Pim is an 11-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents and her brother in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Mae Sot, Thailand. Pim and her brother are studying at a migrant school. Her father drives a school bus and her mother is the leader of the school dormitory. Their income is enough to cover their daily expenses and pay for basic health care. In her free time, Pim helps her mother around the house and plays with her brother. She also likes to sing and dance. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher. Pim was diagnosed with a congenital cataract in her right eye. She cannot see clearly with her right eye and has difficulty separating colors and light. On January 9th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Pim's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Pim. “I want to see with both of my eyes, I can see now only with my left eye”, said Pim. Her mother said, “I am happy that the donors and BCMF are helping my daughter. Thank you all and God bless you all.”

Cristopher is a happy, curious 4-year-old from Colombia who enjoys learning in his preschool class. He also loves playing with his friends and discovering new things every day. When he grows up, Cristopher dreams of becoming a policeman to help people and protect his community. Cristopher has been living with a hernia that causes him weakness and pain and makes it difficult for him to do daily activities. Movements such as walking, running, or carrying objects can become uncomfortable. If left untreated, his condition could worsen, affecting his well-being and quality of life. Fortunately, on June 27th, Cristopher will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $786 to fund Cristopher's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably. Cristopher mother said, "To the person who will generously donate the resources for my son's surgery, I want to express my deepest gratitude. You cannot imagine the immense happiness I feel knowing that my little boy will be able to be better and healthy, continuing his path towards his dream of becoming a policeman. As a mother, I will always carry in my heart the noble gesture you have made, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity. Knowing that my son will be operated on, thanks to you, gives me indescribable relief. May God bless you always and repay you with abundant blessings. Thank you very much!"

Siching is 10 years old and is from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She lives with her grandparents, mother, and aunt. For work, the family runs a business making and selling fermented black sticky rice, a traditional Khmer dessert. Siching is currently in the 5th grade and enjoys learning Khmer history. She enjoys eating pomegranates in season, and when she isn't studying, she helps her family prepare desserts. Over the past three years, Siching has developed an anterior neck cyst, which causes pain and swelling. The mass, located under her chin, has been slowly growing, and she experiences difficulty eating and swallowing. Her family is worried about the mass, as it could cause further complications if not removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Siching will undergo removal of the cyst and histology to identify the nature of the mass. Our medical partner, the Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $416 to fund this procedure scheduled for March 4th. This will cover surgery, medications, post-operative recovery, and histology. After surgery, she should be able to swallow more easily and prevent further complications from the mass. Siching shared: "I hope I can have this operation so I will not worry about this anymore, and I can focus on my studies."

Elizabeth is a bright and active 8-year-old from Tanzania. She enjoys interacting with her friends and participating in school activities, but her medical condition makes it difficult for her to keep up with her peers. Elizabeth’s parents farm and fish to provide for their family, but their income is not enough to cover all their expenses and pay for Elizabeth's treatment. Elizabeth was diagnosed with severe bilateral genu varus, a condition in which her legs bow outward at the knees. Several factors can cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found 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. For Elizabeth, she has difficulty walking as a result of this condition. On February 11th, Elizabeth will undergo treatment to hopefully restore her mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $810 to fund this surgery. Elizabeth's mother said: "I hope my daughter gets better so that she is able to walk comfortably and enjoy going to school."

Lakeyi is a mother of five who lives in Malawi with her husband and children. She used to practice farming with her husband, but she is currently unable to do so as a result of her illness. For the past year, Lakeyi has been experiencing abdominal pains associated with heavy bleeding and a hard lump on the right side of her abdomen. She visited different hospitals, but her condition did not improve. She grew increasingly weaker and has been unable to perform her daily routine tasks. In November 2024 she was treated for anemia and decided to seek treatment for her other symptoms. At our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, Lakeyi was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. She was told that she needed surgery or else the fibroids would continue to grow, both in size and number, worsening Lakeyi's symptoms. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Lakeyi's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on January 25th. Once she has recovered, Lakeyi will be able to resume her daily activities, free of pain. “I am very tired of my symptoms. I have hope that surgery will help me to heal,” said Lakeyi with hope.

Three-year-old Rouss lives in the western part of Bolivia with her parents and an older sister. Her mother works as a food vendor, while her father is a mechanic. Rouss and her family are also expecting a baby brother soon, as her mother is currently pregnant and due to deliver in the near future. Two days after she was born, Rouss was admitted to the hospital due to breathing difficulties. Upon examination, doctors discovered she was suffering from a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. These conditions resulted in a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak through without passing through her lungs for oxygen, which leaves Rouss weak and short of breath. Additionally, there is a second hole between two major blood vessels next to her heart. The doctors informed her mother that Rouss required urgent open-heart surgery. Rouss also has Down syndrome. Because the family lives in a very rural area of Bolivia, it has taken a long time for Rouss to access the surgery she needs. Fortunately, on April 2nd, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During the procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to close it, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Rouss's cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Rouss's mother says: "We are so glad to be here, and to know there is a solution for her heart problem. I love her and only want the best for her!"

