Jessie is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He previously worked as a driver for taxis, tricycles, and jeepneys, but had to stop working when his medical condition got worse. Five years ago, Jessie developed an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. The condition has interfered with his daily activities, including earning an income, but unfortunately he has delayed receiving necessary medical treatment because of financial limitations. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful that he can receive treatment soon, regain his ability to work, and provide for his family once again. Fortunately, on October 30th, Jessie will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Jessie's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jessie states: "I am beyond grateful to Watsi because of the help they provide. I cannot afford the procedure by myself. I hope you can help more and more patients who are in the same situation as I am. My family is so happy!"

Wubalem is a 10-month-old baby from Ethiopia. He has one older sister and two brothers. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother is a homemaker who takes care of the family. Wubalem was born with hydronephrosis, a condition in which urine does not drain properly from the kidney, causing the kidney to become swollen. He requires medical attention and a surgical procedure called pyeloplasty to correct the blockage and improve the flow of urine. This issue was first identified when Wubalem’s mother experienced health complications during her pregnancy. After Wubalem was born, he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further examination and treatment. The medical team monitored his condition for about five months. After several examinations, they confirmed that Baby Wubalem needed surgery and placed him on a waiting list. Those five months were difficult for his mother. She remembers feeling anxious and frustrated as she waited for her baby to receive the treatment he needed. After waiting for five months, Wubalem was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Wubalem is scheduled to receive a pyloplasty to help his kidney on August 24th. The procedure costs $922. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the cost of the procedure. Wubalem's mother shares, “I am very happy to come to BethanyKids, and I am so grateful for the warm welcome. Thank you so much to everyone. I pray that my baby will be healthy and able to walk and live like other children. I have been through a very difficult time and sacrificed many things for my baby. I waited for many months and spent a lot of money trying to get the care my child needed. I am very thankful that my baby is finally receiving treatment.”

Alisse is a three-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives in southwestern Bolivia with her mom and dad, who both work in a small convenience store. Her parents noticed she was not growing properly and frequently became sick, and took her to the local doctor, who discovered a heart murmur; she was then referred to La Paz to see the cardiologists there. Alisse has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to her heart. This condition prevents Alisse's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition goes untreated. On July 22nd, Alisse will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Alisse's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Alisse's father shared, "We just pray our little girl can have a successful surgery; we came from far away seeking help."

Oltumo is a nine-year-old boy from Tanzania and the third of five children. He is currently in first grade, and his parents are livestock keepers who depend entirely on their animals to support the family’s daily needs. Oltumo was born with clubfoot affecting his left foot. Since birth, the condition has made it difficult for him to walk comfortably, play with other children, and keep up with his classmates at school. As he grows, the condition continues to limit his mobility and independence. To correct the condition, Oltumo will undergo a series of corrective casts followed by an Achilles tendon lengthening procedure and the use of a night brace to maintain the correction. Clubfoot is a congenital condition in which the foot is twisted inward because the tendons and other soft tissues are tighter and shorter than normal. Without treatment, it can make walking painful and wearing shoes difficult. Fortunately, Oltumo's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where his treatment will begin on June 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Oltumo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Oltumo has a strong chance of walking confidently and gaining greater independence. Oltumo's father shared, "With the right treatment, Oltumo can take confident steps toward a brighter and more independent future where he can walk without complaining of pain."

Thiago is a three-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his parents, who both work in agriculture, and his two older siblings. Thiago's story of being diagnosed with a heart problem is unique. He accompanied his parents in a protest march against a law that threatened their community, walking for 28 days from the Bolivian Amazon to the city of La Paz. When they finally arrived, the high altitude of the city affected Thiago's breathing, causing the family to seek medical care. Doctors then discovered that Thiago has Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition involving a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Thiago does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 26th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Thiago's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Thiago's father shares, "We are so happy that our son's surgery has been scheduled for this week, and we hope for the best."

Aye is a six-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, who are small-scale farmers. They sell their extra vegetables and livestock for additional income every couple of months. Aye and his sister are both students in the village. In his free time, Aye plays games on his mother's phone and enjoys playing football with his friends. He dreams of becoming a professional footballer when he grows up, just like his idol Ronaldo. In 2024, Aye's mother noticed a small mass on the left side of his neck. Over the next four months, she watched it grow in size. Currently, the mass measures 15 cm and continues to grow despite previous treatment. Aye feels no pain and is not impaired in any way, but his mother is deeply worried about what it could be and anxious about the cost of his care. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, will help Aye undergo mass removal surgery. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Aye needs your support to fund the surgery. Aye's mother said, “I hope that once he recovers, I can send him back to school. I hope he becomes a teacher in the future since there is a shortage of teachers in our village. Thank you for your help.”

