Stephen is a nurse from Uganda. He has a certificate in nursing and is employed as a nurse at Rushoroza hospital in Uganda. He stays in the hospital staff quarters because he has not built his own house yet. He is single but has dependents especially his parents who are small scale farmers with very low income. He has one brother and six sisters. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family. Four months ago, Stephen began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pains of the right upper quadrant. He shared his complications with a doctor at Rushoroza hospital and a scan was done. He was diagnosed with gall bladder sludge and was given treatment. He thought he would feel better but this has not happened. A month later, it was discovered that the sludge had turned into gall bladder stones. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Stephen receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on May 13th at our medical partner's care center. This procedure will cost $284, and Stephen and his family need your support. Stephen says, “My performance has been impacted because of my current medical condition. I pray that I may get well through surgery and continue with my nursing duties at Rushoroza hospital.”

An is a loving grandmother from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. She is 67 years old and continues to work on the family rice farm as it is a source of income and a way to stay active. She has four daughters, one son, and 15 grandchildren. Sadly, her husband passed away one year ago from untreated hypertension. She now lives with her youngest daughter, who is a garment worker. About a year ago, An developed a cataract in her right eye. As a result, she experiences photophobia, tearing, and blurry vision. She feels that she has lost a degree of her independence due to her limited vision and her symptoms make her feel uncomfortable. When An learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours to seek treatment. On May 4th, doctors at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her right eye. After she has recovered, An will be able to see clearly and regain her independence. Now, she needs your help to fund this $253 procedure. An said: "I hope after my surgery I will see better. I hope to go outside more often, feel better, and plant rice well."

Shurem is an 8-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the third born in a family of four children. His mother is a housewife while his father is a casual laborer who herds cattle for people in his community. However, the ongoing drought in the region has made it difficult for him to find work. The family is unable to raise the required funds to pay for medical expenses. Shurem has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Shurem has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. When Shurem was two years old, he started experiencing fevers which were managed with medication. A few days later, his parents started to notice his head was increasing in size. Despite a review from the hospital and the administration of medication, his condition only became worse, and he stopped walking. Late last year the community referred his family to BethanyKids first mobile clinic in their hometown Garissa County, as they had stopped seeking treatment for Shurem for a few years. The mobile clinic referred Shurem to BethanyKids, where he was examined and diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Without treatment, Shurem will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Shurem that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 9th and will drain the excess fluid from Shurem's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Shurem will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Shurem’s father says, “I feel very bad for my son as I cannot help him in any way. I want him to be well and back in good health.”