Linus is a 29-year-old man from Kenya. Born in a large family of 12 children, Linus was not able to complete his studies as his parents could not afford school fees for Linus and his siblings. He was working as a casual laborer, but jobs were tough and inconsistent. Through hard work, he was able to purchase a second-hand public service vehicle, which provides him with a modest but honest living. Linus has two children, but they are living with their mother, with whom Linus is no longer in communication. On January 13th, Linus's life changed dramatically. He was assaulted with a machete and sustained multiple severe injuries. He suffered fractures of the left distal radius and ulna, open infected fractures of the left distal tibia and fibula, and cortical disruption of the right tibia. He received first aid treatment and was transferred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, for further care. Surgeons were able to treat his wounds and fractures on his arm, hand, and ankle. However, Linus still needs contracture release and a skin graft surgery to facilitate healing and regain strength and mobility. He has used up his government medical insurance because of his multiple procedures, and now needs help to raise funds. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Linus receive treatment. On February 16th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help him use his hand easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,239 procedure. Linus says, "I am in the hospital fighting alone, the people that assaulted me are well known to me, I don't know why they did that to me. I thank God they didn't kill me. Hoping for recovery, please help me."

Pan Ei is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. Pan Ei’s father is a farmer. Her mother is receiving kidney dialysis treatment and cannot work. Her siblings help their father on the farm. In her free time, she enjoys playing with children and loves playing football. In the future, she hopes to work hard so she can support her family. Pan Ei was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Pan Ei suffers from fatigue, insomnia, and pain in her finger joints. Aside from her symptoms, she worries about her health condition and the financial burden of repaying debts. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Pan Ei. The treatment is scheduled to take place on January 17th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Pan Ei expresses her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for helping me with financial support. When I heard that your organization and your donors would provide financial support for me, I felt deeply grateful. Thank you so much for helping with the surgery cost.”

Makbel is an adorable boy with a bright mind from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and is passionate about studying mathematics. He also cherishes playing with his little sister. His mother is a housewife, but sometimes she washes clothes to earn a little extra money in their area. Due to hand injuries, she had to stop working. His father is a daily laborer, working as an electrician and painter. He is the sole provider for the family and does his best to meet his children's needs. Makbel was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Makbel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Makbel's mom says, "I will feel a wave of excitement once the procedure is complete, knowing he will be okay after the surgery. I am genuinely grateful for the organization's support."

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."

Noh is a 48-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her son, daughter, and son-in-law in Karen State, Burma. Her entire family engages in subsistence farming. They also grow vegetables in a small garden and raise chickens and pigs for their own consumption. Additionally, they go fishing and forage for vegetables in the forest and sell them. Currently, Noh experiences discomfort and pain in her back, and it intensifies when she sits for an extended period. When she walks for a longer period, her back pain increases. This has also affected her appetite. Noh has been diagnosed with kidney stones, and doctors determined she should undergo a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which removes kidney stones from the body when they cannot pass on their own. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on October 6th and, once completed, it will hopefully improve Noh's quality of life. Noh said, "I want to receive surgery and recover soon. I have been suffering from this condition for a long time. I do not want to continue to suffer anymore. I just want to be a healthy person, to be able to look after myself, work, and spend time with my family."

Dawyll is a six-year-old student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and younger sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His father is a government clerk and his mother is a teacher. He is in the first grade and enjoys school and church. Dawyll has a cardiac condition called congenital aortic stenosis. The opening of the four valves of his heart is too small; this causes blood to back up in his heart, leading to heart failure. Dawyll will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On September 17th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will insert a catheter with a balloon on the end into the valve and inflate the balloon, stretching the valve to a more normal size. Another organization is supporting the cost of his surgery. Dawyll'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 Dawyll's family overseas. Dawyll's father says: "Our family is so grateful to everyone who made this journey possible for us!"

Y Sak is a 15-year-old teenager from Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. He is the only child in his family. His father is a rice farmer, while his mother works as a tailor. Y Sak is currently in ninth grade and enjoys studying Khmer, his favorite subject. He dreams of becoming a doctor one day so he can help others. In his free time, he assists his mother with tailoring work and helps with household chores. At home, he enjoys eating stir-fried winter melon with egg. About 18 months ago, Y Sak developed swelling on the left side of his neck, along with pain and limited movement when bending his neck forward, prompting his family to take him to a hospital in Thailand. There, he received only medication treatment. However, one month later, his condition worsened, and he developed paralysis on the left side of his body. With physiotherapy and regular home exercises managed by his grandmother, Y Sak gradually regained some movement about five months later. A follow-up cervical x-ray taken in Thailand revealed cervical spine kyphosis and stenosis, which have continued to cause pain, weakness, and limit his neck movement. He is unable to play sports with his friends, which has caused isolation and shame for him. A relative told Y Sak's family about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), where children can receive free care. Y Sak is scheduled for surgery on August 11th. To counteract his instability and promote long-term spinal stability, surgeons plan to do a spinal fusion with implants to hold his vertebrae in the correct position. Now, Y Sak hopes to correct his spinal deformity, relieve his pain, and improve his range of motion. CSC is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure, which will include surgery, anesthesia, medication, and post-operative physiotherapy care. Y Sak's father said: "After the operation, I hope that my son will no longer feel pain and will be able to move his neck more freely so he can keep up with school and friends."