Mark is a 12-year-old boy from Kenya. His health challenges began at birth. He was born with severe clubfoot, blindness in his right eye, and was unable to cry like other newborns. He was later diagnosed with brain damage, which affected his feeding and overall development. Mark has experienced significant developmental delays; he was able to walk at the age of five but has never developed speech. Despite these medical challenges, Mark’s mother has remained supportive, taking each day as it comes. In 2019, Mark was enrolled in a regular school. However, it was difficult for him to keep up with his class because of his hearing difficulties. It was recommended that Mark be fitted with hearing aids to help him with school and his interactions with others. Mark’s father works as a casual driver, and his mother is a domestic worker. Together, they work tirelessly to provide for their two children, aged 12 and 2, ensuring their basic needs are met. Unfortunately, their limited income prevents them from affording hearing aids. Yet, access to them would go a long way in supporting Mark’s speech development and greatly improving his quality of life. Mark’s parents are now reaching out for support, hoping he can receive hearing aids and have a chance at a better future. On January 14th, Mark will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 for Mark. Mark’s mother says, “I believe hearing aids would help Mark develop his speech and finally be able to communicate with those around him.”

Jennifer is 34 years old and a mother of three from Romblon, Philippines. She makes and sells rice cakes in town. When she gave birth to her youngest child in 2015, Jennifer noticed a lump in her breast. Since then, the lump has been growing, worrying her. She is in pain, which she manages with painkillers. She has been unable to seek care, as she knows she cannot afford it. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On January 28th, Jennifer will undergo surgery to remove the mass. This procedure should address her symptoms and allow her to live more comfortably. She needs help to raise $1,416 to fund her treatment. Jennifer shared, "I am very thankful that I can finally be treated for the lumps in my breast. Thank you so much to everyone for your help."

Jhon is a curious four-year-old boy who lives with his family in Colombia. He has been doing well in preschool and is motivated to learn by his dream of becoming a pilot. However, his recent symptoms have made it more difficult for him to concentrate on school and participate in activities. About a year ago, Jhon was evaluated by a pediatric dentist who diagnosed multiple and deep dental cavies. Due to the severity of the caries and his young age, the dentist recommended dental treatment with general anesthesia, which Jhon's family is not able to afford. His condition has progressed over time and causes intense pain, inflammation, and difficulty eating and sleeping. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clinica Noel, can help. They are requesting $848 to fund Jhon's dental treatment, which will take place on December 16th. This treatment will not only relieve the physical pain, but will also allow Jhon to regain his quality of life, improve his school performance, and continue dreaming of flying high as a pilot. Jhon's mother shares, "Jhon will be able to regain his smile and the quality of life that every child deserves. Seeing how someone who does not know him personally gets involved with so much love is the purest reflection of human kindness. May God continue to bless you and guide your every step in this noble mission."

Chantha is a 55-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is from Prey Veng province and grows and sells rice with his wife. They have one son, who works as a civil officer. In his free time, Chantha enjoys watching the news on his phone and chatting with friends in the village. Chantha has had right hip pain for about three years due to avascular necrosis, which can occur when blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, leading to bone cell death and the collapse of the femoral head. This pain has worsened over the last four months, affecting his walking and ability to perform daily tasks. It is worse at night, preventing him from sleeping well and leaving him tired in the morning. Fortunately, Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On November 14th, surgeons will perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chantha of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Chantha can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $1,185 more to fund his procedure and care. Chantha said, "After the surgery, I hope to no longer have hip pain, and I will be able to work in the rice fields and do daily tasks."

Barkot is a shy three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football with his friends and attending church, where he enjoys listening to and singing songs. As the first child in his family, his birth brought immense joy to his parents. His mother works as a cleaner in a government entity, while his father works at a car wash. Being young and facing financial hardship, his parents often struggle to provide for the family, sometimes sending him to stay with his grandparents while they work. Barkot’s health journey has been challenging; he weighed only one kilogram at birth, and the doctor warned of low chances of survival. “This is bad news,” they thought as he was discharged. As part of his ongoing care, Barkot attended follow-up appointments at different hospitals for respiratory issues. When he turned two, he fell severely ill with pneumonia, prompting another visit to a government hospital. While there, Barkot was also diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition where the urethral opening is not in its usual place, causing urinary dysfunction. Barkot needed surgical repair but unfortunately the hospital had a long patient wait list of over a year. In a fortunate turn of events, he was referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), benefiting from the ongoing partnership between the two hospitals. Thrilled by the news, the family eagerly agreed to take Barkot to BKMCM for treatment. Barkot’s mother felt a mix of excitement and anxiety; her heart filled with hope for her son’s recovery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Barkot receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 30th, treating his condition and preventing the risk of future medical complications. Now, Barkot's family needs help to fund this $1,293 procedure. Barkot's father expressed his heartfelt wish, saying, "I hope that one day I can become prosperous enough to support children facing various health challenges. I am deeply grateful to the generous donors, and I hope to get their invaluable assistance."

Poh is a 17-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, two older siblings, and two younger sisters. Her parents are farmers. Since 2017, Poh has started experiencing abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and fatigue, including feeling pale and tired. She was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder. Physicians at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, determined that Poh should undergo a splenectomy. A splenectomy is a surgery to remove the spleen. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on September 4th and, once completed, it will hopefully improve Poh's quality of life. Poh said, "I want to go to school, but I feel too tired to walk to school, so I have to stop school for this year." Her father said, "Due to her condition, we need to borrow money for regular blood transfusions, and now we are in debt. Without your support, I have no more money to treat her."

Leonora is a 62-year-old housewife from the Philippines. While her husband receives a small pension, and Leonora takes in laundry when she can, their daughter, a dishwasher, is the family's main provider. Four months ago, Leonora began to experience troubling symptoms, including a lump on her neck, palpitations, and mild cold symptoms. She was diagnosed with a mass on her thyroid, and she will need surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Leonora receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 14th, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, while WSFP is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Leonora's procedure and care. Leonora said, "Receiving a free operation would be a huge relief for me and my family. I am deeply grateful to the organization, and I hope that your efforts in helping the poor will continue, so that more people in need can benefit from your compassion and generosity."

Sothun is 34 years old and a construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Thom province with his wife and four-year-old son. His wife works long hours in a clothing factory, and Sothun works as an excavator driver for a construction company. Because of their long hours, their son primarily lives with his maternal grandmother nearby. In his free time, Sothun likes spending time with his family and listening to classic Cambodian music. Sothun was involved in a motorbike accident one month ago, resulting in a superficial granulated wound on his left upper thigh. He initially received stitches and pain relief medication from a rural clinic, but the wound has not healed. The wound area is infected and causes pain when he walks, which limits his mobility and makes it difficult for him to work. When Sothun learned about our medical partner, the Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On July 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure. The surgery will help his wound heal properly, reduce his pain, and allow him to walk and return to work again.. Sothun can contribute $100 but needs help to raise $483 to fund his procedure and care. Sothun shared, “After surgery, I hope my wound will be healed and I won’t feel pain when I walk. I want to get back to work soon and support my family.”