Danna is a three-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, dad, and an older brother. Her father works in tourism, while her mother takes care of the children at home. Danna's mother noticed that she was not growing properly or gaining weight, so she took her to the hospital where her heart problem was discovered. Danna has a cardiac condition called patents ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to her heart. This condition prevents Danna's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition goes untreated. Danna also has Down syndrome. On September 22nd, she 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. Danna'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. Her mother says: "I have a lot of hope, I pray the surgery goes well, she needs this surgery urgently."

Rith is an 18-year-old high school student from Takeo Province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and two younger siblings. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother works in a footwear factory. He is currently in 9th grade and hopes to become an army officer in the future. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. Three months ago, Rith was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his right arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury — damage to the nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. As a result, he experiences shoulder droop, pain, numbness and is unable to lift his right arm, making it difficult to perform daily activities and basic self-care. Fortunately, on May 7th, Rith will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. His family can contribute $75, but they need help raising an additional $662 to fund his procedure and care. The surgery will allow him to regain movement and independence in his daily life. Rith said, “I hope the surgery will reduce my pain and help me regain movement in my hand and shoulder so I can return to my normal daily activities.”

Mosongo is a 13-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of eight children and lives in a pastoral household where grazing livestock is his primary responsibility. Mosongo completed his primary school but was unable to progress to secondary education because of the discomfort he experienced when walking long distances to school. His parents depend on animal keeping for their livelihood and face financial constraints in accessing specialized care. Mosongo was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. This condition began approximately two years ago and has caused both his legs to bow inward, making his knees touch. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. Mosongo has progressively experienced pain in his legs, particularly during cold seasons. Despite this discomfort, he continues to assist his family with daily herding activities. If left untreated, the condition could lead to worsening pain and further limitation of mobility. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Mosongo. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Mosongo's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Mosongo says, "I have always enjoyed going out with my friends for long walks and taking our cattle for grazing, but recently it has been hard because my legs hurt when I walk for a while."

Mariana is a nine-year-old girl from Colombia. She attends school in Antioquia, where she lives with her family. From a young age, Mariana has dreamt of becoming a renowned nurse. Mariana has been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. The condition has been causing her much discomfort and swelling in her abdomen. Her pain worsens with physical activity, and she sometimes has to miss school due to the symptoms. Fortunately, on April 20th, Mariana will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner, Clínica Noel. Her family is requesting $786 to fund the procedure, which will allow her to live a healthier life, free of the symptoms. Mariana's parents said, "We are deeply grateful to the donors, for the help you are providing our daughter. We have been waiting a long time for this surgery, and today, thanks to your support, it is finally becoming a reality. We cannot express in words what this generous gesture means to our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Faraja is a four-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fourth child in his family and lives with his parents and siblings in a rural community where daily life is shaped by hard work and limited access to specialized healthcare. Like many families in rural areas, Faraja’s parents rely on small-scale farming to support their household. Their income is often unpredictable and heavily dependent on seasonal rainfall. Faraja was diagnosed with wind-swept deformity or left varus and right valgus. As he became more active, the condition became more noticeable, affecting his posture and gait. Simple childhood activities such as walking long distances, playing with other children, or following his parents around the village have become increasingly difficult for him, forcing his mom to carry him on her back most of the time. Several factors can cause this condition, including growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride 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. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund Faraja's treatment. The procedure is scheduled for January 19th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will, hopefully, restore Faraja's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Faraja's father says, "I would like for my boy to grow up with functioning legs so that he gets to enjoy life with his siblings and friends."

Jennifer is 34 years old and a mother of three from Romblon, Philippines. She makes and sells rice cakes in town. When she gave birth to her youngest child in 2015, Jennifer noticed a lump in her breast. Since then, the lump has been growing, worrying her. She is in pain, which she manages with painkillers. She has been unable to seek care, as she knows she cannot afford it. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On January 28th, Jennifer will undergo surgery to remove the mass. This procedure should address her symptoms and allow her to live more comfortably. She needs help to raise $1,416 to fund her treatment. Jennifer shared, "I am very thankful that I can finally be treated for the lumps in my breast. Thank you so much to everyone for your help."

Nicole is a beautiful six-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her single mother and three siblings. Her mother does casual work on other people's farms to support her children. She is in the first grade and loves to sing. Nicole dreams of becoming a gospel musician when she grows up. Nicole has clubfoot on her left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. “My heart is heavy. I feel like my daughter didn’t do anything wrong,” says Nicole’s mother. “I just hope she can walk like other kids,” she added. Nicole walks with difficulty, often tiptoeing and sometimes falling. She cannot play freely with her friends and feels sad when other kids laugh at her while she walks. Fortunately, Nicole traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Nicole's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to wear shoes, walk easily, and enjoy playing with her friends. Nicole's mother shared, "I have high hopes that at CURE Hospital, she will get better, be able to continue her education like other children, and achieve her dream of becoming a gospel musician."

Erlinda is a young student from Bolivia. She lives in central Bolivia with her parents, who both work in agriculture, and her five brothers. Erlinda stopped attending school last year because she felt too weak. Erlinda has a cardiac condition called aortic stenosis. One of the valves of the heart is too narrow; this causes blood to back up, leading to weakness and heart failure. On November 19th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will reconstruct the valve so that it opens to a more normal size. Erlinda'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. Erlinda's father shared, "I hope this surgery goes well so that my daughter can have a healthy heart and can go back to school!"