Divyana is a cheerful eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and spending time with his friends and younger brother. He lives in Sekota, and they travelled approximately 870 kilometers to seek treatment, a journey that took three days. His mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father works as an agricultural officer in a government institution. Together, his parents work hard to support their family and meet their children’s needs. Divyana's mother discovered his condition at birth and was immediately overwhelmed with frustration and panic. Questions raced through her mind, she says, “What is wrong with him? Is it my fault? How can I help my child?” Fear and stress consumed her, but her instinct to protect him never wavered. She began seeking information about his condition, choosing not to share too much with him to safeguard his emotional well-being. To prevent potential teasing or stigma, she instructed him to isolate himself whenever he went to the bathroom, warning him that other children might ridicule him if they saw him. She repeated this often, worried about how his condition might affect his social life and learning, especially since hypospadias is uncommon in their community. Divyana frequently compared himself to his younger brother and asked his mother why he was different. These moments left her feeling helpless, with no answers, only tears. One day, while visiting a relative in Addis Ababa who was undergoing orthopedic treatment, Divyana ’s mother heard about several successful cases being treated at the facility. Curious and hopeful, she began asking questions, but without revealing her son’s condition. Eventually, she received the contact information for the field patient coordinator at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. Doctors confirmed that Divyana 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, Divyana is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Divyana's mother said, "I wish my child were very healthy, and I am thrilled to get this opportunity."

Lucia is an eight-year-old student from a small town in the eastern part of Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who works as a clerk in the mayor's office. When Lucia was a baby, she was diagnosed with aortic stenosis—a cardiac condition that occurs when one of the valves in the heart is too narrow. At six months old, she underwent a cardiac catheterization that improved her health for many years. More recently, Lucia began to suffer from dizziness and headaches, and was having trouble gaining weight. As a result, doctors decided she needed surgery to permanently fix her condition. On November 19th, Lucia will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will reconstruct the valve so that it opens to a more normal size. Lucia'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. Lucia's mother says, "I jumped for happiness when I heard the doctors can help my child with surgery. I look forward to seeing my daughter healthy after her heart is fixed!"

Daniel is a 50-year-old father of four children. He lives his wife and children, working as a farmer to provide for his family. About 20 years ago, Daniel began experiencing fever and excessive sweating. When he sought medical treatment, he was diagnosed with brucellosis, a bacterial infection often spread through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. He was started on a course of medication that eventually helped him recover. However, as time passed by, his wife noticed that whenever she spoke to him, it seemed like he was ignoring her. Unbeknownst to them, Daniel was gradually losing his hearing. Upon returning to the hospital, doctors confirmed that the hearing loss was a side effect of the medication he had taken. Since then, Daniel has struggled to hear the people and sounds around him. Despite visiting various health facilities over the years, no treatment was able to restore his hearing. Doctors have recommended the fitting of hearing aids to aid in Daniel's treatment, but unfortunately the cost far beyond his means. Social interactions have become challenging for him, as he often has to ask people to repeat themselves multiple times before he can follow conversations. This has made him feel like a burden, leading him to withdraw and remain quiet. In September 2025, Daniel was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Tests confirmed the diagnosis he received 21 years ago - hearing aids are his only hope for improving his hearing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Daniel receive treatment. On October 2nd, he is scheduled to be fitted with hearing aids, which will greatly improve his communication, restore his confidence, and help him feel connected to his community once again. Now, Daniel needs help to fund this $1,171 procedure. Daniel says, “Sometimes people think I’m ignoring them, but the truth is, I just can’t hear them. I truly wish I could hear clearly again.”

Emmaculate is a bright, cheerful seven-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her single mother, who is a domestic worker. At the age of four, Emmaculate was diagnosed with hearing loss. The doctors recommended hearing aids, but the cost was far beyond their reach. Emmaculate is in a school for the hearing-impaired, but still faces challenges when communicating with others outside of school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Emmaculate. They request $1,171 to fund the cost of hearing aids for her. Emmaculate’s mother says, “Emmaculate would rather stay alone in the house than play with other children. They often mimic her speech and laugh at her; it breaks her heart, and she comes home in tears. We ask that you help her with her situation. Thank you so much.”

Laura is a 10-year-old student who lives with her parents and her sister in Colombia. Currently in fifth grade, her favorite food is Chinese rice, and she enjoys swimming and roller skating. Since the age of five, Laura has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which the intestine protrudes through the abdominal muscles at the belly button. The condition has been causing her pain, which interferes with her ability to go about her day comfortably. Thanks to the support of our medical partner, Clínica Noel, Laura is scheduled to undergo an umbilical herniorrhaphy on June 25th. Laura and her family are seeking support to fund her procedure, which will cost $786. Laura's mother says: "As a mother, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart, as you consider supporting Laura's surgery. She suffers constantly from discomfort and pain, which impacts her day to day life. We look forward to this treatment that will greatly improve her quality of life, so she can return to being the active and happy child she has always been. We will never forget this gesture of kindness."

Jayne is a nine-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and two younger sisters; her father is a police officer and her mother is a teacher. She is in the third grade and is a very intelligent student. Jayne has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Jayne will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6,500 to pay for surgery. Jayne's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Jayne's family overseas. Jayne's mother says, "Our family is very thankful to everyone who is finally making it possible for our daughter to have this surgery!"

