Esther is a 16-year-old girl from Uganda. She was born healthy, and met all of her early developmental milestones, until it was time for her to begin speaking. At first, her parents believed her speech was simply delayed. However, as the months passed, it became clear that Esther was unable to develop speech like other children. By the age of three, although she appeared aware of the people around her, it was evident that she could not perceive sound. Esther's parents longed to hear her speak, and sought help from several hospitals. Unfortunately, financial constraints made it impossible for them to afford the care she needed. As a result, Esther was enrolled in a special school, where she learned sign language, and adapted remarkably well. She is now preparing to enter Grade 9 when school resumes. Esther’s sister shares that she loves writing, and dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Recently, Esther was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where medical evaluations confirmed significant hearing loss. Doctors recommended hearing aids that would enable her to hear, to communicate more easily, and which would significantly improve her quality of life. However, the cost of the hearing aids is far beyond the family’s means. Esther’s parents rely on small-scale farming for survival in Uganda, where the family lives, while her elder sister is the primary breadwinner, selling clothes to support the household. With hearing aids, Esther would have a real opportunity to experience a fuller, more independent life, and to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to raise $1,171 so Esther can be fitted with hearing aids on December 19th. Esther’s sister said: “She loves writing and helping other children, both at school and at home. I know that being able to hear would make a big difference in her life.”

Melany is an intelligent, affectionate, and kind girl. She is known for being active and generous, always willing to share. She loves to play and explore the world around her. However, due to a condition in her teeth that appeared when she was just three years old, she has stopped smiling freely for fear of being teased by other children. Despite this, she remains cheerful and has dreams for the future: when she grows up, she wants to become a soccer player. Melany is scheduled for dental surgery on December 17th. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund her treatment and care. The dental treatment under general anesthesia will help eliminate deep cavities. It will be performed under general anesthesia, which guarantees pain relief, anxiety control, and safety during the procedure. Before the procedure, a complete medical evaluation will be performed, and after the procedure, Melany will undergo a period of supervised recovery. Melany's parents say, "We are overjoyed to know that our daughter will be able to receive the treatment we have been waiting for. This step will not only help her regain the confidence to smile comfortably, but also improve her physical and emotional health. We cannot find the words to express our gratitude; we are convinced that Melany will be very happy to know that, thanks to your generosity and commitment, we will be able to overcome this condition together that has accompanied her since she was so young."

Vannita is a seven-year-old second grader from Cambodia. She lives in Kampong Chhnang province with her parents and two siblings. Her mother works in a laundromat, and her father sells construction equipment at a local business. She is the youngest child in the family. At school, she enjoys studying Khmer and hopes to become a dentist when she grows up. At home, she loves chicken soup and playing with her friends. Vannita was born with torticollis, a condition with a twist of the neck due to a tight and short neck muscle. In many cases, it can be resolved with physical therapy, but some cases require surgery to lengthen the muscle. Vannita finds it difficult to turn her head and neck and often feels pain in her shoulder. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Vannita receive treatment. On December 17th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to improve the position and function of her neck. Now, she needs help to fund this $572 procedure. Vannita's mother shared, "After the surgery I hope that my daughter will feel better about her appearance and be able to do more activities at school."

Aum is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her son and her mother in a village in Kachin State, close to the China border. Her mother looks after her son while Aum works as a farmer. She sells some of her crops for income and keep some for her family's consumption. Her husband left her after she gave birth to her son a year ago. Their income is just enough to cover family expenses, and they need to borrow money when someone is sick to pay for treatment. In the middle of 2024, Aum noticed a small lump beside her right elbow. A few months later, the lump started to gradually grow in size. Aum contacted a friend who helped arrange for her to travel to Thailand to seek review and treatment. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with a tumor and the doctor recommended surgery to remove it. Currently, she experiences pain around her right elbow area and the lump keeps increasing in size. She is very worried about her condition and financial situation. Fortunately, Aum sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on October 16th. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Aum said, "I am really sad about my condition. I have family - my son and my mother - and they need me. I can't work due to my right arm pain. I am thankful to every staff and donors who are willing to help me. May you are all be blessed."

Gladys is a 48-year-oold small-scale farmer from the Kanungu District in Southwestern Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. In her late 40s, she is known for her warm smile, caring nature, and sociable personality. She grew up as one of eight siblings—two brothers and five sisters. Unfortunately, her father did not prioritize education for girls, so Gladys and her sisters never attended school. Instead, she spent her childhood working on the family farm until she married at 18. Together with her husband, Gladys has two sons and six daughters, some of whom are still in school. The couple farms a small piece of land, using part of their harvest for home consumption and selling the rest to support their family. Ten years ago, Gladys began experiencing troubling symptoms, starting with a painless swelling on the front of her neck. Over time, the symptoms worsened, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and painful swallowing. Although surgery was recommended at one point, she could not afford it. Recently, a friend told her about a surgical support program at our medical partner care center, Nyakibale Hospital. There, doctors conducted a thorough examination, including a scan and thyroid function tests, and diagnosed her with a non-toxic goiter. This condition affects the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck and plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, growth, and other body functions. Without surgery, her symptoms could continue to worsen. Gladys is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 4th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need support to raise the funds. Gladys says, “I am hopeful that with your support, I will be operated, will get well, and will surely continue farming in good health to sustain my family.”

