Yared is a bright and curious seven-year-old boy who lives with his grandparents in Ethiopia. He loves playing with toy cars and spending time with his younger brother. Yared's mother, a single parent, works as a domestic worker in the city to provide for her family. Yared was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. A few years ago, Yared was taken to a referral hospital in Mekele, where his grandparents live, for corrective surgery, but the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the war caused major delays, preventing him from receiving timely care. Later on, the cost of surgery became another barrier for Yared's family. One of Yared's family members who works at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), advised the family to come to the hospital for a review. Yared was reviewed, and his family has been advised that he will need to undergo corrective surgery to treat his condition. Without this intervention, he may continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and could be at risk of future complications. Yared is scheduled to undergo surgery on May 4th at BKMCM. His procedure will cost $1,293, and his family needs your support. Yared’s mother shares, “I’m deeply grateful to the donors and the doctors for their help. My only wish is that my child will grow up healthy and happy just like other children.”

Rehema is a 16-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the second-born in a family of six children and lives in a large household where her father has two wives. Rehema’s mother, the second wife, plays a central role in caring for her children, while the family relies mainly on animal keeping for survival. Rehema is currently in class five, determined to continue her education despite the challenges she faces. Rehema was diagnosed with genu valgus. This is a condition that has affected both her legs for five years and has gradually worsened. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Walking long distances, such as going to the market, fetching water, or going to school, has become painful and exhausting for her. Her parents worry deeply about her future, especially as the pain continues to limit her mobility. Doctors have planned for a right distal femoral osteotomy (DFO), a procedure that will help correct the deformity, reduce her pain, and allow her to continue her schooling with confidence. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Rehema. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 9th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Rehema's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Rehema says, "I really hope that one day I will be able to help my mother with chores without her being concerned most of the time."

Joseph is a young boy from Kenya. He is the oldest of two in his family and comes from Karung’a village in Kitui County. His mother, Stella, is a small-scale farmer, and his father works on construction sites. Joseph loves playing and being in school. He is a grade 2 pupil and dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Joseph was born with clubfoot affecting both of his feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. He also has kyphosis, which is an abnormal curvature of the spine in the lower back. This makes it difficult for him to stand or walk on his own, so he currently moves by crawling on the ground. Fortunately, Joseph traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, he is scheduled to undergo bilateral posterior capsulotomy along with serial casting on February 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Joseph's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk, run, play, and continue with his education. "I am looking forward to the day Joseph will be able to stand, walk, and run like other children," Stella, Joseph’s mother, shared. "I pray that this treatment will give him a chance to play, go to school, and live a normal life."

Faruk is a three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys watching cartoon movies, baking cakes and cookies with his mother, and playing with his youngest sister. His mother is a dedicated housewife, and his father earns a living as a street vendor. Faruk was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. His parents first noticed his condition 14 days after his birth. After visiting a private clinic, they were informed that surgery would be necessary. In search of proper treatment, Faruk’s mother visited various hospitals and clinics. Determined to find a solution, she even sought care at a private hospital, but their financial limitations made this option impossible. The stigma surrounding Faruk’s condition has also affected him socially. This deeply troubled his mother, especially when Faruk would ask why he could not do some things that other kids could. Fortunately, Faruk is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Faruk's mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your willingness and support. Your encouragement helped me maintain hope during a challenging time when I was deeply worried about my son's condition. After the doctor explained the procedure, I gained renewed hope and trust that my child's surgery would be safe and successful, with God's guidance."

Jeremiah is a 27-year-old young man from Kenya. He is the third-born in a family of four children. Jeremiah is educated and has completed a catering course, but after struggling to find a job in his field, he began taking on various casual jobs. He currently works as a casual storekeeper at a company in Nairobi. Although he is not married, Jeremiah works hard to sustain himself and avoid depending on his parents. A few days ago, while walking home, Jeremiah was hit by a speeding car that was overtaking another vehicle. He sustained injuries to his right leg and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where first aid was administered. An X-ray revealed an open fracture of the fibula and a dislocation of the ankle joint. He was advised to undergo an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) procedure, but was unable to afford the cost. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 11th, Jeremiah will undergo a fracture repair procedure. This treatment will reduce the risks of developing complications such as delayed bone healing, deformity, or even the permanent loss of function in his leg. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,048 to fund this procedure. Jeremiah shared, "I am still young and hope to have my own family in the future. I am requesting for support so that my pain can be relieved, and I can be treated, get well and be able to continue working and sustaining myself, rather than be dependent on others."

