Shuayib is a cheerful, active, and outgoing six-year-old from Ethiopia. He is in the second level of preschool, where he is doing well in his studies and dreams of a bright future. Shuayib also enjoys playing football, rock-paper-scissors, and spending time with his friends. His mother is a homemaker, and his father works as a daily labourer to support their family. Shuayib was born with hypospadias, a birth condition that affects the urethra and can lead to complications later in life if left untreated. Learning about his condition was emotionally challenging for his family. When they brought him to a hospital, the doctor informed them he would need to undergo three surgeries. He underwent his first procedure, and then a year later, he underwent the second. Unfortunately, after the surgery, he developed an infection that blocked the urinary tube. With proper medical treatment, the infection was completely cured. Six months later, Shuayib was referred to our medical partner's hospital, BethanyKids, for further review and treatment. Shuayib's doctors at BethanyKids explained the procedure to his parents and scheduled his surgery. After many years of worry and hardship, his family was grateful to learn that the surgery would be financially covered and Shuayib would finally receive the help he needed to heal. His parents expressed their appreciation for the kindness of the staff, saying, "We are so happy to be here. The staff treated us with great care, provided us with clear information, and gave us hope. We are truly grateful." On June 5th, Shuayib will undergo corrective surgery to treat hypospadias. This procedure will relieve him of discomfort and the risk of developing future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Shuayib's father said, "We have no words to express our thanks. May God bless all of you and provide for you as you have provided hope for us. We pray that God grants you good health, long life, and continued strength. Thank you to all the staff for your kindness, care, and politeness. We are truly grateful for everything you have done for our child."

Heang is a 41-year-old woman working in the crushed stone industry. She's from Takeo province in Cambodia. Heang is married and has two sons but no grandchildren yet. Her husband also works in the crushed stone industry, and her sons are students. In her free time, Heang likes to cook her favorite foods. About three years ago, due to trauma from a stone at work, the retina of Heang's right eye detached. This is causing her partial blindness and tearing. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere alone. When Heang learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 4th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $706 to fund her procedure. Heang said, "I hope that after surgery my vision will improve, allowing me to see clearly, recognize things more easily, and return to work."

Leiris is a friendly and intelligent seven-year-old girl from Colombia. She loves to play sports and dreams of being a flight attendant. Three years ago, Leiris developed an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. The condition has been causing her pain and discomfort, which prevents her from playing sports and participating in other school recreational activities. Following her diagnosis, surgery was recommended to correct it and prevent future complications. Unfortunately, her family is unable to raise the funding required for treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is helping Leiris receive treatment. On March 20th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery, which once completed, will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Now, Leiris's family needs help to fund this $786 procedure. Her family says, "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the people supporting her surgical procedure. Thank you for giving her the opportunity to achieve a better quality of life. Following the treatment, we sincerely hope for a speedy and satisfactory recovery, so that Leiris can resume her daily activities without discomfort and continue to brighten the lives of those around her with her joy."

Samen is a 59-year-old woman from Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. She lives with her second child, a grocery seller. Her husband passed away six years ago. Her other children are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, Samen enjoys listening to monks' sermons and planting vegetables around her home. For the past ten years, Samen has been suffering from left hip avascular necrosis, a condition in which the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted, leading to bone damage. Over the years, she has undergone several surgeries, including a left hip replacement. Unfortunately, she continues to experience a chronic infection of the hip prosthesis, which causes persistent pain and increasing difficulty with sitting and walking for long periods. Over the past week, her condition has worsened, making daily activities even more challenging. After first seeking care locally, Samen learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, through friends in her village and traveled three hours to reach the hospital. On February 3rd, she will undergo an uncemented hip replacement surgery on her left hip. Samen can contribute $100 and needs support to cover the remaining $1,400 for her procedure and care. Samen said, “After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have pain and be able to walk properly, so I can go to the pagoda by myself easily.”

Channalen is a 34-year-old taxi driver from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He lives with his wife and their two young children. Their eldest is in kindergarten, and their youngest is just three years old. His wife stays home to care for the children and manage the household. Before his accident, Channalen loved spending his free time playing volleyball with friends in his village. The stairs in their home have now become a daily challenge since his injury. Six months ago, Channalen was involved in a car-to-car collision that left him with a severe fracture of his left hip. He underwent fracture repair surgery, but complications soon followed—an infection developed, and he was referred to a larger hospital. Unable to afford the high cost of care, he felt he had no options. It was only after hearing about our medical partner's care center, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from his aunt that he found hope. He and his family traveled two hours to reach the hospital. Since the accident, Channalen has been in constant pain. He can only walk with crutches, and even then every step is difficult. He has been unable to work, leaving his family without their primary source of income. On November 14th, Channalen will undergo a hip replacement at CSC. This life-changing procedure will relieve his pain, restore his mobility, and allow him to return to work so he can support his family once again. His family can contribute $60, but needs help to raise $1,440 more to fund his procedure and care. Channalen said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have pain and can walk without using crutches. This may help me a lot because I have to earn money to support my family."

Ambar is a 15-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. Her mom is a homemaker, and her dad installs building pipe connection tubes. Ambar has an older sister. Ambar's parents noticed she used to perspire a lot when crawling; her pediatrician noticed she had an enlarged heart and was not growing properly, and she was soon diagnosed with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition prevents Ambar's blood from circulating properly, causing weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On December 2nd, Ambar will undergo heart surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Ambar'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. Ambar's mother says, "I pray my child will have a successful surgery."

Noh is a 48-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her son, daughter, and son-in-law in Karen State, Burma. Her entire family engages in subsistence farming. They also grow vegetables in a small garden and raise chickens and pigs for their own consumption. Additionally, they go fishing and forage for vegetables in the forest and sell them. Currently, Noh experiences discomfort and pain in her back, and it intensifies when she sits for an extended period. When she walks for a longer period, her back pain increases. This has also affected her appetite. Noh has been diagnosed with kidney stones, and doctors determined she should undergo a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which removes kidney stones from the body when they cannot pass on their own. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on October 6th and, once completed, it will hopefully improve Noh's quality of life. Noh said, "I want to receive surgery and recover soon. I have been suffering from this condition for a long time. I do not want to continue to suffer anymore. I just want to be a healthy person, to be able to look after myself, work, and spend time with my family."

Tsegazeab is a four-year-old child from Ethiopia. His father works as a daily laborer, and his mother braids hair for a living. Despite their hard work, their income is very limited and often not enough to cover daily needs. Tsegazeab 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 Tsegazeab's parents noticed the condition at birth. They visited a health center and learned the condition could be corrected surgically—but at a cost far beyond their means. His father recalls: “When we heard about the financial burden of surgery, we just lost hope.” For a long time, the family did not seek treatment, believing they could never afford it. Tsegazeab’s mother also shared that she had once tried to seek help at a government hospital but had to stop because of the high treatment costs. Everything changed when a neighbor, who had successfully received surgery at BethanyKids at Myungsung Christian Medical Center (BKMCM), our medical partner's care center, shared his experience and encouraged the family to seek care through its services. Tsegazeab’s father contacted the program facilitator, who reassured him that help was available and guided him through the process. The organization provided the family with accommodation during their stay, and the hospital team supported them throughout their journey of care. Without this support, the family would not have been able to afford the surgery. Fortunately, Tsegazeab is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Tsegazeab's father said, "I hope he will get the surgery and heal. After the surgery, I want to tell about this program to my community so others can benefit from this also."