Fatma is a 14-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the 4th born in a family of seven children, and is in grade 7 at Sowene Primary School. She is passionate about education and likes reading, her favorite subject being English. She aspires to become a designer in the future. Fatma has clubfoot on her right foot. They discovered the condition in 2017, and she was operated on at Mombasa Hospital, but the deformity has recurred, thus affecting her mobility. We met her at the AIC Cure clinic accompanied by her mother, Asli, who explained how they had visited different hospitals to seek medical attention for her foot, including undergoing surgery at Mombasa, but the condition hasn’t been corrected; instead, it continues to worsen/bend on the right side. Both parents operate a small shop in Taveta town, which provides the family with a small income. Fatma says that she feels pain while walking and is not able to play with her friends while at school. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Fortunately, Fatma visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 11. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,286 to fund Fatma's surgery. After treatment, she will be able to walk without difficulty and continue with her studies uninterrupted. “I will be happy to see my foot corrected and appreciate your assistance,” Fatma said.

Mao is a 52-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She is married with one son and three daughters. Her two oldest daughters work in a nearby garment factory to help support the family. Her other children are in middle and high school. In her free time, Mao likes to listen to the news on the radio and cook for her family. In July, after a big rainstorm, Mao slipped and fell in the rice paddy and broke her arm. It is difficult for her to move her hand, and she is experiencing pain and discomfort. Mao has only been able to work a few days since the accident. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On August 15th, Mao will undergo a fracture repair procedure to alleviate her pain and help restore function in her hand and arm. CSC is requesting $483 to fund this procedure. Mao contributed $100 to her care. She shared, "I hope I can have surgery so I can return to work and do my job properly."

Charles is a 6-year-old boy and the third-born child in a family of five. He has a twin sibling with whom he enjoys playing with and has an undeniable bond. The mother is a stay-at-home wife, while the father is a farmer who relies on agriculture for sustenance and income to cover their day-to-day expenses. However, due to the current climate changes, the returns from his farming activities have been quite minimal. Consequently, he has had to find another day job to earn some extra money. Charles was recently diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. A condition where both of his legs are bowed outward. It began when he was 2 years old and has continued to worsen over the years. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, the bowing of his legs has made him walk with a side-to-side gait. Charles quickly becomes tired when engaging in activities that require mobility. Despite the parents’ efforts to seek treatment for his condition, living in a remote area has made it difficult for them to access the appropriate treatment. To address his condition, Charles requires corrective surgery, known as bilateral Sofield-Miller osteotomy to improve the alignment and functionality of his legs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), has been able to diagnose Charles and create a treatment plan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 1st. Treatment will hopefully restore Charles's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. AMH is now requesting $880 to help fund the corrective surgery for Charles. Charles says: “I wish to get better and for my legs to look normal. Hopefully, after this treatment, my legs will be fine.”