Michael is 54 years old and a pedicab driver from the Philippines. He transports people and things using a bicycle with a passenger sidecar. Michael lives with his two sons. One of his sons works in construction, while the other is a housekeeper, and together they help Michael cover their household’s regular expenses. Two months ago, Michael began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised 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), Michael is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on February 7th. 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 Michael's surgery and care. Michael shared, "I cannot afford surgery, but I also couldn’t wait any longer for treatment because I need to support my family. Once the operation is finished, I look forward to getting back to normal. I can’t express how thankful I am for this opportunity."

Matheo is a three-year-old preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents in a suburb of Port-au-Prince; his father is a police officer and his mother runs a small shop. In his free time Matheo enjoys singing. Matheo has a cardiac condition called pulmonic stenosis - one of the four valves of his heart is too narrow, and as a result blood cannot flow normally through his heart and body. If left untreated, this could lead to heart failure. Matheo will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 6th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a balloon on the end of a catheter to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization is contributing to pay for surgery. Matheo's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Matheo's family overseas. Matheo's mother said, "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is making it possible for Matheo to be healthy!"

Cho is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, father, two sons, and two younger sisters in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. On the 2nd of March 2026, Cho was in a road accident, fracturing her lower right leg. She is in pain, unable to walk or stand, and is unable to sleep. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Cho will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 5th and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Cho be free from pain and able to walk again. Cho's sister said, "Thank you! I am so happy for my sister to receive surgery soon with the support from the donors."

Leila is a 63-year-old woman from the valleys of Baringo County from Kenya. Together with her husband, she has raised six children through small-scale farming, depending on unpredictable harvests to provide food and school fees. Their income has never been stable, but their determination to educate their children has never wavered. Her firstborn son recently graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Special Needs Education and is still searching for employment. Her second-born daughter is married and lives away from home. The remaining children are still in school, each carrying hopes and dreams that depend heavily on their parents’ support. Leila is also a proud grandmother of two. In addition to farming, Leila once worked as a housekeeper in her neighbourhood to supplement the family’s income. However, age and increasing responsibilities forced her to stop. Even so, she continued to play a central role in sustaining her household. Three years ago, tragedy struck. While walking, she slipped and sustained an open fracture of her leg. She received treatment elsewhere and was placed in a cast. During follow-up visits, she was reassured that the bone was healing well and that she would soon walk independently again. But her pain never truly subsided. Instead of healing completely, she developed persistent drainage at the fracture site. Despite daily wound care, the wound never closed. She continued walking in pain, enduring discomfort so she could still care for her family. Two weeks ago, she fell again and refractured the same site. She noticed brittle, small bone fragments coming out through the wound, an alarming sign that something was deeply wrong. She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent pain management and an emergency surgical washout. Realizing her condition required more specialised care, she chose to self-refer to AIC Kapsowar Hospital for further management. Upon arrival, investigations including X-rays and laboratory tests confirmed a diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis, a long-standing bone infection. She was admitted and started on intravenous antibiotics. She underwent surgical washout, debridement, and sequestrectomy to remove infected and dead bone tissue, along with placement of an antibiotic spacer to help clear the infection. Her recovery journey has now begun. In collaboration with the plastic surgery team, she is planned to undergo a flap procedure to provide proper soft tissue coverage, promote healing, and ultimately restore her limb function. The orthopaedic team will also place an antibiotic spacer to ensure she is completely free of infection. Leila has registered with SHA and submitted multiple times in pursuit of support. However, the process has been challenging, and she urgently requires financial assistance to undergo this life-changing surgery. We humbly ask for your support to help Leila access the surgery she desperately needs, so that the wound can close without complications. It is difficult for her to walk, and she is in pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Leila receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery. This surgery is crucial; it offers her the best chance at complete recovery, relief from chronic pain, and the ability to walk independently again. Now, AMH is requesting $1,239 to fund Leila's procedure. Leila says, "I came to Kapsowar with faith that I will be able to go home a better person with healing in Jesus' name. I have a family that is dependent on me, and it hurts as a mother being far away from home."

