Sopy is a 23-year-old man from Kratie Province, Cambodia. He lives with his mother, who works as a rice farmer; his father passed away when he was a child. He is the middle of three siblings, and his older brother and sister work as day laborers to help support the family. When Sopy was 11, he noticed a mass on the left side of his face. It has grown gradually over the years and, while not painful, causes itchiness and visible facial asymmetry. Previous evaluations and treatments, including biopsies and a course of anti-tuberculosis medication, have not resolved the condition. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will remove the mass on June 16th. Sopy's family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $791 more to fund his procedure and care. Sopy said, “I have lived with this condition since I was young, and it has affected how I feel about myself. I hope this surgery will reduce the mass, improve my appearance, and help me feel confident and comfortable in my daily life.”

Agness is 59 years old and a farmer from Malawi. She is married with nine children. Eighteen years ago, Agness began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small lump on her neck that grew bigger over time, causing problems with swallowing meals. She visited the nearest hospitals, where she was given some medications after the diagnosis of goiter was made, yet to no avail. With time, she couldn't carry heavy items on her head, concentrate on farm work, and was always tired. She was then referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), for support. Agness was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Agness receive treatment. On March 10th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. "Words fail me; thank you in advance, you have space in heaven; your care has already given me hope that all will be well in the end," Agness said.

Jana is a four-year-old young girl from El Bagre, Colombia. She is an active, cheerful preschooler who loves spending time with her family and enjoys music and dancing. Even at a young age, Jana shows a caring heart and dreams of becoming a doctor one day so she can help people, or animals, in need. Unfortunately, Jana has developed severe dental caries and infections. Because of her young age, she requires extensive dental treatment under general anesthesia to safely address the problem. At times, Jana feels sad because other children tease her about her teeth, and she hopes her teeth can be fixed. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund treatment for her infection and severe tooth decay under general anesthesia on March 20th. Doctors hope this care will allow Jana to grow up healthy, free from pain, and able to smile with confidence. Jana's mother shares, "To anyone who wants to do their bit to help my daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are a low-income family; I am a single mother, I do odd jobs, and unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to cover the treatment she needs, as it is very expensive. God bless every person who can help make this surgery possible. My daughter dreams of the day when she can smile without fear or pain. She always tells me, 'Mom, when I have my pretty teeth, I'm going to laugh all the time, and they won't hurt anymore.' That is her greatest wish, and hopefully we will see it come true very soon. May God reward you for your support, solidarity, and prayers."

Caroline is 49 years old and a mother of one from Kenya. She has been battling kidney failure since 2017 and has been on medication and dialysis since then. In 2023, she began experiencing progressive weakness in her legs, which eventually left her unable to walk. She has not been able to work since 2017 and has relied on the support of friends and well-wishers to survive. She has one son, who has his own family and depends on casual jobs to make ends meet, limiting his ability to support her financially. Caroline was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism resulting from kidney failure. This condition has caused mass buildup in her thyroid glands, leading to limb weakness and her inability to walk. Doctors have recommended surgery, which would help restore strength in her limbs and give her the chance to walk again. Unfortunately, Caroline’s insurance does not cover this procedure. With no source of income, she is unable to meet the cost of the surgery. Caroline is therefore reaching out for support to undergo this procedure, recover her mobility, and reduce the level of dependency she is currently experiencing. On February 6th, Caroline will undergo surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. She needs help to raise $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. Caroline says, “I would really like to walk again so I can do simple things on my own, like walking to the washroom without help.”

Surafel is 20 months old and a cheerful little boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his brother and watching animated shows. His father works as a security guard, while his mother is a homemaker who occasionally takes on domestic work to earn extra income. After Surafel was born, he experienced several health problems, which placed a significant financial burden on the family. His mother had to borrow money from neighbors to cover medical expenses and is still working to repay it. One year ago, Surafel was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Surafel has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Surafel will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 15. AMHF is requesting $1,073 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Surafel's mother said, "I pray that my child comes through the surgery safely. I am incredibly grateful for all the support you've given me. With God's grace, I will take home a healthy child, and may God bless you all."

Nicole is a beautiful six-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her single mother and three siblings. Her mother does casual work on other people's farms to support her children. She is in the first grade and loves to sing. Nicole dreams of becoming a gospel musician when she grows up. Nicole has clubfoot on her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. “My heart is heavy. I feel like my daughter didn’t do anything wrong,” says Nicole’s mother. “I just hope she can walk like other kids,” she added. Nicole walks with difficulty, often tiptoeing and sometimes falling. She cannot play freely with her friends and feels sad when other kids laugh at her while she walks. Fortunately, Nicole traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Nicole's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to wear shoes, walk easily, and enjoy playing with her friends. Nicole's mother shared, "I have high hopes that at CURE Hospital, she will get better, be able to continue her education like other children, and achieve her dream of becoming a gospel musician."

Chorb is 76 years old and a doting grandmother from Cambodia. Five months ago, after her husband passed away, Chorb moved in with her eldest child. She has four other children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. For the past four months, Chorb has suffered from hip pain that prevents her from walking. Because of this, she cannot move around freely or visit the pagoda, which was part of her daily routine. She worries about losing her independence and being limited in her activities. Chorb was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), by a friend from her village. On November 11th, Chorb will undergo a hip replacement procedure on her left hip. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $1,400 more to fund her procedure and care. After surgery, Chorb hopes to regain mobility, to be free from hip pain, and to return to visiting the pagoda independently. Chorb said: “After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have hip pain, and I can walk on my own."