Anastazia is a nine-year-old student from Tanzania. She has seven siblings and lives in the heart of Serengeti, a beautiful area in Tanzania, home to some of the most breathtaking wildlife on the planet. Her father is a small-scale farmer who relies on subsistence agriculture to provide for his family. From a very young age, Anastazia's legs started bowing, making it difficult to walk, run, or play like other children her age. Her parents noticed the problem and did everything they could to find a solution, including visiting local doctors and healers, but nothing worked. Unfortunately, they could not afford to take her to a hospital in the city, which was too far away. As a result, Anastazia was forced to live with her condition and learned to adapt to it. She walks to school with her siblings, but with some difficulty and discomfort. Fortunately, Anastazia was able to reach our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), where she was diagnosed with Acquired bilateral genu varus. Her legs bow outward so that her knees do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often stemming from contaminated drinking water. AMH is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Anastazia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th, and the treatment will hopefully restore Anastazia's mobility. This will allow her to participate in various activities and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Anastazia says, “I wish to be able to walk to school with my siblings without having to endure so much pain.”

29-year-old Agatha is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. Her husband also farms and together, they have three children. Agatha is currently expecting her fourth child. Her doctors have recommended that she deliver via a Caesarean section, as she delivered her three other children this way, and there is a risk of a uterine rupture if she were to opt to deliver vaginally. A C-section is the best way for the doctors to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Agatha undergo a C-Section on May 4th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale. This procedure will cost $252, and Agatha needs your support to fund this procedure. Agatha says: “I will be very happy when I am considered for this program since I am financially unstable. I hope to deliver a live and healthy baby, and I will resume farming for a living.”

Raheel is a 15-month-old boy from a small family with one sibling and two parents. Raheel’s father is a local vendor selling fish at the market, and his mother sells clothes and accessories. Raheel's parents work to make sure their family is provided for, but have struggled to make ends while business has been slow. Raheel has clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape making it difficult for Raheel to learn to walk and wear shoes. Fortunately, Raheel's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Raheel's parent's raise $935 to fund his clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Raheel’s mother shared, “It feels good seeing my son be playful despite his foot condition. I wish for his other foot to be normal too.”