Cristopher is a 12-year-old boy from Colombia. He has big aspirations and a deep determination to achieve them. Cristopher dreams of becoming an architect when he grows up. He’s passionate about imagining and thinking about everything he’ll one day be able to build. Since he was two months old, Cristopher has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, on October 20th, Cristopher will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Clinica Noel. He needs help raising $1,005 to fund his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Cristopher's mother shared, "To the people who will make Cristopher’s surgery possible, we want to express our most sincere gratitude. Thank you for opening your heart and offering such a precious opportunity. May God multiply every act of kindness you perform and fill your life and that of your family with health, well-being, and blessings. Your support means the world to us, because behind this help is a dreamer, a smart, hopeful child who will be able to move forward and get closer and closer to his goals. As his mom, it fills me with pride to see him dream and believe that he can achieve anything he sets his mind to."

Sovannareach is a six-year-old first-grade student from Prey Veng Province in Cambodia. He lives with his grandmother, who is a rice farmer, while his mother works as a factory worker to support him. His parents divorced five years ago, and he has remained close to his family. Sovannareach enjoys reading and writing Khmer, and he hopes to become a doctor when he grows up. In his free time, he likes playing football with his friends in the village. His favorite meals are lemongrass sour soup and eggs. Sovannareach was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a “C” or “S” shape. As he has grown, his spinal curve has gradually worsened, bending toward the right side. The condition causes him pain and makes it difficult for him to sit comfortably for long periods. As a result, he sometimes struggles to concentrate in class and worries about being teased by his classmates because of his appearance. He also has difficulty walking, which affects his daily activities. In the past, Sovannareach had never received hospital treatment because his family could not afford it. However, a relative told his family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). They traveled approximately four hours to CSC for a consultation and to seek specialized care. On August 11th, surgeons at CSC plan to implant a metal “growing rod” into his spine to help control the curvature while allowing his spine to continue growing. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Sovannareach's grandmother said, “I hope this treatment will help control my grandson’s spinal curvature as he grows and keep his spine stable. I want him to continue walking, playing, going to school, and enjoying his childhood without his condition limiting his daily life.”

Aitana is a young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom and her dad, who have a small convenience store. Aitana has a twin sister and an older brother; they live in the northern part of Bolivia. Where they live, there are no cardiologists. So, when her mom noticed that her heart was beating too fast, she took her to a different area where she found out she had a heart condition and needed surgery. Aitana has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, Aitana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Aitana'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. Aitana's mother shared, "We were looking forward to this day, I trust everything will go well, I pray for that."

Abenezer is a charming and sociable boy from Ethiopia. He loves reading children’s storybooks and playing football with his friends. He lives in a rented house with his parents and younger sister. His mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father works as an elementary school teacher at a private institution. Although his father strives to support the family and meet their children’s needs, covering medical expenses is often a challenge. Three years ago, Abenezer was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition characterized by a weakness in the abdominal wall. This can be present from birth and often becomes noticeable during activities such as crying or playing. Children with inguinal hernias may feel irritable, lose their appetite, and experience discomfort, often accompanied by burning or aching sensations at the site of the swelling. Abenezer was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, for treatment. Fortunately, on February 23rd, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $512 to fund Abenezer's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Abenezer's father said, "I sincerely hope that the surgery proceeds smoothly and that my child achieves good health. I am deeply grateful for your support. May God bless you all."

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

Nwet is 41 years old and a mother of three from Burma. She and her husband live in a refugee village in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved from Burma to Thailand in 2020 in search of better job opportunities. Nwet's daughter and two sons are studying in Burma and live with her mother-in-law. She and her husband are agricultural workers. Since January 2023, Nwet has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including swelling on her left neck. She was diagnosed with thyroid goiter. 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, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nwet receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 17th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Nwet said, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for helping me with my treatment cost.” Her husband added, “I am really grateful that my wife will receive support for her surgery costs. By ourselves, we cannot afford this. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”