Johnson is a 16-year-old student from Nyeri County in Kenya, the second-born child in a family of three children. His mother recalls his birth vividly. “During Johnson's birth, something went wrong in the labor ward. The doctors accidentally pierced his head with a pair of scissors. Since then, I’ve suspected that his condition started from that incident.” Johnson is now 16 years old. He has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which has affected his movement and coordination. He also has clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, causing difficulty in walking and even wearing shoes. Due to his medical condition, Johnson was unable to continue with the regular school curriculum. However, he didn’t give up on education; he is currently enrolled in a polytechnic, where he is learning embroidery and knitting —a skill that his mother says will help him become independent in the future. For many years, his mother struggled to find a solution for her son. One day, she met a long-time friend who told her that specialists will be setting up a mobile clinic in Nyeri. At the mentioned dates, Johnson's mother took him to the clinic for assessment. Following medical review, the doctors recommended serial casting followed by surgery to help improve his condition. Both of Johnson’s parents are small-scale farmers. They work hard every day to support the family, and while they are hopeful that this treatment will help Johnson live a better and more independent life, they are unable to afford the associated costs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Johnson receive treatment. On June 10th, he will undergo corrective surgery, improving his mobility and giving him a healthier chance for completing his education. Now, Johnson's family need help to fund this $1,286 procedure. "I look forward to the day when my son will walk and live independently, just like other teenagers his age," Johnson's mother told us.

Evelina is a 70-year-old woman from the Philippines. Although her children work together to support her daily needs and household expenses, Evelina spends most of her time watching over and managing her small sari-sari store, which has been her main source of livelihood. Despite her age and condition, she continues to do what she can to contribute to her family's income. For over thirty years, Evelina had noticed a lump in her breast but dismissed it due to the absence of pain or discomfort. It was only recently, when she began to experience pain in the affected area, that her family urged her to see a doctor. Evelina was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her doctor emphasized the urgency of undergoing surgery to prevent the spread of cancer to other organs. She needs to undergo a mastectomy to remove the breast cancer and prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Evelina receive treatment. She will undergo a mastectomy on April 25th at WSFP's hospital. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of her treatment cost, and WSFP is raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Evelina will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Evelina shared: "The financial burden of cancer is heavy, and the assistance you will be able to provide will greatly reduce my worries. I am very grateful to everyone who will extend their help during this very difficult time in my life. Thank you very much for your help."

Guillermo is a 65-year-old man from Zambales, a province in the Philippines a few hours from Manila, the capital city. He and his wife enjoy gardening and planting. Guillermo has retired and receives an income from his pension as well as financial support from their adult son. When Guillermo was diagnosed with his condition, his son recommended Guillermo stay with him in Manila to undergo treatment. Last year, Guillermo noticed a lump and began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain and discomfort when sitting or eating certain foods. He was diagnosed with thrombosed hemorrhoids and needs to undergo surgery to prevent his symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Guillermo receive treatment. On March 31st, he will undergo a hemorrhoidectomy at WSFP's care center. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting part of the cost of his treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,257 to cover the cost of Guillermo's procedure and care. Guillermo shared his gratitude, saying: "Thank you very much to everyone who will help me get treated. My wife and I will never be able to afford this surgery, so thank you for making this possible."

Deisy is a little girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother and her older brother. Her father is a driver who is mostly away traveling between cities. Deisy loves to play, but she gets tired very easily. Deisy has a cardiac condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On February 25th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Deisy'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. Deisy's mother shared, "Deisy is such a sweet and caring little girl. I was so scared of the surgery, but I know it is the best thing for her, so she can have a healthy life."

Paw is a resilient 26-year-old woman who, along with her husband, young son, and in-laws, has found refuge in a camp in Mae Hong Song Province, Thailand. They fled their home in Burma in 2024, escaping the violence and airstrikes that devastated their village. Currently, Paw's husband is unemployed, and the family's financial situation is challenging. They rely on a modest monthly support of 1,000 baht (approximately $33) from a relative living outside the camp. Additionally, Paw’s in-laws receive 500 baht (about $16) from a cash card provided by The Border Consortium. Unfortunately, Paw, her husband, and son have yet to receive food rations from the Consortium, which are still being processed. Their total income falls short of meeting their daily needs, forcing them to manage as best they can. At times, they incur small debts with local vendors, which they pay back when possible. Paw dedicates her time to caring for her two-year-old son while striving to maintain the home. The family benefits from free basic healthcare services offered by Malteser International (MI) Thailand, providing them with some peace of mind. In her spare time, Paw enjoys cleaning her home and growing vegetables in their small outdoor space, nurturing a little hope amidst their struggles. Paw is currently expecting her second child. Due to a high-risk pregnancy, her doctors have recommended that she deliver via a caesarean section. 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 February 2nd. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Paw needs your support. Paw says: "In the future, my only wish is to live happily and safely with my family, raising our children in a secure environment."

Shalo is a 12-year-old boy from Ethiopia. At home, he helps his mother wash clothes and collect firewood. He also helps his father with farming. Shalo’s father is a farmer, while his mother runs a small business selling vegetables on the street. Shalo’s eldest sibling started working as a fisherman to help support the family Shalo was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. They advised the family to wait until he was older before pursuing treatment. Over the years, his parents traveled long distances to seek help at various hospitals, selling a portion of their land and exhausting their savings in the process. Unable to find a solution, they eventually gave up hope. Shalo was finally referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery for hypospadias on December 10th. This procedure will address his symptoms, improve his urinary function, and reduce the risk of infertility in the future. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of Shalo’s procedure and care. “I am hopeful that once we get to this hospital, my child will receive the surgery and heal from it,” shared Shalo’s father.