Eric is a 48-year-old man from DR Congo, but presently lives in a refugee settlement in Uganda. Eric and his family were forced to flee due to instability in their country, and have now lived in Uganda eight years, trying to rebuild their lives. To support themselves and care for their children, Eric and his wife engage in farming on a rented piece of land. Since he was the age of six, Eric has had a right reducible inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The condition has caused significant discomfort and has affected most of his life. He experiences pain when lying on his stomach or back, making it difficult for him to sleep comfortably. Eric sought treatment at several health facilities, but he was mainly given painkillers, which did not provide lasting relief. Over time, his condition has continued to affect his well-being, and he has become increasingly weak. When Eric heard about a medical outreach organized by the hospital, he went in for examination by the surgical team, who recommended surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, on August 4th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Rwibaale Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $234 to fund Eric's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Eric says, "I hope to be able to bend and do my daily activities after recovery."

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father works for a private company, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. He enjoys playing with toys alongside his sister, and his favorite meal is soup, especially lemongrass sour soup. Laysing was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side. His parents first noticed the condition when he began walking. As he has grown, the scoliosis has caused him to tire easily when walking or playing. The condition makes everyday activities difficult and sometimes causes discomfort. Laysing's parents are concerned about his posture and possible complications in the future. Laysing's family heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled four hours to attend a consultation. After extensive testing, doctors recommended that Laysing have spinal surgery. Without treatment, Laysing's symptoms will continue, and he will be at risk of future complications. On March 23rd, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal "growing rod" into Laysing's spine to help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. This treatment will help him stand taller, move more comfortably, and reduce fatigue. After recovery, he should be able to play, walk, and participate in daily activities more easily, improving both his quality of life and his confidence. Laysing's mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”

Sabita is 12 years old and a 5th-grade student from India. She is the youngest among six siblings, having four brothers and two sisters. Sabita is cheerful, cooperative, and emotionally resilient. She enjoys drawing and dancing, which reflect her creative and lively personality. She comes across as a determined child with a positive attitude towards treatment and recovery, supported closely by her family. Her family engages in farming and daily wage labor. About 10 years ago, Sabita sustained a severe burn injury after accidentally falling into boiling curry. The injury resulted in post-burn scars and contractures involving her right hand, elbow, and forearm, leading to difficulty in movement and function. Sabita has been receiving care with our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and has been under follow-up for the management of post-burn treatment. The burn injury and resulting post-burn contractures have significantly affected Sabita's mobility, function, and daily activities. Her scars and limited movement also affect her self-confidence and social interactions with peers. These limitations may interfere with academic performance, play, and participation in extracurricular activities such as dancing, which she enjoys. When Sabita's family learned about G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, they traveled for 2.5 hours seeking treatment. On May 27th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will improve her mobility and prevent further worsening of the post-burn contractures. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Sabita's father shared, "Our only wish is that our daughter can use her hand properly and live like other children. She has suffered a lot since childhood, yet she always stays cheerful and brave."

Novence is a 16-year-old girl from Kabale District, Uganda. She lives with her parents, who are small-scale farmers, and her five younger siblings, who attend primary school. Novence enjoys studying and has a vision and mission of becoming a nurse. About a year ago, Novence developed swelling around her umbilical region. Her parents took her to a health center, but the health center was unable to provide a diagnosis. At first, the swelling was small and painless, and Novence and her family continued to monitor the situation. But over time, the pain increased to the point where Novence could no longer help her parents in the fields. So far, she has been determined to continue her studies, but the condition is becoming more and more painful. Novence's family has also become increasingly worried, as they have never seen anyone with this condition. Recently, a friend of Novence's mother told her about our partner's medical care center, Rushoroza Hospital. The family travelled to the hospital, where Novence finally received a diagnosis of an umbilical hernia. Without surgery, she will continue to suffer, and the condition could get worse. Fortunately, on February 10th, Novence will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $170 to fund her surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently, and to attend school without pain. Novence's mother shares, "Truly, if it were not for my friend, then no one would have shown me the way to Rushoroza Hospital. I pray that we may have a chance to be helped, and I believe that my daughter will undergo a successful surgery."

Doreen is a 35-year-old mother who lives in Uganda with her husband and their two children. Doreen completed postsecondary studies in records management and now runs a small-scale general merchandise business. Her husband is a qualified nurse and is volunteering at a health center while searching for a permanent position. Doreen enjoys managing her business, and her favourite food is Irish potatoes in bean sauce. Doreen is currently expecting her third child. Throughout her pregnancy, Doreen has been receiving antenatal care at health clinics, but had her final antenatal appointment at our partner's medical care center, Rushoroza Hospital. Though her pregnancy has been going well, Doreen is worried about delivery, and her parents say that she has been praying hard for her and her baby to be safe. Doctors recommend that Doreen deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Doreen undergo a C-Section on February 6th. This procedure will cost $214, and Doreen needs your support. Doreen says, "I am appealing to donors and request to be helped because I am not financially stable and the little support we get at home is from my small business and from my small gardens. I pray that at least I also get assisted through surgery."

