Amare is a brave, social young boy who is smart and good at communicating. He hails from Ethiopia and loves to play with his friends. He shared that he loves innovating new things - like making a tuk tuk and a mobile toy with metal wire and wood. Amare loves to study and read books. He also loves to help his mom at home with cleaning and making stew and coffee. Amare is the third child of his parents. His mom lost ten children, both in her womb and after they were born. She was heartbroken when she conceived Amare as she thought that he wouldn’t grow up. When Amare's mother gave birth to him, she was traveling by foot to a marketplace and she gave birth on the road. She shared that she saw he had a wound and was scared that he would die. She took him to Sekota hospital. The doctor told her that the disease was curable by surgery and that he would live with care. He referred them to another hospital and she brought Amare there when he was a seven month-old baby. She was informed that he was too young for the complex procedure. She brought him again when he was two years-old. She got the same response, to come back when he is older. Then, Amare's mother lost hope in modern medicine. She told us that she started to go to church and apply holy water to her baby. But his condition stayed with him. She got sad and, in her words, "left it all to God". Both mom and dad are traditional farmers. They harvest once in a year because they get rain only in one season. They couldn’t use irrigation since there was no river near their field. They travel for thirty minutes to get underground spring water for drinking and cooking. They have one cow for their milk consumption. For these reasons, they can’t afford the medical bills for their son. Amare was born with a congenital anomaly called bladder exstrophy. That is an abnormally open bladder from the front. His bladder is open to the air, which results in leaking urine directly to his abdomen. He has suffered from pain from the irritation of the bladder, infection & smell from the continuous urinary leakage. Mom is very much worried and concerned because of his condition. His required treatment is called a mainz pouch procedure which is diverting his urination to another opening & making a pouch bladder from bowel. His surgery is scheduled for March 7th. His family needs help raising the $1,500 to fund the surgery. Amare said, “My friends from school and the neighborhood say I smell. I felt bad about it and tried to stay away from my friends. I like playing with my friends but nowadays what I prefer is to study at home alone. Or to be with my mother and help her with work.” Amare's mom said, “My neighbors talk, so when there is holiday party at home I let him stay at the outside kitchen. If there is clean cloth, he [can] change and mingle in the party but mostly he stays away. Amare said to me ‘If I couldn’t get treatment and heal while you are alive I will never heal and survive.' Because I don’t have any hope with my siblings and relatives. This hurt me a lot. I feel like I don’t have power to heal him or to provide him medical treatment."

Kyaw is a 25-year-old father from Burma. He used to work as a farmer and a day laborer, but he had to stop working seven months ago due to his accident. Kyaw's family grows paddy for their consumption and raises chickens and pigs. During his free time, Kyaw enjoys exercising. In April 2023, Kyaw fell from a tree while collecting honey, resulting in a fracture in his right femur. Since then, he has experienced significant pain and swelling in his right leg, making it difficult for him to walk. Currently, Kyaw relies on crutches to get around. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyaw will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for November 15th and will cost $1,500. The surgery is essential for Kyaw's recovery, as it will alleviate his pain and help him walk comfortably again. Kyaw said, "I was shocked and disappointed after knowing that the surgery would cost more than 40,000 baht (approx. 1,335 USD). I want to get the surgery and recover, but I have no idea who will support me and where I can get that much money. If I recover, I will work and support my family. Now that I learned that BMCF will help me get surgery, I feel so happy and excited."

Rebecca is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; she graduated from a local college with a business degree but has been unable to work for the past ten years because of her heart condition. She enjoys cooking and listening to Haitian music. Rebecca has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Rebecca's heart was severely damaged due to an infection she suffered as a teenager; her heart could not adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery that she needs is not available anywhere in Haiti. Rebecca need to fly to the United States to receive treatment. She will undergo cardiac surgery, and doctors will remove Rebecca's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, will contribute $26,000 to pay for surgery. Rebecca's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow-up care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. Rebecca shared with us: "Once I am fully healthy, I would like to return to Haiti and adopt a child to start my own family."

Linn's Baby is a four-day-old girl who lives with her parents and three older sisters in a village in Thailand. She is so young, that she is not yet named. Her parents are day laborers. Linn's Baby was born with multiple health challenges including Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. In addition, her mother noticed that she wasn't passing stool, and when the doctors examined her, they discovered that she also has a condition known as imperforate anus. What this means is that Linn's Baby was born without an opening, which is a birth condition that occurs while the fetus is still developing in the womb. To address her condition, Linn's Baby will undergo surgery on August 4th at Mae Sot General Hospital, to place a colostomy, that will allow her to pass stool until she grows bigger and stronger, and better able to tolerate additional surgeries. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs of this procedure. Her mother said: "I cannot watch my daughter suffer from these conditions. I think she is crying because she wants breastmilk. She is my first baby born with such conditions. My other daughters are all healthy. I feel very sad for her.”

