Joyline is a 14-year-old student at a primary school in Kenya, where she lives with her parents and two younger siblings. Her parents are small-scale farmers who plant potatoes and beans, mainly for home consumption, with some sold for an income. They live in a home without electricity, using firewood as their source of heat, while getting their water from a nearby river. Joyline reported that she started feeling pain in her leg in November of last year. Her parents brought her to two different facilities, where the only treatment provided was pain medication. Walking has become difficult to the point she had to stop going to school and is unable to walk on her own. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, can help. On May 9th, Joyline will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. The treatment will repair her fractured femur, and enable her to live a pain-free life. Now, African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Joyline says: "I feel so much pain, and the worst of it all is that I cannot walk. I am so uncomfortable when I see my mother helping me do things that I could do on my own. Kindly help me so that I may be able to go back to school and study well, as this is my final year in primary school."

Marvens is a toddler who lives with his parents and his older sister. His parents are looking forward to starting him in preschool as soon as he recovers from his surgery. Marvens has a cardiac condition called partial anomalous pulmonary vein return (PAPVR). One of the major veins in Marvens' chest connects to his heart in a location that is not anatomically normal. As a result, blood cannot flow normally through his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. On March 1st, Marvens will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will detach the vein from his heart and reattach it at the anatomically correct position. Marvens' family needs help to fund the costs of surgery, and the prep and follow-up care required. Marvens family and our medical partner have been able to raise some of the support needed, but still are in need of $1,500 and have turned to the Watsi community for support. Marvens' mother says: "Our family is very happy to have this chance, and will be praying for everyone who is helping us!"

Abel is a 75-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. He is a sharp man who is advanced in age but is still strong and active. He is the proud father of six children. Of his three sons, two are teachers and one is in the bodaboda business. His daughters are all married and work as farmers. In his evenings, he passes the time grazing his goats and sheep. For the past three years, Abel has experienced left inguinal swelling and has had a left inguinal hernia. The swelling causes sharp pain, especially when lifting heavy objects. He cannot stand or sit for long periods, and the swelling intensifies when he coughs or laughs. Due to limited finances, he has never been to the hospital until recently when the pain became unbearable. Fortunately, on March 14th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Abel's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Abel says, “I hope I will surely get better after being operated and I am happy that the hospital bill will be settled.”