Sineth is a 13-year-old 8th grade student from Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger sister, who is in Grade 4. Her parents are rice farmers and work hard to support their family. Sineth enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a doctor in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and chatting with her friends. Her favorite food is fried pork with ginger. Sineth has scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. Her spinal curve has gradually worsened over the past three years and is now approximately 50 degrees in the thoracolumbar region. Although she does not currently experience pain, the increasing curvature affects her posture and makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably for long periods. This can make it harder for her to stay comfortable and concentrate during class, and the curvature may continue to worsen as she grows. Sineth's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital. They traveled approximately four hours from Kampong Cham to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform posterior spinal fusion to help straighten and stabilize her spine and prevent the curvature from worsening. She needs $1,500 in support to cover the cost of her surgery and related medical care. This treatment will help support her spinal health as she continues to grow and allow her to remain active and continue her education. Sineth's parents said, “We hope that this surgery will help straighten and stabilize our daughter’s spine and prevent her scoliosis from getting worse. We wish for her to grow well, stay active, and continue her studies and daily activities with confidence and comfort.”

Dampi is a 19-year-old girl pursuing her Bachelor's in Political Science from India. Dampi comes from a humble farming family in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Her father works as a farmer and her mother is a homemaker. She is the third of four siblings. One of her brothers has started working independently, while the other two are still studying. Dampi has been living with epilepsy since the age of 10 and has been on medication for the condition ever since. In 2023, after returning home from school, she experienced an epileptic episode while cooking. During the fall, a hot utensil overturned onto her, causing severe burn injuries to her right hand and wrist. Dampi was first taken to another hospital for treatment, but her condition did not improve. Her parents later brought her to G.S Memorial Hospital. Although Dampi tries to remain independent and says she can manage her daily activities, her burn injuries continue to cause physical discomfort and restrictions in her day-to-day life. The condition has affected her mobility and comfort, making treatment and surgery important for improving her quality of life. When Dampi learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, she traveled four hours seeking treatment. On May 21st, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the tight scar tissue caused by her burn injuries. This will improve her mobility, comfort, and ability to carry out daily activities more easily. The treatment is also expected to reduce pain and discomfort so Dampi can regain greater confidence and independence in her everyday life. Now, G.S. Memorial is requesting $1,442 to fund her procedure. "I am happy that I am finally getting this surgery," shares Dampi.

Farah is 53 years old and a father of eight from Ethiopia. He lives with his family in a refugee camp in Turkana after fleeing instability in search of safety. Despite difficult conditions, he has worked hard to support and care for his family. Last year, Farah fractured his left leg after slipping during heavy rains that flooded the camp. More recently, he was injured again while trying to avoid a motorbike, resulting in a fracture of his right leg. He is now in pain and unable to move freely, leaving him unable to care for his family. Fortunately, on April 17th, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, will perform surgery to repair his fracture. Farah is raising $1,500 to fund the procedure, which will relieve his pain and help him regain mobility. Farah said, “I am unable to walk, and even sitting for long is exhausting. I long to get better and be able to stand and walk again.”

Korb is 65 years old and a father of two from Takeo Province, Cambodia. His wife sells rice, while their two children work as bag factory workers. In his free time, he likes exercising and helping his wife with some works Around two years ago, Korb began experiencing pain in his left hip 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 condition has caused difficulty walking and limited his ability to perform daily tasks independently. The condition developed naturally, without trauma or accident. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his right hip in 2017 with the help of our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Korb decided to travel back to CSC for treatment on his left hip. On March 17th, Korb will undergo a hip replacement procedure, where surgeons will operate on his hip to relieve pain and improve mobility, allowing him to move comfortably and return to work. Korb and his family can contribute $25, but they need help raising $1,475 to fund his procedure and care. Korb said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have hip pain and be able to walk more easily, so I can move around more independently and do some works to support my family."

