Emmaculate is a bright, cheerful seven-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her single mother, who is a domestic worker. At the age of four, Emmaculate was diagnosed with hearing loss. The doctors recommended hearing aids, but the cost was far beyond their reach. Emmaculate is in a school for the hearing-impaired, but still faces challenges when communicating with others outside of school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Emmaculate. They request $1,171 to fund the cost of hearing aids for her. Emmaculate’s mother says, “Emmaculate would rather stay alone in the house than play with other children. They often mimic her speech and laugh at her; it breaks her heart, and she comes home in tears. We ask that you help her with her situation. Thank you so much.”

Motuma is a 12-year-old boy from Ethiopia. Six years ago, Motuma developed a cataract in the left eye, causing him cloudy and blurry vision - a rare condition for his young age. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. He has a gradual dimming of his vision and discomfort. He also has a fear of losing his sight, which fuels a lot of anxiety. Fortunately, Motuma is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital on March 19th. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $150 procedure. Motuma shared, "After recovery, I look forward to returning to school."

Respik is an active and sociable 5-year-old from Tanzania. His family traveled a long journey of 11 hours seeking help for their son. Respik has been facing challenges for four years. He first arrived at our medical partner's care center in December and was diagnosed with bilateral varus. With support, he was able to undergo his first surgery, a bilateral PTO to correct both legs. Now, after his recovery, Respik is ready for his second surgery to undergo a bilateral DFO as the next stage of his treatment. Respik was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition in which his legs bow outward at the knee. Several factors can cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. For Respik, he has difficulty walking. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Respik. The procedure will take place on February 11th at AMH's care center. This treatment will restore Respik's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Respik's mother said, "Thank you so much for holding my son's hand as he goes through his treatment journey. I wish he completes his treatment so that he is able to enjoy spending time with his friends."

Vorth is a 3-year-old toddler from Cambodia. He is from Kampong Spue province and lives with his parents and a four-month-old sister. His parents work at the National Social Security Fund. Vorth does not attend school yet but he enjoys playing with toy cars and loves eating grilled fish. Vorth was born with polydactyly of his left hand. This means that he has an extra finger on his left thumb. Vorth's parents have never sought treatment but his mother believes it should be removed to allow him to use his hand more efficiently. Fortunately, on February 14th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra finger. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $299 to fund this procedure. After surgery, he will be able to grasp objects and other children will not make fun of his hand when he starts school. Vorth's mother shared: "I want to see my son use his hand better when he grows up."

Kidan is a 51-year-old mother from Eritrea who has been on a long and difficult journey fighting for her health. After enduring a painful swelling in her left breast, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2024. Despite the challenges she faced, Kidan found strength in her faith and her church community. With the support of her church, Kidan was able to seek medical attention and begin chemotherapy. However, the treatment took a toll on her, and she was unable to continue her domestic work. Her 19-year-old son has been her rock, with her husband away for five years, serving their country. Her church made arrangements for her travel to Kenya to seek further review and treatment. In a remarkable turn of events, doctors at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, discovered that the tumor was not cancerous and could be removed with a mastectomy. This news has brought immense relief and joy to Kidan, giving her renewed hope for a longer and healthier future. But there's one final hurdle: Kidan needs help to cover the cost of the surgery. Despite the efforts of her church and well-wishers who paid for her travel, she arrived in Nairobi with nothing, relying on the kindness of a missionary who is hosting her. With your contribution, Kidan can finally get the treatment she needs and reclaim her life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Kidan. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 22nd. Kidan says, “I’m relieved to learn that I don’t have cancer. This gives me hope to live and be there for my son.”

Chhengmean is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. She has three younger siblings who live with her parents, while Chhengmean lives with her aunt and grandparents. She is in 4th grade and enjoys studying Khmer. Chhengmean also loves cooking and making pork and rice. When she was 7 years old, Chhengmean developed an ear infection that caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. As a result, Chhengmean experiences pain, tinnitus, and pus, along with hearing loss in her left ear. This makes it difficult for her to hear clearly and has affected her ability to focus in class. Chhengmean traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 12th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This cost covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chhengmean shared that, after undergoing surgery, she hopes she will be able to pay attention at school without hearing loss or discomfort!

Eveness is a farmer from Malawi. She is a widow who lost her husband in 2013, when her youngest was only eight months. 19 years ago, Eveness began to experience troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling that kept growing and was associated with neck heaviness plus pains, inability to walk long distances or carry heavy items on her head, frequent coughs, especially at night, and weakness. Eveness has since reduced her time on the farm, affecting her income. Accompanied by her sister, Eveness visited our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with multinodular goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Eveness receive treatment. On March 6th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Eveness said, "I have hope that surgery will bring back my peace of mind and take away my pains and discomfort."