18-month-old Beianan is an only child, living with his single mother who works as a security guard in Phnom Penh. His mother shared that at home, Beianan enjoys eating porridge. Beianan was born with plagiocephaly, a condition that changes a baby's physical appearance by causing their face and head to grow unevenly. A flattened head can occur when the plates of the skull join together too early, a condition known as craniosynostosis. The condition has affected the shape of his head and caused some asymmetry, which worries his mother, as she fears that as he grows up, it may impact his confidence or development. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On November 28th, Beianan will undergo a right frontal advancement cranioplasty procedure, where the shape of his skull will be corrected to improve the symmetry of his head. Beianan's family is able to contribute $100 towards his treatment, and need your support to raise the remaining $626. This which will cover surgical care, recovery in the hospital, medications, and histology. Beianana's mother shares: "I hope that he will be able to grow into a happy, confident boy even when he starts school."

Damiano is a bright and cheerful nine-year-old boy from Karatu, Tanzania. As the second child in his family, Damiano loves going to school and cherishes the time he spends with his friends. However, his ability to fully engage in activities is limited due to a condition he was born with. Damiano’s father works as a motorcycle taxi operator, but his income is not enough to support their family of five, especially when it comes to covering Damiano’s necessary treatments. Damiano has a condition called clubfoot, which causes his feet to be turned inwards. This means that walking can be quite challenging for him, and wearing shoes is difficult. Fortunately, Damiano's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on November 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Damiano's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Damiano's father says: "I hope his treatment goes well, as I want to see him enjoy playtime with his friends without having to worry about any pain."

Naw Shee is a 24-year-old from Burma. She lives with her husband, her two sons, younger sister, and two nieces in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is from Karen State, Burma, and fled to the refugee camp with her family in March 2022 due to an airstrike in her village. All of her nieces, her children, and her little sister go to school in the refugee camp. Naw Shee’s husband works as a day laborer outside of the camp while Naw Shee works as a pre-school teacher in the camp. Every month they receive a cash card from the aid agency that works in the camp and they receive free basic healthcare in the camp. In her free time, she loves to make traditional Karen clothes for her family. Naw Shee is pregnant and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of complications from her previous pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Shee undergo a c-section on January 10th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Naw Shee needs your support. Naw Shee shared, "In the future, I will go back to work to continue teaching the children after my maternity leave because I love my teaching job. Thank you to all the donors for your support toward my surgery costs.”

Wendy is a 10-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives in a rural area several hours away from La Paz. She lives with both her parents who are both shepherds. She enjoys school, especially her language classes, and likes taking care of her two family dogs. Wendy has a cardiac condition called Atrial Septal Defect and Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Wendy has two holes in and near her heart: one between the two upper chambers, and another between two major blood vessels next to her heart. These leave her weak and can lead to heart failure over time. On September 20th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will sew both of the holes closed so that blood can circulate normally through her heart and body. Wendy's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Wendy's mother shared, "Our family has been very worried to see Wendy having trouble breathing, and we are so happy that her heart will soon be healthy!"

Balbina is a seven-year-old girl living with her parents and seven siblings in Tanzania. Balbina's parents are seasonal farmers. When Balbina was three years old, her mother noticed that she was having difficulty walking. At first, she thought it was due to fatigue from all of the walking that Balbina enjoyed doing. However, as the days went by, the problem persisted. Her mother took her to the nearest clinic, but they could not diagnose the issue. Over time, Balbina’s condition worsened. Eventually, Balbina began walking with one of her legs bowed. The condition deteriorated rapidly, and within six months, her gait changed completely. This made it difficult for her to walk and perform other activities at home. Balbina was in pain and easily fatigued. The family tried seeking treatment for Balbina, but were unsuccessful. They visited traditional healers hoping for a cure, but nothing worked. Balbina was referred by a hospital employee to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where she was diagnosed with windswept deformity. This condition requires corrective surgery to treat her legs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $891 to fund the procedure, scheduled for August 13th, that will enable Balbina to grow into a healthy young woman. Balbina’s father said: “I wish for my daughter to be okay. We would love to see her dreams come true as she grows older.”

Dickson is a 33-year-old man from Kenya. He is married and has five young children. He is a farmer but is not able to work now due to his health. His wife is also a small-scale farmer growing vegetables and selling them in her neighborhood. In September 2024, Dickson came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Dickson has end-stage renal disease. He has been treated at other hospitals but now needs further help. Dickson has been undergoing dialysis and uses a temporary catheter for access. Doctors recommend the creation of a fistula to facilitate his dialysis sessions. A fistula is a connection between a vein and an artery in the arm that enables dialysis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Dickson and has scheduled his surgery for November 26th. He needs help to raise $1,127 to fund this procedure. Dickson says, “I would be grateful if I would get a working fistula as I have had a longstanding problem with infection. With a successful surgery, I can have my sessions more comfortably."