Kanika is a thirteen-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her mother and younger brother in Pursat Province, near the border with Thailand. Kanika's mother sells groceries at home, and her father works at a factory in Korea to support the family. Kanika is currently in seventh grade and enjoys her geography class. She has shared that she wants to work in Korea like her father when she is older. At home, Kanika's favorite meal is fried fish with rice, and she likes doing her homework and helping take care of her younger brother. Kanika has been diagnosed with both Marfan syndrome and scoliosis, which are complex conditions leading to pronounced spinal deformities. These conditions affect her physical appearance, making her fingers and toes long and slender and causing a sunken chest. Marfan syndrome also impacts her heart function. Her scoliosis results in severe double curves in the thoracic and lumbar regions. These conditions make her feel uncomfortable at school, and in social situations, impacting her daily life. Kanika and her mother were referred by a public hospital in Phnom Penh to our medical center, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for spine treatment. On September 4th, specialized spinal surgeons will perform a fusion surgery to stabilize and correct Kanika’s severe spinal curvature. The surgeons will use implants and bone grafts to join the vertebrae together. Kanika’s mother can only afford $100 toward her daughter’s care and needs your help to raise the remaining $1,400 for the surgery, hospitalization, implants, post-operative medication, and physiotherapy. This procedure will help relieve Kanika’s discomfort, improve posture, and prevent future complications. Kanika's mother shared, "I hope that my daughter will be able to live comfortably and continue her schooling."

Everlyne is a 47-year-old woman from Kenya, who, after separating from her husband, took on the responsibility of raising her four children and two grandchildren on her own. She has been dedicated to ensuring that each of them receives an education, showing her unwavering commitment to their future. Previously, Everlyne supported her family by cooking and selling mandazi (doughnuts), providing much-needed income for food and school fees, with the assistance of her church community. Unfortunately, her life took a tragic turn in December 2023 when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near her home. The driver who hit her took her to our medical partner's care centre, Nazareth Hospital, and subsequently disappeared. Everlyne suffered a closed fracture of the two long bones in her lower left leg, which required an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery. Since the accident, she has been unable to work, forcing her daughter to give up her nursing studies to care for her mother and siblings. Just a month ago, as Everlyne attempted to regain her mobility, she experienced severe pain and had to return to Nazareth Hospital. An X-ray revealed that her fracture had reoccurred, and the doctor has recommended another ORIF surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare are helping Everlyn receive treatment. On August 8th, she will undergo a fracture repair surgery, to alleviate pain and restore mobility upon recovery. Now, Everlyne needs help to fund this $1,048 procedure. Everlyne says: "I am experiencing significant pain and am very worried about my children, as they all depend on me. I kindly ask for your support as I pray for a successful surgery. I hope that my leg will heal so that I can continue running my small business and provide for my children."

19-year-old Htun is a student from Tak Province in Thailand. Science is his favorite subject, and he is eager to continue learning more. Htun was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a damage to the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward, or the valve to narrow. This condition has caused Htun to experience fatigue, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath. He requires the support of pillows to sleep comfortably, as sleeping flat on his back exacerbates his breathing difficulties. He also has trouble eating, as he feels short of breath when swallowing food. He has had to withdraw from school due to the condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement procedure for Htun. His upcoming surgery, set for July 9th at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, will alleviate his symptoms, allowing him to return to school once he has fully recovered. Htun says: "Since my condition has worsened, I had to put my studies on hold in mid-July, and my mother has had to dedicate her time to caring for me, leaving her with no time for her previous activities. Despite this setback, I remain committed to pursuing my dream of becoming an electrical engineer in the future, as I find joy in repairing and creating things."

Sorphea is a 51-year-old middle school teacher from Cambodia. She is a mother of three. Sorphea's husband serves in the army and her eldest daughter helps support the family by working in a nearby garment factory. Sorphea enjoys listening to music and watching Cambodian dramas at home. Thirty years ago, Sorphea had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Sorphea experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, frequent headaches, and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to hear her students and family. Because of this condition, she has taken numerous sick days from her work at the school. Sorphea traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 14th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, the surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure to cover medications, supplies, and in-patient care. Sorphea shared, "I hope I can improve my hearing and get back to my job so I can help my students and support my family."

Bernadin is a playful two-year-old girl from Haiti. Bernadin has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Bernadin has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Bernadin will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Bernadin at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on May 9th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Bernadin's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment and follow-up care, Bernadin should develop into a strong, healthy young girl. The family is looking forward to Bernadin growing up happy and healthy.

