Sephania is a baby from Simanjiro, Arusha in Tanzania. He lives among the Maasai people. He comes from a large family of six siblings, raised by a single mother. His father died shortly after he was born, and his mother depends on her brothers, who are cattle breeders. They help provide basic needs for the family since his mother does not work and has no means to earn a living. Sephania was born with both his legs twisted inward and downward. His mother was informed that there was treatment for the condition. She could not afford transport money at the time and had to wait for almost 2 years before she was able to collect enough money to travel to a medical center. She arrived at our center with an escort, who helped her translate as she only speaks Maasai. After a brief assessment with our team, we set up a treatment plan for Sephania, starting with a series of castings. Sephania has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Sephania traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Sephania's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Sephania’s mother says, "It has taken a while to be able to come for treatment. I hope my son will get treatment that will help with his foot’s condition."

Maria Jean is a loving mother of three from the Philippines. Maria Jean and her husband, Armando, have three children who are all studying. Armando works as a technician and earns around 216 USD a month. Maria Jean tutors other children to help with the family's expenses. She also takes care of all her children while suffering from a condition that physically limits her. Last year, Maria Jean began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and itching, difficulty using the restroom, and blood in her stool. She was diagnosed with severe external hemorrhoids. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Maria Jean receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on November 25th at WSFP's care center. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,285 to cover the cost of Maria Jean's procedure and care. Maria Jean shared: "This surgery will give me a second life. I will forever be grateful and indebted to the donors and people who will make this possible for me and my family."

Lucia is a six-month-old baby, living with her parents and older sibling in Orboma in Tanzania. Her parents make their living farming and livestock keeping. Their primary focus is on farming for sustenance, and they also sell any surplus harvest to generate additional income to meet their expenses. Lucia was born with the birth condition of bilateral clubfoot. Both of her feet are twisted out of shape, making it difficult for her to walk or to wear shoes as she grows. When her mother discovered this, she immediately began searching for treatment options. The family was initially referred to a nearby hospital, but they couldn’t find the necessary treatment there. It was at the hospital, however, that they learned about our medical partner's specialized care center, which is dedicated to treating children with similar conditions. Lucia's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin the clubfoot repair process on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Lucia's care. After treatment, Lucia will have improved alignment of her feet so that as she grows, her feet will develop correctly, enabling her to walk easily. Lucia’s mother says: “I wish my daughter to have normal legs like other babies. This will help reduce the stress we feel towards her future.”