son. Everything else about him is fine except his feet. I hope he becomes a holistic, confident young man in the future, and I will definitely offer him my all to ensure that is achieved.”