Franklin is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. He lives in a rural agricultural area with his parents, who are both farmers, and six older siblings. He enjoys going to school and playing soccer. Franklin has a heart condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart was severely damaged by an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and now cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Franklin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On March 23rd, he will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if they are unable to do so, they will remove it instead and implant an artificial replacement. While another charity, Mitral Foundation, is funding Franklin's surgery, his family will also need help with the costs associated with his surgical preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will also support securing travel documents for the family and paying travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Franklin's family overseas. Franklin's mother shared, "We are so thankful to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our son!"

Dylan is a 19-month-old toddler from Bolivia. Dylan lives with his grandmother because his parents are working in Argentina in construction. When he was very young, Dylan's grandmother noticed he was not gaining weight, and he was smaller than other children of his age. She brought him to a pediatrician, where he was diagnosed with two heart conditions. He has a ventricular septal defect, where there is a hole between the lower chambers of the heart, and a patent ductus arteriosus, where there is a hole between two blood vessels near his heart. Doctors recommend a single surgery for both conditions, where they will sew a patch over the first hole and sew the second hole shut. Dylan will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, on February 25th. Dylan's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Dylan's grandmother shares, "I'm looking forward to my grandson having this surgery so he can have a healthy life."

Samuel is a very cheerful boy from Colombia who loves animals, watching television, and playing with his friends. He dreams of growing up and working alongside his father, following in his footsteps as a welder. He lives in Frontino, Antioquia, with his family. For some time now, he has been suffering from severe tooth decay and is receiving dental treatment. About a year ago, he was evaluated for the first time by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, he has been under observation, but the disease has progressed, causing intense and persistent pain, inflammation, episodes of suppuration (presence of pus), and difficulty eating and sleeping. After a complex process, it was concluded that the treatment should be performed under general anesthesia, considering the number of teeth affected and his young. This step represents much more than pain relief: it is an opportunity to give him back his smile, his peace of mind, and the chance to fully enjoy his childhood. With proper treatment, Samuel will have relieved pain, prevent new infections, and regain his quality of life, improving his ability to eat, sleep, and develop normally. Samuel's mother shares with emotion, "Your work is truly admirable. Many children need this process, and thanks to your generous support, many of them will be able to receive the treatment they need. Samuel will be able to regain his smile and the quality of life that every child deserves. Seeing someone who does not know him personally get involved with such love is the purest reflection of human kindness. May God continue to bless you and guide your every step in this mission."

Erick is a calm and polite 15-year-old boy from Kenya. He loves watching movies and playing football, though his feet have limited his ability to play to the fullest. Recently, Erick completed Grade 9 and is eagerly waiting to join Grade 10. He dreams of becoming an IT expert one day. Erick was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital, by his cousin. His parents recently traveled to Saudi Arabia seeking greener pastures, after struggling for many years without employment. Erick has clubfoot in both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Living with the condition for close to 16 years, Erick has faced daily challenges, including criticism and mockery from friends at school whenever he walked. This made him feel left out and discouraged, but he never gave up hope. Hope came when one of the principals at his school connected his family with AIC CURE Hospital. Upon review, Erick was scheduled to begin serial casting in preparation for surgery, starting with his right foot. The treatment will improve his foot position and strengthen his mobility. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Erick receive treatment. On December 11th, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery, getting him closer to his dream to walk better, run, and play football confidently. Now, Erick's family needs help to fund this $1,286 procedure. “I have lived with this condition for so long, but now I hope to walk, run, and play football like other kids. I want to show my friends that I can do it too,” Samuel shared.

Benjamin is a seven-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He is his parents' first child. His mom is studying to become a speech therapist, and his dad works in a call center. Benjamin was born with a heart condition called coarctation of the aorta. His aorta has a passage that is much narrower than normal, causing blood to back up and placing strain on his heart. On November 25th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will surgically repair the affected section of the aorta so that it is a more normal size. Benjamin's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Benjamin's mother shared, "I'm grateful that the children's hospital has these kinds of surgeries so that the doctors can help him here."