Htee is a 10-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Htee and her two siblings were born and raised in the camp. Her parents met and married there after relocating in 2006 due to conflicts between armed groups in their village. Htee’s mother is a homemaker, while her father works as a day laborer. She is currently enrolled in the camp school and is in Grade 5. Additionally, Htee's four cousins live with the family and also attend school. In her free time, Htee enjoys playing with her brother and friends. For two days, Htee has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including severe pain at right lower part of abdominal, high fever, vomiting and lethargy. She is currently admitted at Mae Sariang Hospital, where she was diagnosed with appendicitis. She needs urgent surgery to prevent her condition from getting worse. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Htee receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on April 20th, at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Htee and her family need your support. Htee’s father said, “My daughter is an active child. She loves to go to school and never missed attendance. Now she is in severe pain, and I hope that she gets better after treatment.”

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

Teresu is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. Growing up in a farming community, Teresu spends much of his time helping with crop cultivation, an important source of livelihood for his family. He has never attended school but actively contributes to family work in the fields. Teresu has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, is a condition where the knees angle inward and touch while the ankles remain apart. His right leg is however more severely affected than the left. 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. The condition has caused Teresu discomfort during long hours of standing and walking, limiting his ability to work and participate in daily activities. Despite the challenges, he remains hardworking and hopeful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Teresu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Teresu's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Teresu says, “I want to walk and work without pain, so I can help my family better.”

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."

Pan Ei is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. Pan Ei’s father is a farmer. Her mother is receiving kidney dialysis treatment and cannot work. Her siblings help their father on the farm. In her free time, she enjoys playing with children and loves playing football. In the future, she hopes to work hard so she can support her family. Pan Ei was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Pan Ei suffers from fatigue, insomnia, and pain in her finger joints. Aside from her symptoms, she worries about her health condition and the financial burden of repaying debts. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Pan Ei. The treatment is scheduled to take place on January 17th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Pan Ei expresses her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for helping me with financial support. When I heard that your organization and your donors would provide financial support for me, I felt deeply grateful. Thank you so much for helping with the surgery cost.”

Acam is a 36-year-old woman from Uganda who comes from a large family of 25 children. She was born as the fifth child to her mother, and her father had three other wives. Determined, patient, hardworking, and with a strong hope for the future, Acam attended school until Senior 6. However, she was unable to continue with further education beyond this due to financial constraints. With the help of a friend, Acam trained in tailoring, a skill she continues to rely on for her livelihood. She then got married, and together with her husband, they have two children, both in lower primary school. Her husband works as a security guard, though his income is unreliable and is sometimes delayed for several days. During her free time, she enjoys singing and is an active member of the Catholic Church choir. Acam is currently expecting her third child. 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, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Acam undergo a C-Section on January 8th. This procedure will cost $252, and Acam needs your support. Acam says, “With your support, I know everything will go on as planned because what I was worried about mostly is how I will pay. I kindly request your support.”

Matiyas is a cheerful nine-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with toys and puzzles and especially enjoys spending time with his parents. He is a sociable baby who brings joy to everyone around him. Matiyas 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. Fortunately, on April 8th, Matiyas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Matiyas’s family is raising $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care, which will allow him to live more comfortably. Matiyas’s mother said, “I am so grateful for the support provided to us. I hope Matiyas will be in excellent condition after the surgery. Thank you very much for this opportunity.”

Biruke is 12 years old and a second grader from Ethiopia. His parents are farmers who work hard to support Biruke and his six siblings. Two years ago, Biruke noticed an infection on his right thigh. It was causing him pain, limiting his mobility, and preventing him from attending school and playing soccer. Following a consultation with our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors have recommended that Biruke undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected, dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. He is scheduled for surgery on December 6th, and needs help to raise $900 to fund his treatment and care. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate his symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. Biruke's parents shared, "More than anything, we pray for the simple sight of our son being truly healthy—to see him fully restored, running and playing without constraint. We long for him to share the same freedom and opportunity to attend school as every other child."

Alickanjelo is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married and has four daughters. He supplements his farming income through taking on casual jobs, while his wife also contributes by molding and selling stoves. However, his current condition has significantly affected his ability to work, reducing his income and straining the family’s financial stability. One year ago, Alickanjelo was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. Initially, he sought traditional treatment on the advice of friends, but the problem persisted and worsened over time. Six months later, he visited a nearby hospital, where he was only given painkillers that offered no relief. As the swelling grew, the pain and discomfort began interfering with his concentration and daily work. After consulting one of his employers, he was referred back to the hospital, where the diagnosis was confirmed. Alickanjelo was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for treatment. Fortunately, on November 11th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Alickanjelo's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Alickanjelo said, "What is happening to me is very strange; it has brought fear to my life, and I have never heard about this. It threatens me so much during the swelling episodes. Your support will go a long way in bringing me hope."

Angella is 46 years old and a single mother of two from Malawi. She sells jewelry and used to earn about $288.50 per month when she was in good health. However, her illness has significantly affected her business due to frequent hospital visits, which have drained her income. For two years, Angella has been experiencing severe pain on the left side of her abdomen, where a swelling had developed, accompanied by a backache. She promptly visited the hospital, where she was given painkillers. As time went by, the pain resurfaced, prompting more hospital visits. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and needs a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH), a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Angella's surgery. On October 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Angella will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Angella shared, "I wish I could have peace of mind through surgery to get rid of pains, backache, and anemia."