Alvin is a 1-year-old boy and the firstborn child of his mother and father. Both of Alvin's parents are still relatively young themselves and are reliant on the support of the boy's grandparents. Their family tries to engage in day-to-day jobs to earn income for themselves. Together they reside in a modest village named Mamire. Alvin's mother primarily takes care of him while depending on sporadic day jobs for financial support. Regrettably, the earnings fall short of providing for both the mother and child, prompting the grandfather to assist them when needed. Alvin has clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes as he grows. They have never sought treatment for Alvin's condition due to financial barriers. However, their situation changed when they attended one of our medical partner's outreach visits. This visit directed them to a partner centre, offering a ray of hope for Alvin's health. Alvin's parents are now seeking assistance to cover the costs of their son's treatment. Fortunately, Alvin and his family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Alvin's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and grow up to lead a high quality life without disability. Alvin’s grandfather says: “We wish for Alvin to experience well-being and not to bear the burden of constant worry about his future due to his untreated condition.”

Lydiah is a 36-year-old fruit vendor from Kenya. Her husband is a motorcycle driver, and they have two children, ages eleven and seven. For seven months, Lydiah has been experiencing pain and abnormal bleeding in a sensitive area. After seeking treatment, Lydiah was diagnosed with a left ovarian benign cystadenoma and uterine fibroids. To relieve her pain, Lydiah needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. However, Lydiah does not currently have medical coverage and cannot afford the proposed procedure. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On July 21st, Lydiah will undergo gynecological surgery at AMH's care center. Once recovered, Lydiah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Now, AMH is requesting $1260 to fund Lydiah's surgery. Lydiah said, “These stomach pains are unbearable and very uncomfortable. I cannot go to the market to sell fruits because of the pain. I hope to get this surgery to ease the pain and get back to my job.”

U Sein is a 61-year-old man who lives with his sister's family in Yangon, Burma. In his free time, he enjoys cleaning his car and fixing electrical devices. U Sein experiences heart palpitations, tiredness, and chest pain. Due to his tiredness, he cannot walk long distances and cannot work. He was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease with severe aortic valve stenosis. The doctor wants to perform an aortic valve replacement. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is requesting $1,500 to support the cost of U Sein's surgery scheduled for June 11th. U Sein shared, “When I learned that my surgery will be helped by BCMF and donors, I felt very happy. I would love to say thank you to all the donors."

Ko Thaw, who is 27 years old, lives with his extended family in Burma. In early June 2022, Ko Thaw- who was working in a factory in Malaysia- developed a headache. Later that day, he also experienced chest pain, a racing heart, and an episode of vomiting. His employer brought him to the hospital, and after some testing, Ko Thaw was informed there was a problem with his aortic valve. He was given medications and a follow-up appointment. In January 2023, Ko Thaw's health deteriorated, and he was brought back to the hospital. An echocardiogram showed aortic valve regurgitation, and Ko Thaw was told that he would need surgery. His employer wouldn't pay for the surgery, and as Ko Thaw couldn't afford to pay for this on his own, he tried to manage his condition with medication. But when the medications stopped working, Ko Thaw decided to move back to Burma. Ko Thaw was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. With their help, he is now scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement surgery on May 14th at Pun Hlaing Hospital. For Ko Thaw, who currently experiences chest pain, insomnia, muscle stiffness, and headaches with fever, this surgery can't happen soon enough. Now he is seeking your help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of his treatment. "I hope I can find suitable work soon after my surgery. I would like to say thank you so much. You all do incredible work for poor people who need assistance," said Ko Thaw.

Solomon is a jovial and social 12-year-old boy, living with his family in Oldaraja village in Kajiado County in Kenya. He is clever, innovative, and aspires to be an engineer. Solomon's mother sells Maasai blankets at a small shop in the village, while his father passed away last year. Solomon also has two siblings. Solomon was healthy at birth. However, at five years of age, his mother noticed that his knees knocked against one another when he walked and that he would sometimes fall down as a result of the positioning of his legs. Due to a lack of information and finances, the family could not get access to a hospital. A doctor in Kajiado, who spotted Solomon in the village, referred the family to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. On April 18th, Solomon is scheduled to undergo an angular deformity correction procedure at AIC Cure International Hospital, which will cost $1,224. This life-changing surgery will enable Solomon to walk easily, play with his friends, and continue with his education. Now Solomon and his family are looking to you to help raise the necessary funds. “I will appreciate your help in correcting my legs so I can walk well without knees knocking each other,” Solomon told us.