Samen is a 59-year-old woman from Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. She lives with her second child, a grocery seller. Her husband passed away six years ago. Her other children are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, Samen enjoys listening to monks' sermons and planting vegetables around her home. For the past ten years, Samen has been suffering from left hip avascular necrosis, a condition in which the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted, leading to bone damage. Over the years, she has undergone several surgeries, including a left hip replacement. Unfortunately, she continues to experience a chronic infection of the hip prosthesis, which causes persistent pain and increasing difficulty with sitting and walking for long periods. Over the past week, her condition has worsened, making daily activities even more challenging. After first seeking care locally, Samen learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, through friends in her village and traveled three hours to reach the hospital. On February 3rd, she will undergo an uncemented hip replacement surgery on her left hip. Samen can contribute $100 and needs support to cover the remaining $1,400 for her procedure and care. Samen said, “After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have pain and be able to walk properly, so I can go to the pagoda by myself easily.”

Modester is 49 years old and a farmer from Malawi. She is married with five children aged 30, 22, 20, 19, and 12. In 2012, Modester began to experience troubling symptoms, including a painless swelling on the left side of her neck. She did not seek medical care until 2020 when the swelling grew, causing symptoms like breathlessness, weakness, neck pain, and difficulty climbing steps. Despite visiting several hospitals, she could not afford surgery or transport to larger facilities. Modester was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Modester receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 17th, 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. “The breathlessness has severely disrupted my daily activities. I look forward to your support so I can find relief and focus on farm work," Modester said.

Grace is 47 years old and a single mother to one child from Malawi. She separated from her husband six years ago and moved away. Grace works as a store clerk for a company that sells motorcycle spare parts. Nine years ago, Grace began to experience troubling symptoms, including frequent episodes of intense abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her health has significantly affected her daily activities, and she can no longer report to work. She now depends on her sister’s support, but her sister cannot afford the surgery costs, and Grace’s child is currently unemployed. This has led Grace to seek financial assistance. Grace first noticed pain in the upper right quadrant of her abdomen in 2016. She went to the hospital and was given only painkillers. Over time, the pain became intermittent, and she eventually got used to it and stopped seeking help. However, the episodes gradually increased in both frequency and severity, and they became associated with nausea, vomiting, and backaches. On November 12th, 2025, her condition worsened. She was taken to the hospital, where an abdominal ultrasound was performed. She was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, or stones in her gallbladder. Grace continues to experience other symptoms such as loose stools, swelling at the painful site on her right side, loss of appetite, heart palpitations, breathlessness due to intense pain, and weakness that requires assistance from others. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is able to help. On December 1st, Grace will undergo surgery to remove her gallbladder. She needs help to raise $1,244 to fund her procedure and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Grace shared, "I am in pain; kindly help me."

Isaac is a four-year-old boy who lives with his mother in Antioquia, Colombia. He enjoys attending school, where he enthusiastically works hard to achieve his personal and academic goals. During Isaac's recent visit to the pediatrician, early-stage tooth decay was detected, and he was referred to dental services. Due to the number of teeth affected and the young age of the patient, dental treatment under general anesthesia was recommended. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is helping to raise funds for Isaac's treatment. On October 22nd, he will undergo a surgery to treat his condition, allowing him to live more comfortably and confidently. Now, Isaac's family needs help to fund this $868 procedure. Isaac's mother looks forward to him undergoing this procedure, as it will not only relieve his physical pain but will also significantly contribute to improving his quality of life, emotional well-being, and school performance, allowing him to continue his comprehensive education. She says: "As a mother, my hope is that this treatment will transform my son's quality of life. It has been a difficult process, especially given our circumstances, which is why this opportunity means so much to us. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who are making this possible. May God bless you and be with you always. Thank you for supporting those who need it most - your generosity is an act of love that God will multiply day by day."