Meet Nafissa. She is a 25-year old woman who shared that she tends to be very shy and reserved. She lives with her parents and her young child in an area of Burkina Faso where conflict is currently impacting their lives deeply. When she was a child, Nafissa developed a painful growth on the left side of her chin. This swelling in her lower jawbone affected her ability to eat, and was determined to be a benign tumor that needed to be removed. Her parents were able to secure the funds to send Nafissa to a hospital in Togo, where she could be treated at no cost to her family. The growth was removed, and for several years, Nafissa did well. However, the growth recurred, and in the middle of last year, Nafissa returned to Togo, where the second growth was excised. This time, however, the surgeon determined that her whole jawbone would also need to be removed. As the doctor in Togo did not have the necessary training to perform the surgery that Nafissa needed, he referred her to a physician with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Miraculously, Nafissa is now scheduled for a major jaw surgery with the leading team at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. As Nafissa's husband abandoned her because of her condition, and provides no support to Nafissa or their child, Nafissa and her parents are looking to you to help fund the $1,500 procedure, which will finally relieve Nafissa of the pain and symptoms that result from the tumor. Nafissa says: “It pains me that I have to stay at home with no friends. Making it worse, I cannot work to provide for my child.”

Oeun is a 68-year-old rice farmer from Kompong Speu province. He is married and has two sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. After finishing the rice harvest, he and his wife work on a palm sugar farm. In his free time, Oeun enjoys watching Cambodian boxing and reading the news. One year ago, Oeun developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him tearing and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus he is unable to travel on his own. When Oeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 13th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Oeun needs help to fund this $253 procedure. He said, "After this operation, I hope I will be able to work again to support my family."

Den is a 20-year-old university student, living with his parents in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. His parents are rice farmers, while his two sisters work in a local factory. His brother is currently in the tenth grade. When Den isn't studying, he likes to play football with his friends. In September 2021, Den was in a motorbike collision, and dislocated his shoulder, while also fracturing his tibia. He was treated for both of his injuries at a local hospital. Recently, however, his shoulder dislocated again, and Den visited a Khmer healer for care. But his shoulder remains stiff and painful. Doctors have now diagnosed Den with chronic shoulder dislocation, and they have recommended a bone graft and a muscle/tendon transfer, to reattach the torn cartilage and to tighten the tendons in his shoulder. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 4th, Den will undergo a fracture repair procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $483. Den is hopeful that this procedure will stabilize his shoulder, and that he will have no more problems. Den said: "I hope the doctors can fix my shoulder so I can concentrate on school and have no more pain."