Meseret is a brave 24-year-old woman from Ethiopia who is independent and works hard in the flower industry to make a living. Since she was two years old, she has lived with the effects of a serious burn accident. Because her family could only provide basic care at home when it happened, her scars have become very tight over the years. This tightness has pulled her skin so much that she can no longer move her arm or hand freely, making her daily manual labor much more difficult. Twenty-two years ago, as a young child, Meseret suffered a traumatic burn after falling into a fire. Due to a lack of immediate medical access at the time, the injury was managed exclusively with traditional home remedies rather than clinical hospital care. Working in the flower industry is physically demanding for Meseret. It requires constant reaching, careful sorting, and a steady hand needed to pluck petals or apply protective chemicals. For this young woman, the tightness in her skin is a major daily hurdle that affects her speed and physical comfort. Even though Meseret has struggled to move easily for a long time, she is incredibly determined. She consistently pushes herself to do extra work, hoping to show her supervisors that she is a hardworking staff member and to ensure her job is secure every single day. When Meseret learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for many hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, Meseret will receive treatment on March 19th. The surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore a natural range of motion, which will be a life-changing milestone, marking the first time since she was a toddler that her limb has moved without restriction. This change will allow Meseret to fulfill her duties in the flower field without the persistent physical strain caused by the contractures. For her, this surgery is the key to finally working with comfort and moving her body the way it was meant to move. Now, our medical partner is requesting $500 to fund this procedure. "I have lived so long with these struggles that I forgot what it feels like to be whole. I am so excited to finally do the things that used to be impossible for me. I want to work in the fields and move my arm freely, leaving behind the pain and the limits that have defined my life since I was a child," said Meseret.

Ana is a one-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who sells vegetables, her dad, who is a locksmith, and her twin sister. When Ana was born, her mom noticed that she couldn't gain weight, and she was always tired. Doctors soon discovered her heart condition and informed her mother that she needed surgery. Ana has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Ana was also born with a cleft lip and palate. After heart surgery, doctors can then proceed to repair her cleft. On May 6th, Ana 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 in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Ana'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. Ana's mother shared, "I pray this surgery goes well so my little daughter can feel better and have a happy life."

Shivani is a five-year-old girl from India. In a family of seven, her mother and father care for her and her siblings on the sole income earned by her father. Recently, Shivani's mother tried to enroll her in school, but with limited mobility in her hand, she was unable to join the class in lessons. Shivani was tragically burned by a vessel of boiling tea when she was just 18 months old. She was treated locally at the time, but no further treatment has been done since. Because of the skin contractions caused by the burn on her left hand, she is now facing setbacks in her education. With treatment, her family hopes to enroll Shivani in school so that she can begin her education and ensure a better future. Our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, has scheduled Shivani's surgery for April 8th and is requesting $1,442 to fund her treatment. "We hope that the surgery will help her regain function and allow us to enroll her in school so that she can get the education she deserves," says Shivani's mother.

Say is a 26-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is a homemaker, and her husband works as a day labourer outside of the camp. Say weaves traditional Karen dresses to help earn extra income. Often, their income is not enough to cover their daily needs, and they have to purchase groceries on credit, paying them back when they have money. Say is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund, is helping Say undergo a C-Section on March 8th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Say needs your support. Say says, “I would love to have either a boy or a girl. When my children are older, I would like to attend midwife classes in the refugee camp and work as a midwife at the camp hospital.”

Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling 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. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Five-year-old Juan, who lives in Colombia, is currently in preschool. He is a curious child, with good academic performance and strong personal motivation: he dreams of becoming a pilot when he grows up. However, constant pain and oral discomfort have affected his concentration, attendance, and participation in school activities. About a year ago, Juan was evaluated by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, Juan has followed up with numerous visits to the dentist, but the progression of the tooth decay has caused intense and persistent pain, inflammation, infection, and difficulty eating and sleeping. Because of the complexity of the care that Juan needs, it was determined that treatment must be performed under general anesthesia, due to the number of teeth affected and the young age of the patient. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund Juan's procedure, which is scheduled for August 20th. This treatment will not only relieve Juan's physical pain, but it will also allow him to regain his quality of life, improve his school performance, and help him continue dreaming of flying high as a pilot. Juan Sebastián's mother shared her emotions: "The dentist's work is truly admirable. Many children need this process, and thanks to her generous help, many of them will be able to receive the treatment they so desperately need. In particular, Juan Sebastián will be able to regain his smile and the quality of life that every child deserves. Seeing how someone who does not know him personally gets involved with so much love is the purest reflection of human kindness. May God continue to bless her and guide her every step in this noble mission."

Nee is a 29-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Sot Province, Thailand. The family is from Burma, but had to move to the refugee camp in 2023 after a military airstrike on their village. Nee is a homemaker and her husband is an agricultural day laborer. During her free time, she enjoys listening to stories and songs on her phone, and playing with her children. Nee is currently expecting her third child and is nearing her due date. She has been receiving free basic healthcare in the refugee camp, and recently, the doctors informed her that her baby is in a frank beech position. They recommend that Nee deliver via caesarean section to ensure the safety of both her and her child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nee undergo a C-Section on December 8th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Nee needs your support. Nee shared, “When I learned I needed surgery, I started to worry about money. My family cannot afford the surgery cost, even our daily expenses is not enough. I do not have any relative that I can rely on, so I feel stressed. Now, knowing that I can receive support, I am happy. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Helen is a 63-year-old woman from the Philippines. She lives with her daughter and grandchildren. Helen noticed a small lump on the left side of her face. At first, she didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t painful, and it didn’t really bother her. She hoped it would go away on its own. However, over time, the lump gradually grew larger and became more noticeable. She began to worry, especially since it was close to her ear and jaw, and it was affecting her appearance and overall well-being. Her family is worried that it could cause other problems in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On November 8th, Helen will undergo mass removal surgery. Now, she needs help to raise $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. Helen says, "This help brought me a sense of relief and renewed hope for me and my family. Thank you so much to everyone who strengthened my determination to undergo the procedure and showed their love and support for me."

Cecilia is 47 years old and a mother of five from Malawi. She bakes and sells potatoes and is married to a tailor who is also a pastor. Her husband pastors a small church. For two years, Cecilia has been experiencing severe bleeding associated with abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness, and heart palpitations. The condition has worsened over time, and she has been in and out of the hospital for blood transfusions. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She was reviewed by a gynecologist who confirmed the diagnosis and emphasized the importance of undergoing a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH). She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Cecilia's surgery. On October 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Cecilia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Cecilia shared, "The profuse bleeding keeps me indoors because I don't want to be seen with stains of blood. This condition brought psychological torture to my life."