Vanlida is a 16-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger siblings in Kompong Spueu province. Her mother works in a garment factory, and her father works as a tuk tuk motorcycle taxi driver a few hours away by the coast. Vanlida is in grade 11, and dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up. Her favorite meal is rice with dried fish, and she enjoys caring for her younger siblings. When she was five years old, Vanlida had an accident, causing a tear in her earlobe. Since then, she developed a keloid on her left ear. The keloid is large and continues to grow, and is now causing mild hearing loss. She feels shy and self-conscious because of the keloid, especially around her classmates. Vanlida traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 30th, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Vanlida's family can contribute $50 but needs help to raise $223 more to fund this procedure. Vanlinda shared, "I hope I can have surgery so I will be more confident and comfortable in school."

In August 2024, Kennan's family began to notice that something wasn't quite right. When they spoke to him, the six-year-old boy often seemed distracted, staring off into space, only responding when someone touched him. At first, his mother and grandmother thought he was being difficult, and they would scold him, urging him to pay attention. But their concern deepened when they received a call from the school. Kennan was having trouble hearing his teachers and classmates, which explained why he struggled to communicate like other children his age. At school, Kennan relies on lip-reading, watching his teachers closely and occasionally asking classmates to repeat what was said. It became clear to his family that his difficulties went beyond a lack of interest, prompting them to seek help. But it hasn’t been an easy journey for Kennan’s family. His father tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2023, leaving behind a deep void. Now, Kennan's mother works hard selling oranges at the market, while his grandmother is unemployed. His mother struggles to provide for Kennan and his younger sister, who is just 4 years old. Each day, she works tirelessly just to put food on the table. Kennan's grandmother is especially worried about him. She often fears for his safety when he plays outside, anxious that he may not hear an approaching vehicle or motorbike. Her heart breaks knowing she can’t do more to help her grandson. Recently, Kennan's grandmother brought him to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he was diagnosed with reduced hearing. The good news is that hearing aids can provide the help he needs to thrive and connect with the world around him. However, the cost of these hearing aids is a barrier for Kennan’s family. They are now reaching out for support to help provide Kennan with the hearing aids he desperately needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kennan receive treatment. On February 6th, he will be fitted with hearing aids, allowing him to hear, learn, and grow. Now, Kennan's family needs help to fund the $1,171 treatment. Kennan says: "When I'm in class, I often have trouble hearing the teacher, so I rely on my friends to fill me in by telling me what's going on."

Mathayo is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He has eight siblings. His father relies on farming and livestock to support the family. They farm corn for sustenance and sell some of their surplus harvests for income. Mathayo is often quiet and tends to keep to himself. However, when he saw a real football for the first time, he became excited and asked if he could play. When Mathayo was one year old, he had an accident resulting in severe burns on his hands. These developed contractures, making it difficult for him to hold objects. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Mathayo receive treatment. On October 8th, surgeons are scheduled to perform a debridement and skin graft procedure. Following the surgery, his hands will heal and he will regain function. Now, Mathayo needs help to fund this $693 procedure. Mathayo's father added "This condition has been hard for him and made him dependent on his mother. We hope the treatment will make it possible for him to become more independent."

Alison is an eight-year-old boy from Kenya. Born as a twin, he and his brother shared early milestones together until they were two years old. Alison’s brother began to speak, but Alison did not. His mother hoped he would catch up in time, but even now, at eight, Alison still cannot speak. When it was time to join school, Alison was unable to communicate and was not allowed to join school, while his twin went to class. This left him at home, longing for connection and learning. Alison comes from a family facing tough challenges. His parents have separated due to difficult circumstances, and his mother, battling mental health challenges, has been unable to provide the care he needs. Recently, Alison’s grandfather brought him to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where it was discovered that he had significant hearing loss and can barely hear any sounds. Despite his grandfather’s best efforts to raise funds for hearing aids, he has been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, due to health issues, he cannot work, and Alison's grandmother is the family's sole supporter, selling vegetables on the roadside to make ends meet. The family is really hopeful for the day Alison will get the chance to hear, to speak, and to finally attend school with his peers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Alison receive treatment. On January 9th, he will be fitted with hearing aids to restore his hearing, providing him a better opportunity to interact like children his age. Now, Alison's family needs help to fund this $1,171 procedure. Alison’s grandfather says, "Alison loves interacting with other children, but he often feels left out while his friends go to school without him."

Meet Precious, an active and joyful four-year-old from Kenya. Her father engages in construction jobs, while her mother stays home to care for Precious and her sister. In 2023, the family grew concerned when they realized Precious couldn’t interact with her peers. After multiple hospital visits, tests confirmed that Precious cannot hear, which explains her delayed speech. Her parents struggled to accept the diagnosis and hoped that enrolling Precious in school and having her interact with other children, would help Precious improve. But in school, Precious sees other children raising their hands and laughing at jokes she can’t understand. She is unable to fully participate and has not been able to progress to the next grade, because she can’t hear her teachers and can’t take exams. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On November 14th, Precious will start the process necessary to fit hearing aids at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Her family is seeking your help to raise $748 to fund the hearing aids that Precious needs, so that she can begin to experience the world around her and enjoy her childhood. Precious's mother says: "We took Precious to school hoping she would improve, but seeing the other children progress while she can only watch, has only made us more heartbroken."