Paw is a young woman from Burma who lives with her husband and her in-laws in a refugee camp, in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Paw and one of her sisters-in-law weave traditional Karen clothes for sale. Her husband works as a day laborer. Her brother-in-law and one of her other two sisters-in-law are students, while the other is a homemaker. Her parents-in-law often forage for vegetables and collect firewood in the nearby forest. In her free time, she enjoys weaving and cleaning her home. Paw is currently expecting her second child and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Paw undergo a C-Section on October 06. This procedure will cost $1500, and Paw needs your support. “I will be happy to have either a boy or a girl,” Paw said. “In the future we want to raise some animals and grow vegetables for ourselves.”

Su is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Su’s two children are students. She worked as a taxi driver but had to stop her work three months ago due to her current health issues. In her free time, Su enjoys learning English and the Thai language. In 2024, Su started to experience right upper abdominal pain, which made it difficult for her to breathe properly. At the local clinic, she was diagnosed with gallstones. Su needs to undergo surgery for her condition; however, she cannot afford it. Her symptoms persisted and worsened. Su has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Su's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Su is scheduled to undergo gallbladder removal surgery on July 8th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Su's procedure and care. Su said, “I feel that I suffer from this kind of disease, and it is a big burden that I need to look after my two children. I have no one to rely on, and sometimes I feel tired, and I want to give up on everything.”

Florence is a 41-year-old single mother of three from Malawi. She and her ex-husband separated in 2012. As he does not provide support, Florence works hard as a nanny to provide for herself and her children. Her sisters also help her with living costs. When Florence began experiencing worrisome symptoms four years ago, she visited a clinic where they perform cancer screenings and learned she was showing possible signs of cervical cancer. She has been undergoing their prescribed interventions, but when the concerns grew out of the clinic's scope of practice, she was referred to a gynecologist for further assessment. She visited our medical partner's care center, where she was diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN-3). Florence needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Fortunately, on April 4th, Florence will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Florence will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Florence contributed a co-pay toward her care, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to cover the cost of her procedure. Florence said, "I will be a very happy mother after regaining my good health, for I will be able to continue to support my children as a single mother because I am not ready to die and leave my children suffering."

Leah is 27 years old and a mother of two from Malawi. Her husband is not working at this time. Leah supports her family by selling tomatoes for a living. In 2023, Leah began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck pains, increased mass on her neck, swallowing difficulties, frequent coughs, especially at night, inability to carry heavy items, breathlessness, and weakness. The symptoms affected her daily activities and business, reducing her income. In 2024, Leah underwent surgery that gave her temporary relief from her symptoms. As her symptoms came back, she sought further treatment. Leah was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, a type of thyroid cancer, and requires a total thyroidectomy or the removal of her thyroid. 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. If left untreated, it can spread to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Leah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 28th 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. Leah shared, “The symptoms are overwhelming; I just want to be myself again."

Angel is an affectionate two-year-old boy who lives with his parents in Medellin, Colombia. Angel is a very active child who likes to play with his pet kitten. He likes to go to the parks and enjoys eating cake. Angel was born with orchidopexy, or unilateral undescended testicle, which has caused a lot of pain and carries ongoing risk. If left untreated, he may experience other health complications as he grows older. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, can help. Angel will undergo corrective surgery on April 4th and he needs help in raising $1,167 to fund his procedure and care. Angel's parents shared, "We are looking forward to the surgery so that our son can get back to being a playful young boy. We are very appreciative for all the help and support we have received for Angel."