Kennedy is a teenager from Kenya. He has an older sibling who lives with his parents, and Kennedy lives with his grandparents and some of his cousins. Kennedy's father was a security guard but had to stop working due to a chronic disease that has kept him in and out of the hospital for many years now. As a result, Kennedy's mother is the family's sole provider. She has a small kiosk she uses as a hotel at a local garage. Kennedy's family has national health insurance coverage, but have not been able to get coverage for his needed treatment. Kennedy was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Because of this condition, Kennedy has been experiencing severe headaches and convulsions with loss of mobility from the left arm. Kennedy underwent two shunt insertion surgeries, but the shunt failed. He has been admitted to the High Dependency Unit at our medical partner's hospital for a few days now. Kennedy now needs to undergo a different surgery to help drain the excess cerebral spinal fluid in order for him to recover and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Kennedy will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Kennedy to treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 16th. Kennedy's grandmother says, "It is very depressing for me as I have to bring him to the hospital every now and then. I want him to be treated and go back to his better condition."

Edith is a 58-year-old woman from Uganda who practices small-scale farming to provide for her family. She and her husband have ten children, with their oldest being 36 years old. For the past two years, Edith has had a right inguinal hernia. The hernia is very painful and has grown in size over time. Due to the severe pain she experiences, Edith has visited different medical centers for treatment, but nothing has alleviated her symptoms. Fortunately, on September 15th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once completed, this procedure will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently! Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $170 to fund Edith's surgery. Edith says, "I pray that I may get well through surgery. I believe I will live a better and pain-free life. I will continue with farming after complete recovery."

Samnang is a 23-year-old army trainee from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal province with his parents and younger sister. Before his injury, Samnang was in boot camp for the Cambodian army. On March 5th, Samnang was in a motor vehicle accident, resulting in the paralysis of his left hand. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can cause the loss of function and sensation. Currently, Samnang is unable to lift his arm and has had to pause his boot camp training as a result. Samnang traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which is the only facility in the country where brachial plexus injury surgery is available. On April 27th, Samnang will undergo surgery. After he has recovered, he should regain the use of his arm and hand. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Samnang shared: "I hope I can go back to normal life like before the accident."

Pross is a 31-year-old mother of two from Uganda. She has a diploma in public administration and is an office attendant at Kabale University. Her husband runs a small retail shop in their village. They own a two-room permanent house for shelter. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Pross's children are 3 and 6 years old and she is currently expecting her third. Doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Pross undergo a C-Section on July 24th. This procedure will cost $214, and Pross needs your support. Pross says, “I pray for a successful surgery. I will continue to work as an office attendant at Kabale University for the further development of my family.”

Vanis is a 60 year old small-scale farmer. She and her husband - who passed away in 2021 - had eleven children, of whom nine are still alive. Vanis had to leave school because of a lack of the fees necessary to remain in school, and of her children, only her youngest has been able to be educated. Over 20 years ago, Vanis began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small neck swelling that later started progressing in size. She initially thought it was a temporary condition, and resorted to using herbs, which did not help to relieve her symptoms. After delivering her first five children, she underwent a thyroidectomy, and she felt better. However, her symptoms recurred after she gave birth to six more children, and this time, the swelling was larger than it had ever been. She finds that she is unable to carry loads on her head, and she will occasionally experience difficulty breathing. Vanis has been diagnosed with a non-toxic, multinodular goiter, and she needs surgery to resolve her condition. Her family cannot afford to pay for her treatment, but our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has stepped up to help Vanis access the care that she needs. They are requesting $333 to fund Vanis' procedure, which is scheduled to take place on December 3rd, at Rushoroza Hospital, and which will ensure that Vanis' symptoms do not get worse over time. Vanis says: “I pray that I may be considered for treatment so that I may live a normal life once again. I will continue with farming as soon as possible.”

Saw Myo is a 14-year-old from Burma. He lives with his grandparents, parents, two sisters, and brother. His grandparents are retired. His father farms paddy and rubber trees on their land, while his mother is a homemaker. Saw Myo and his siblings are all in school, but Saw Myo recently had to stop attending due to a medical condition. Saw Myo has had a lump on his lower spinal cord since he was nine years old due to an injury from a slingshot. He received medicinal ointment from a traditional healer that helped with the stiffness and prevented further growth. However, Saw Myo fell off his bicycle a few years later, and the lump grew in size. His family took him to several clinics, and an X-ray indicated a potential spinal cord problem. The doctors recommended a computerized tomography (CT) scan, but due to COVID-19 policies, Saw Myo could not receive the scan. His parents continued to try and help Saw Myo receive treatment but learned that his condition could not be treated locally. Saw Myo's mother then contacted a neighbor who worked as a medic at a clinic in Burma and began raising money for his care. The doctors want Saw Myo to undergo an MRI, which is an imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is helping Saw Myo receive this treatment. On November 15th, he will undergo an MRI. BCMF requests $814 to cover the cost of Saw Myo's MRI procedure and care. Saw Myo's mother said: “We have been so worried since we saw the mass increasing in size. It was tiring to seek treatment in Burma, and we now have borrowed a lot of money without Saw Myo having received treatment."

Thou is a 69-year-old widow. She has one son who makes furniture in a local woodshop. Her husband passed away a long time ago, and until recently, she supported herself as a fruit seller in her neighborhood. At home, she likes to listen to movies on TV. One year ago, Thou developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Thou learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled there seeking treatment. On February 28th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. "I hope after surgery I can see well and be more independent," shared Thou.