Aye is a 33-year-old mother from Burma. She lives with her husband, mother, son, and three nephews. Aye and her mother take care of the household, while her husband works as a taxi driver and her son and nephews attend school. Her family also manages a small piece of land where they grow rice and raise livestock for their consumption and to provide additional income. In her leisure time, Aye enjoys staying updated with the news and watching movies on her phone. Aye was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes, ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes, this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Aye is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on April 9th to correct the atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Aye's procedure and care. Aye said, "After I have recovered, I want to support my son to finish his education. I enjoy the routine of bringing him to school and picking him up afterward. Additionally, I have a plan to open a grocery store at home. Cooking is a passion of mine, and I love discovering new recipes online and bringing them to life in my kitchen."

Abraham is the 5th child born into a family of 8 and hails from a small village in Kenya. We met him at Cure Hospital accompanied by his mother. He is in the 2nd grade and aspires to become a driver in the future. Abraham was born with a condition where his leg curves at the knees. Currently, he walks with discomfort, cannot walk for a long time because he falls, cannot play football like his friends, and his self-esteem is greatly affected. He is scheduled to undergo a bilateral "8-plate" surgery to correct the condition. The treatment will be impactful because he will walk well, play football with friends, improve his self-esteem, and continue his education like other children. “I want my legs to be corrected so that I can walk well, play football with my friends, and continue with school like my friends,” said Abraham.

Edeau, who is 13 years old, lives in a farming community in southwest Haiti, with his godmother and his godmother's family. He is in the seventh grade. Earlier in his childhood, Edeau suffered from rheumatic fever, which severely damaged one of the four valves of his heart, making it difficult for his heart to pump blood through his body. Edeau requires surgery to correct his condition. On February 6th, surgeons at Welcare Hospital will replace Edeau's damaged valve with an artificial one, a $6,000 procedure, which is being subsidized by Gift of Life International. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is seeking $1,500 to cover the costs associated with the pre-operative and post-operative care that Edeau will need, and the travel expenses for Edeau and his family. From Edeau: "I would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping me to get this surgery."

Beatriz is a 18 month-old girl. Beatriz lives with her parents in a mining city in central Bolivia. Her father is a restaurant cook and her mother is a homemaker. Beatriz was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive her body of oxygen, and as a result she has required supplemental oxygen since she was a small baby. If left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure. With proper treatment, many live until adulthood. Our partner facility International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund heart surgery for Beatriz. During surgery, doctors will repair the defects so that blood can flow normally through her lungs. Her mother shared: "We are excited for this surgery so that our daughter can breathe better and live a more normal life."

Roem is a mother of four from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Chnang province with her husband. She is a retired rice farmer and her husband still works in the nearby rice fields. All of their children have left the province to seek work closer to the capital city. At home, Roem likes listening to music and cooking. In 2019, while she was walking near her house, Roem tripped over a rope and broke her left hip. After enduring pain for six months, she decided to travel several hours to a hospital in the north of the country where she had surgery. After surgery, her hip improved slightly, but she is still having trouble walking and takes regular pain medications. She often wakes up at night from the pain. Fortunately, Roem learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Roem of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for December 4th, and Roem needs help raising $1,118 to pay for this procedure. She shared, "I hope I can walk again and be able to stop the pain so I can help more around my house."

Meet Collins, a 12-year-old calm boy, the second born in a family of 3 children and a student at a special school. Their family hails from Shamata village in Nyandarua county. His mother is a single mother and is a small farmer. She shared how devastated she was upon receiving the news of her son's spine deformity. In her mind, she thought that her child could not survive until she was referred to a specialist, who explained the condition and how it could be corrected. Collins was born with a condition known as severe scoliosis, a spine deformity and a sideway curvature of the spine. This condition has greatly affected his mobility. He cannot bend and gets tired quickly while walking. Apart from the spine deformity, he is also mentally impaired, which has delayed his education. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to help heal his spine. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk upright and continue with his education uninterrupted. "I am kindly requesting you to support my son, who is undergoing surgery and we are unable to pay for it. Your help will be highly appreciated as you help me put a smile on my son's face. Thank you so much for considering my request," shared Collin's mother.

Bunaidie is an 18-year-old student living with her parents and younger sister outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Bunaidie would like to become a doctor or nurse one day and was a junior in high school last year, but is taking this year off of school because of her health. Bunaidie has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of her four heart valves was severely damaged by a fever she suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery that Bunaidie needs is not available in her country, so Bunaidie will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 5th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove the damaged heart valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Haitian Hearts, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery; however, Bunaidie's family also needs $1,500 to help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow up, including labs expenses, medicines, and checkup and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social worker from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Bunaidie's family overseas. Bunaidie says, "I am hopeful that after my surgery my heart will be normal. I want to be able to focus on my school and be ready for the rest of my life."