Deniss, who is six months old, is the firstborn child in his family. He and his parents- who are farmers- live in a house without water or electricity in Malawi. Deniss was healthy at birth. However, when he was about one month old, his parents noted that he had a swollen scrotum. They visited Bua, the nearest hospital, and were referred to Nkhotakota district hospital in Malawi for further assistance. At Nkhotakota, Deniss was assessed and diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia. Deniss' parents were told that he was too young for surgery and they brought him home. Because of ongoing swelling at the hernia site, however, Deniss and his parents have had to make multiple visits to the hospital, taking time away from Deniss' parents' time to work and negatively impacting their income. On May 2nd, Deniss will undergo hernia repair surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, and Deniss' parents are looking to you to help raise $575 to fund Deniss' treatment and care. Deniss' parents are looking forward to being able to return to work and seeing smiles on Deniss' face. Deniss' mother joyfully said: “I can’t wait to see my son well again; thank you sponsors for considering my child Deniss.”

Junior is a happy and playful five-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother in Dodoma, Tanzania. Junior's mother, who is a single parent, works as a housemaid in Arusha- 450 miles from Dodoma- and sends her earnings to her mother, who cares for Junior. Junior was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition where his legs bow inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which is often a byproduct of consuming contaminated drinking water. As a result, Junior has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Junior. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Treatment should restore Junior's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Junior’s mother says: “I am constantly worried about his future because his legs keep getting worse over time. I hope he will get better with this treatment.”

Janet is a 23-year-old young lady from Uganda. She is currently a student in her final year pursuing a diploma in accounting. She is the youngest of three children. Her parents work as farmers and own a four-room mud house for shelter. Janet has had a right inguinal hernia for two years. After a year, she visited a nearby health unit and was given medication, but there was no improvement in her condition. Currently, she experiences on-and-off swelling, and it is very painful when it appears. This is common whenever she walks long distances, develops a cough, or needs to squat down. On March 22nd, Janet will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $170 to fund Janet's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Janet says, “I believe my condition is abnormal and I am worried. I pray that I may have a successful surgery and be able to take on my studies comfortably.”