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."

James is a 13-year-old boy from Kenya. When our medical partner met James's mother, worry etched across her face as she struggled to hold back tears while sharing their experience. Born in 2012, James had a wonderful childhood. However, in 2021, something happened that changed James's life completely as they knew it. Towards the end of September, James started experiencing excruciating stomach pain. His condition was so bad, such that James was unable to sleep, and would throw up whenever he ate. His parents took him to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. No diagnosis was made; instead, they were sent back home with a prescription for painkillers and antibiotics. They left the hospital, hopeful that their son would recover. True enough, James got better, and soon enough, they forgot their worries. A few months later, however, the pain was back, and this time, worse than before. James's parents took him to hospital, only to be sent back home with painkillers again, but with no diagnosis. At this point, James was losing weight as well, and throwing up whenever he ate. With the help of the medication given, he got better, and an improvement in his feeding pattern was noted. This was, however, short-lived. Within a few months, the pain recurred. It's been a difficult three years for James, until his family decided to seek care at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH), in September 2025. At the hospital, doctors found James to be malnourished, and he was placed on nutritional care so he could be strong enough to handle treatment. He was in hospital for a month before a laparotomy surgery was scheduled. The successful surgery that followed restored hope back into the lives of his family. Presently, James is scheduled for a follow up colostomy closure surgery to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. After a long journey of James's treatment, his family is unable to raise funds for his upcoming treatment. James's father works informal jobs to sustain the family, while his mother takes care of the family. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,020 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for James. The surgery is scheduled to take place on March 11th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life. James's mother says, "My son is going through so much pain, seeing him like that breaks my heart. As his mother, I wish I could take the burden of pain off his body. However, I am hopeful that with your help, this condition will be a thing of the past very soon."

Brielle is a two-year-old girl from Kenya. She was born prematurely, with significant medical issues. Not too long after she was born, doctors discovered that the passages for stool and urine had not fully formed. While she was in the hospital, having undergone a colostomy, Brielle's father walked away from his wife and child because he felt ashamed of what was happening with his daughter. He said that he had never seen such a condition in his family. Brielle's mother stayed by her daughter's side as she underwent a total of four surgeries. Each recovery brought complications, and each setback tested her faith. A colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall, is often performed to bypass bowel malformations. But colostomies are usually temporary, and may call for closure. In Brielle's case, her colostomy requires closure to restore bowel function and to prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,020 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for Brielle. The surgery is scheduled to take place on February 12th at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, and once it is completed, Brielle should be able to move on to the next phase of her life. “Some days, I do not understand why my daughter has had to fight battles she never asked for, but I know one thing for certain. As long as I have breath, she will never fight alone. I may not have money, I may not have support, but I have a mother’s love, and that is what keeps me standing beside her every single day.” Brielle’s mother narrates.

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."

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.

Savoeun is a 53-year-old man from Kompong Thom province in Cambodia. He is married with three children; his eldest is a university student, his second born is in grade 10, and his youngest is in kindergarten. His wife sells vegetables at a local market to support the family. In his free time, Savoeun enjoys planting fruits and vegetables and feeding his hens. He used to work as a construction worker but can no longer do this due to his condition. In 2010, Savoeun was in a motorbike accident and fractured several bones. He was prescribed steroids for pain. Over time, he developed avascular necrosis of his hip, a condition where the blood supply to the ball-shaped part of the thigh bone (femoral head) is disrupted, leading to bone death. He has undergone several surgeries, including a left hip replacement but he suffers from chronic infections in the hip prosthesis. He also experiences pain and fever, and is now seeking further treatment to regain mobility and reduce pain. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, is helping Savoeun receive treatment. On November 12th, he will undergo an uncemented hip replacement procedure on his left hip. Savoeun is able to afford only $50 for his treatment, and needs help to raise an additional $1,450 to cover surgery, a special prosthesis, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Savoeun says: "After surgery, I hope that I will no longer have pain, and will be able to walk properly without using crutches, so I can resume work to support my family."