Nipo is 50 years old and a hairstylist from the Philippines. Through his work, he is able to support his younger sisters. A year ago, Nipo began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent abdominal pain. He has been diagnosed with gallstones and needs to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Nipo is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on February 21st. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Nipo's surgery and care. Nipo shared, "I know the surgery would take away my pain and that my sisters would no longer have to be anxious about my condition. Because of our financial struggles, this treatment would not have been possible. I want to live normally like before."

Yonas is a quiet and shy 10-year-old from Ethiopia who loves playing football, making handmade crafts, and helping his mother around the house. Yonas lives with his parents and his youngest cousin. His mother is a teacher at a government school, and his father is a security guard at a bank, though he will be stopping work this month. Together, his parents work hard to support the family and meet their basic needs. Most of their income is spent on food, making it challenging to afford medical bills and medication. Yonas was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His mother was unable to find a health center to address his needs and was advised by relatives to leave the condition as it was. However, when Yonas was four years old, another relative noticed the condition and informed his mother that the symptoms were unusual. Distressed for her son and fearful of the stigma associated with this condition, she felt overwhelmed and hopeless. After moving to Addis Ababa, Yonas's mother took him to a hospital, where they were referred to a pediatric specialty hospital. The doctor reassured her that surgical intervention could correct the condition, which gave her hope; however, they were also informed that there was a waiting list for the surgery. Yonas's mother continued to worry whenever he fell ill, fearing it might be related to his condition. After waiting five months, she finally received a call from the referral hospital informing her that Yonas had been referred to our medical partner's hospital, BKMCM Hospital. Fortunately, Yonas will undergo corrective surgery on January 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Yonas's mom said, "I wish my child could be as healthy as other children and safely complete his surgery. I long for the day when we can put this ordeal behind us."

Catherine is a 37-year-old mother of five children in Kenya. Her husband, the family's sole breadwinner, runs a small electronics repair shop. His income supports the family's basic needs and the children's education. Catherine was in good health until four months ago, when she began experiencing persistent headaches that did not subside. She initially took pain medication, but when the pain failed to improve, she sought medical attention. Further medical scans revealed a brain tumor accompanied by fluid buildup, which was responsible for her severe and continuous migraines. Two months later, Catherine’s condition had significantly worsened. She was no longer able to walk independently, and her body gradually became paralyzed. She lost the ability to speak and is now confined to a chair, fully dependent on her husband and children for feeding and movement from one place to another. She underwent a surgical procedure to drain the fluid from her brain and was later referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital this month, for specialized care. Catherine now urgently requires a craniotomy to resect the brain tumor to prevent further neurological damage and deterioration of her condition. Since the onset of her illness in August, the family has endured immense emotional and financial strain. Despite multiple treatments, Catherine has not shown significant improvement. Her health insurance coverage has been exhausted, and the family is unable to raise the funds required for the surgery. Catherine’s family is seeking support to enable her to undergo the needed surgery and begin her journey toward recovery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On October 18th, she will undergo a craniotomy at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Now, Catherine's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Catherine’s daughter says, “Watching our mum go through this has been incredibly painful. We are doing everything we can for her and hold on to hope that she will recover.”

Henry is 41 years old and a father of two from Malawi. Before his illness, he worked full-time as a security guard at a local church near his home in rural Lilongwe. Since the operation, he has been unable to resume work and now depends largely on his wife, who has also been unable to engage in farming because they spend most of their time in and out of hospitals. As a result, their children have also suffered the impact of this financial and emotional strain. One year ago, Henry began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, difficulty standing upright, blurred vision, and blood in his urine due to intestinal perforation following a motorbike accident. He underwent surgery where a stoma was created to divert intestinal waste while his intestines healed. Henry has lived with this stoma for over a year, enduring both physical and emotional challenges. Fortunately, his wound has now healed, and he is ready for a reversal procedure to restore normal intestinal function, but he needs financial support. Physicians need to perform a laparotomy to open up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Henry's surgery. On November 11th, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. “My condition is unbearable; I truly need God’s intervention. I have experienced firsthand how real stigma can be,” said Henry during the assessment.