Joyce is a 12-year-old from Kenya. She is a sixth grader who loves Math. Joyce is the firstborn in a family of two children and is being raised by her single mother, who relies on casual farming jobs to provide for the family. As Joyce was growing up, developmental milestones were noticeably delayed. She sat independently at nearly one year of age and began walking when she was almost two years old. By the age of three, she could only speak a few simple words. Relieved that her daughter had finally started talking, her mother enrolled her in school. Once Joyce began primary school, her teachers noticed that she had difficulty hearing. At home, her mother also realised she often had to repeat herself several times before Joyce understood what was being said. "The teacher gives her tasks, but she struggles with almost everything. I am so worried," her mother says. Although she is eager to learn and loves reading, her untreated hearing loss makes it hard for her to understand classroom instructions, causing her to fall behind academically. "Joyce loves reading, but she cannot understand the instructions she is given, so she is falling behind," her mother explains. Joyce was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for specialized care. She was diagnosed with hearing loss and was advised to use hearing aids to improve her hearing and communication. Unfortunately, the cost of the hearing aids is far beyond what her family can afford. On July 7th, Joyce will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting help raising $1,171. The hearing aids will give Joyce a better chance to fully participate in class, excel in her education, and pursue her dreams with confidence. "I love mathematics," Joyce says with a smile. "One day, I want to become a teacher so I can help children learn and enjoy mathematics just as much as I do."

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”

Ra is a 68-year-old man from Siem Reap province in Cambodia. He and his wife have two children. His wife sells biscuits, their eldest child is a grocery seller, and their youngest is a car repairer. In his free time, Ra helps his wife with household and work-related tasks. In 2019, Ra began experiencing pain in his right hip due to avascular necrosis, a condition in which bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply, which caused a structural failure of his hip ball joint. Ra underwent a total hip replacement through our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), at that time. However, over the past year, his pain has returned, and walking has become difficult. His x-ray showed that some of the acetabular cup and femoral stem (components from his hip replacement surgery) have come loose, leaving him unable to walk comfortably or perform daily activities. Ra was referred back to CSC for treatment. On April 8th, he will undergo a revision hip replacement procedure on his right hip. This surgery will stabilize the hip, relieve his pain, and restore his mobility. Ra was able to contribute $100 to his care and is requesting assistance to raise the remaining $1,400 to cover the cost of prosthesis, surgery, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Roth said, "I had a hip replacement in 2019, but over the past year, the pain has returned, and it's become difficult for me to walk. I hope further treatment will fix the problem and help me move comfortably again."

Jorgelis is a 10-year-old student from a town in Antioquia, Colombia. She is cheerful and intelligent, with a sweet energy that is contagious and leaves a special impression on everyone around her. Jorgelis dreams of becoming a great doctor when she grows up so she can help others. Since she was a few months old, Jorgelis has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. This condition causes discomfort or tenderness, especially when crying, coughing, or straining. The discomfort can also make it hard for kids to do everyday childhood activities, such as playing and jumping. If left untreated, there is a risk of developing future health complications. Jorgelis needs to undergo surgery to correct the hernia and prevent potential future complications. Fortunately, on May 28th, she will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once completed, this procedure will allow her to live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Jorgelis's surgery. Jorgelis's family shared: "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has made this donation for the surgery possible. This support means the world to our daughter and to us as a family. We trust in God and the doctors that everything will go well and that her recovery will be quick and successful. What we long for most is to see her healthy, happy, and full of life, so that she can continue to grow and fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and helping many people."

Char is a 55-year-old man from Burma who lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons. His oldest two children work as small-scale farmers alongside Char and his wife, while his two youngest are students. Char's family also raises buffalo, pigs, and chickens for their consumption and to sell for income every four or five months. Char shared that the money they earn from selling their livestock, as well as the crops they grow for themselves, is just enough to cover their daily needs and to pay for basic health care. Char has a right inguinal hernia with bowel obstruction that is causing him to experience a lot of pain, difficulty walking and moving, and a reduced appetite. He needs to undergo surgery to heal from his condition. Fortunately, our medical partner can help him undergo hernia repair surgery on May 12th, which, once completed, will allow him to live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,468 to fund Char's surgery. Char shared about how upsetting this condition has been for him and his family, stating: "I cannot help my family take care of our rice fields, [vegetable] garden, or buffaloes," he said. "After I recover, I want to go home to take care of our rice fields and look after my buffalo. I will also go to the forest to forage for vegetables and hunt."

Surjeet is a 26-year-old man from India. He drives an electric auto rickshaw as a daily wage earner. When Surjeet was four years old, he sustained burns while sitting around a bonfire during winter. For around two months, he was treated at home by a nurse working at a government hospital. Twelve years ago, Surjeet, who lives in Bihar, travelled over 300 kilometers to visit our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, for specialized care. He had extensive post-burn contractures or tightening of the skin around the neck, arms, hands, and lower lip. He has undergone two surgeries for the release of his neck and left axillary contractures. Surjeet needs another surgery to help him regain strength and mobility in his right wrist and hand. On April 16th, he will undergo burn contracture release surgery, and he needs help raising $1,442 to fund his treatment and care. Surjeet has high hopes that this surgery will help him regain the function of his right hand. Surjeet's father shared, "With the help of G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital, I hope that my son will be able to study further with the promise of a better future after this surgery."

Helen is an eight-year-old girl from Colombia. She is currently in the 3rd grade, and enjoys participating in school activities, and reading stories. Helen dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Helen has an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. The condition makes it painful for her to play, and limits activities that require physical strength. She sometimes experiences discomfort or tenderness in the affected area. Fortunately, on April 16th, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, will perform Helen's hernia repair surgery to help her live a healthier life. Helen's family is unable to raise the required treatment costs, and are seeking support to raise $786 to fund her surgery and care. Helen's mom said, "I am deeply grateful to all the kind and generous-hearted people who are supporting my daughter's treatment. Thank you very much in advance. Your support not only addresses a medical need, but also fills our hearts with hope."