Thiago is a three-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his parents, who both work in agriculture, and his two older siblings. Thiago's story of being diagnosed with a heart problem is unique. He accompanied his parents in a protest march against a law that threatened their community, walking for 28 days from the Bolivian Amazon to the city of La Paz. When they finally arrived, the high altitude of the city affected Thiago's breathing, causing the family to seek medical care. Doctors then discovered that Thiago has Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Thiago does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 26th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Thiago's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Thiago's father shares, "We are so happy that our son's surgery has been scheduled for this week, and we hope for the best."

Liam is a one-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He and his mother live they live at the home of his grandmother. Their entire extended family is working to support Liam and his mother during this time. Liam has a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. A narrowing of the aorta that causes blood to back up and places strain on the heart. On August 11th, Liam will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will surgically repair the affected section of the aorta so that it is a more normal size. Liam's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Liam's grandmother shared, "We are just praying that doctors can help sweet Liam, and he can have a successful surgery. We are so grateful to all the wonderful people who are helping us; we have no words."

Rafael is a 22-month-old boy from Ethiopia. His mother works in the finance department of a government institution, while his father works in the utilities sector. He is joyful and active child, who loves playing with toys and cars. Rafael has a condition called cryptorchidism, meaning that one of his testicles has not descended. This condition is often not obvious to parents and may not be diagnosed for some time. Fortunately for Rafael, an extended family member was familiar with a related condition and encouraged Rafael’s mother to have him checked. Rafael then had an ultrasound evaluation in which his condition was confirmed, and surgery was recommended. When Rafael’s mother learned about the condition, she became worried and anxious for his future. Without treatment, Rafael has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and future fertility problems. Fortunately, the doctors referred Rafael for surgery at our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). After about a month, the family was warmly welcomed at BKMCM. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), has scheduled Rafael’s surgery for August 17th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Rafael’s mother shared, “Thank you so much to everyone at BethanyKids. I hope Rafael will be healthy and that he will have a successful and peaceful surgery.”

Cristian is a six-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He lives with his mother, who works selling propane canisters. As a newborn, she noticed he struggled to breathe and breastfeed, and he was later diagnosed with multiple heart conditions. Cristian has three openings in and near his heart — one between the two upper chambers, one between the two lower chambers, and one between two major blood vessels. These cause blood to leak through without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Fortunately, on June 30th, our medical partner, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, will help Cristian undergo cardiac surgery to close the openings in his heart. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Cristian needs your support to fund his surgery and care. Cristian's mother shares, "I hope and pray my sweet boy can have his surgery and be a healthy boy!"

Berenice is a 16-month-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her mother, who works as a market vendor. Berenice is an extremely friendly baby who smiles at everyone and laughs easily. Berenice has been diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition stops Bernice's blood from circulating properly, causing weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. Thankfully, Berenice will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 30th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will guide a catheter into the vessels next to her heart and use a special device to seal the hole. Another organization is contributing funds to pay for the surgery, but Berenice's family still needs help with costs related to the surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Berenice's family overseas. Berenice's mother says, "I hope my daughter will grow stronger and gain weight once her heart is fixed!"

Steven is a bright 6-year-old from Tanzania. As the fifth child in a family of six, he is surrounded by siblings and a warm, loving home. Steven has already started his primary education, and he loves school, especially the reading sessions and interactive classroom activities where he gets to share his thoughts. He is full of confidence and does not shy away from expressing himself. Additionally, one of Steven's favorite pastimes is playing football with his friends. His parents depend on seasonal farming and selling groceries, which has been enough to sustain the family's basic needs but insufficient to afford specialized medical care. Steven has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. For Steven, the condition makes it difficult not to fall or lose his balance when playing football with his friends. He also has difficulty running or walking comfortably for long periods. Steven came to our medical partner's center with his mother, who shared how they have been trying to seek treatment for him but have been limited by financial constraints. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on May 15th. After treatment, he will be able to play without falling and walk with ease. AMH is requesting $1,171 to fund Steven's clubfoot repair. Steven's mother said, "I wish for my son to be able to wear shoes and walk comfortably because back home, we have to walk long distances either to look for firewood or fetch water and also, his daily walks to school will be more comfortable."

Gina is 42 years old and works as a sales staff from the Philippines. She, her partner, and their two children live with her parents. Her father is a tricycle driver, while her mother is a vendor. Alongside their earnings, the money that she earns from working as a sales staff is used to support her two children and her five siblings, who also live with them. Gina discovered that she has lumps in her breast. Bothered by this, she decided to get checked at a nearby hospital. The results prompted her to decide to undergo surgery. The operation placed a heavy burden on their financial situation. While the operation was deemed successful, unfortunately, one other mass was not removed. She was referred to our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where doctors confirmed she has breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. She needs a mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Gina receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on October 25th. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Gina will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Gina shared, "This is a huge help to us; we could never afford such an expense. May you continue to help so many people. Your support is a huge help to someone like me who lacks the financial means to cope with this kind of illness, especially since our family is struggling financially."

Ana María is a five-year-old intelligent student from Colombia. She has many friends and enjoys playing with them, and also spending time with her family. For about a year now, Ana María has had umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. The condition has been causing her swelling and discomfort in the navel area, especially when she's coughing or involved in physical activities. A surgical procedure has been recommended to treat the condition and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is helping Ana María receive treatment. On October 17th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery to alleviate her symptoms and improve her health. Now, Anna María's family needs help to fund this $786 procedure. Ana María's mother says: "I wish to express my deepest gratitude to everyone supporting my daughter's treatment. May God bless you and reward you for this noble gesture. As Ana's mother, I cannot thank you enough; there is no way to repay what you are doing for us, but I will always carry your help and solidarity in my heart. Thank you so much!"

Nathalia is a three-year-old girl from the Philippines. Her father is a motorcycle delivery rider. Her mother stays home to care for Nathalia. Nathalia has a speech impairment and is undergoing speech therapy to prepare her for school. Nathalia was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. As her parents could not afford the costs of diagnostic tests and surgeries she needed, Nathalia has not completed her treatment to address her condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Nathalia undergo treatment. She is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on September 25th. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising $1,123 to cover the remaining cost of Nathalia's procedure and care. After her recovery, Nathalia will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Nathalia's mother shared, "We are deeply grateful to the foundation for providing us with the financial assistance we need. I hope you’ll reach more children in need of medical operations like my daughter."