Gidion is an active and cheerful two-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of five children in a close-knit family, and his parents are both small-scale farmers. Gideon is already learning a second language, and enjoys communicating with his parents. Gidion was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both feet are twisted out of shape, making it difficult to stand, walk, or even wear shoes. As he has grown, his condition has begun to affect not only his mobility but also how he is treated within the community. But with limited financial resources, accessing specialized care has been a challenge. Despite this, Gidion's family has taken a brave step by bringing him to our medical partner for treatment, hoping he will learn to stand, walk independently, and be able to wear shoes. Gidion has already been assessed for treatment, which will begin with manipulation and casting. Surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, will begin Gidion's treatment on January 26th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Gidion's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his mobility will be restored, and he will be protected from lifelong disability and social exclusion. Gidion's mother shares, "I wish for my boy to get better and not live with this condition all his life."

Mark is a 20-month-old boy from Uganda. His mother is a tailor, while his father practices small-scale farming to provide food for the family and a small surplus for sale. About eight months ago, Mark began to experience the symptoms of an inguinal scrotal hernia. He has a painful swelling, which sometimes restricts him from playing. Mark also has a poor appetite, which has greatly worried his mother. The family visited several hospitals but could not receive treatment due to financial constraints. They later decided to travel to our partner's medical care center, Rwibaale Health Center, for help. Fortunately, Mark will undergo hernia repair surgery on January 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $234 to fund the surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow Mark to live and play comfortably and confidently. Mark's mother shares, "I am glad that my son's life will be recovered."

Braseth is a cheerful boy from Cambodia. He lives with his parents in Kampong Cham province. His mother is a fish seller at a local market, and his father is a rubber farmer. He has one older brother who is a kindergarten student. In his free time, he enjoys playing with toy cars and likes eating grilled meat and fruit. Braseth was born with polydactyly of his right hand. This means that he has an extra thumb. It causes him to injure his hand easily when he is playing and may also make it difficult for him to hold a pen properly when he starts school, which could affect his ability to learn and participate in class activities. Fortunately, on January 27th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra thumb. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, he will use his hand more comfortably, reduce injuries, and be able to hold a pen easily. Braseth's mother said, “I hope that after treatment, my son will be able to hold a pen easily and play without getting hurt.”

Dickson is a bright 12-year-old boy from Kenya. As he does not have parents, he lives in a children's home. He feels a strong sense of belonging there, describing the children's home as more than just a home to him. Still, he sometimes wishes he had parents of his own. In February, Dickson noticed something unusual when he went to the bathroom and immediately told his guardians, who brought him to the hospital. Dickson was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Dickson has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Dickson will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 19th. AMH is requesting $470 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Dickson shares, “When I noticed something was wrong, I got scared. I don’t feel pain, but I worry a lot about my future. I just want to grow up like other boys and be okay.”

Elikana is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and two older siblings. His parents are small-scale farmers who grow food for household consumption and sell the surplus when the harvest allows. Elikana is a calm and observant child who enjoys being around his mother and siblings. When Elikana was very young, he was injured in a fire-related incident at home, receiving burns on his neck, ears, and parts of his face. He was able to receive care for his wounds, but the resulting scars are thick and tight. This limits his ability to move his head and arm, and affects how he feeds, plays, and interacts with others. It also makes it difficult for his mother to dress and clean him. Without treatment, Elikana is at risk of further functional limitations as he ages. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Elikana receive treatment. On February 19th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore his neck mobility and prevent further functional limitation. Now, he needs help to fund this $717 procedure. Elikana's father says, “He cannot fully bend and straighten his arm, making it hard for him to feed and play.”

Loserian is a two-year-old boy from a family of five children. Loserian’s parents depend on raising livestock and small-scale farming to support their family. Their livelihood is modest and vulnerable to environmental and economic changes, making access to specialized healthcare services challenging. Nevertheless, they have made determined efforts to seek medical support for their son. Loserian’s condition was first noticed when he began bearing weight and standing independently. His mother observed a downward bending of his right leg, along with mild weakness in his left arm. These challenges have affected his physical development and daily activities. Despite these limitations, Loserian remains active and enjoys playing with his peers. However, Loserian's condition has exposed him to innocent but painful teasing and bullying from other children, which has been emotionally difficult for both him and his family. His parents are concerned about how this may affect his confidence as he grows. Loserian's family was referred to Kafika House by a community leader. Here, he was diagnosed with clubfoot on his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on February 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Loserian's clubfoot repair. After treatment, this intervention will gradually correct the position of his lower limb and support improved mobility. Loserian's mother says, "I pray that treatment will be a step towards him fitting in with his friends and family."