Jazlyn is a five-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. As a newborn, she could not gain weight properly or breastfeed well, so her parents took her to the hospital for nutritional support to gain weight; while she was admitted, they discovered her heart condition. Jazlyn has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On October 27th, Jazlyn will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, because her heart is too small and fragile to be completely repaired, doctors will implant a band around her pulmonary artery that will allow her heart to grow and strengthen safely. In the future, she will undergo a second surgery to remove the band and completely repair her heart. Jazlyn'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. Jazlyn's mother shared, "We have been waiting patiently for this day to come. I'm so grateful my little girl can have her surgery now. I cannot thank enough all the people who helped me during this hard time!"

Zoe is a seven-year-old student who lives in central Haiti with her parents and younger brother. Her mother supports the family as a vendor. Zoe is in the second grade and likes arts and crafts. Zoe was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak through the hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen. This leaves her weak and short of breath and puts her at risk of heart failure in the future. Zoe needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 24th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is paying for the surgery, but Zoe’s family also needs help with 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 Zoe's family overseas. Zoe’s mother shares, “Our family is so happy that Zoe was finally chosen for surgery; we have been waiting since she was a very small child!”

Tewodros is an active and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia, who loves watching cartoons and playing football. He has an older sister, and they live in a full household with their parents, aunt, and cousins. Since his father works as a daily laborer and his mother works as a cleaner, he spends most of his day under the care of his aunt. When he was barely a year old, Tewodros's parents noticed he was having difficulty urinating. Worried, they took him to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Tewodros was placed on a two-year surgery waiting list, due to the high number of children needing treatment. The alternative would be a private hospital, but Tewodros's parents could not afford the necessary fees. The family was finally referred to BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). They were overjoyed to finally receive the help they needed. Tewodros is now scheduled for surgery on May 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Tewodros's mother says, "I would like to thank BKMCM. I was so worried about my son starting school. We hope the organization continues to grow, and that Tewodros remains healthy."

Hikma is a charming 20-month-old girl who lives with her parents and older brother in Ethiopia. Her parents were small-scale farmers until they were displaced due to war in their area. Now, her mother is a dedicated home maker, and her father works as a daily laborer. As with many other displaced families, it has been difficult for them to afford their daily necessities. Hikma was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that can lead to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. However, the symptoms were not obvious until she was around one year old. Her mother was deeply distressed by what she observed and immediately informed Hikma’s grandmother, who then began seeking for medical assistance. To avoid social stigma, however, the family tried to keep Hikma’s condition private. Eventually, the grandmother came across a Catholic missionary organization, which connected the family with a field coordinator of our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). With the support of relatives and the Catholic missionaries, Hikma's family raised funds to travel to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors explained that Hikma would need a series of surgeries to eliminate bowel dysfunction. The family was relieved and encouraged to hear that Hikma could be helped. Presently, Hikma has already undergone the first surgery, a colostomy creation, and recovered well. Now, Hikma needs support for her second surgery, which will occur on April 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Hikma's procedure and care. After her recovery, Hikma will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Hikma’s mother said, “I would like to thank you sincerely for your support and the services you provided. Thank you again. I truly hope my child will grow up to be a wonderful woman.”

Faith is an 18-year-old girl from Kenya. She is in her third year in High School and and enjoys singing in her church choir and reading. Faith hopes to become a lawyer so she can help others seek justice. Faith has bilateral genu varum, a bowing of both legs. This makes walking painful and causes swelling in her legs, especially after long distances. She has not been able to access treatment due to financial and geographic barriers. With the support of her school caregiver, Faith was able to visit a hospital, where she is scheduled to receive corrective surgery on her right leg. Her left leg will be treated at a later time. This treatment will allow Faith to walk without pain and participate more fully in school and daily activities. Faith is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 26th, which will correct the position of her legs and greatly improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Faith's procedure and care. "I am really looking forward to walking without pain and moving freely. I hope that after my surgery, I will be able to go to school comfortably, play with my friends, and one day become a lawyer to help people who need justice," Faith shared.

Eyuel is a bright and joyful three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves to run and play football, his favorite sport, with other neighborhood kids. He is currently in kindergaten and enjoys going to school every day. Eyuel lives with his mother, father, and his eight-month-old baby sister. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a farmer on a rented land, earning wages once a year from the farm’s harvest. Their income is very limited and barely covers the family’s basic needs.To supplement his farming income, Eyuel’s father also takes on extra casual work to support the household. About a year ago, Eyuel's parents noticed something was not quite right, and there was difference in how he was passing urine. They took him to a government referral hospital, where, unfortunately, he was placed on a long waiting list for surgical care. Sometime later, he was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Despite the challenges of waiting for care, Eyuel’s parents have remained strong. They shared: “We will do everything we can to get him treated. We reached out to friends and family, but we could not afford the surgery. We pray for support on this journey. It hurts us to see him suffer, but we cannot question God. We accept it and hope for his healing.” Eyuel was diagnosed 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, Eyuel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyuel's father says: "We hope that our son will get the surgery and get better. I really wish to see him heal and thrive. I came here praying for his healing and that is what I am hoping for."

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.”

Ellen is a 50-year-old nurse from Malawi. She is a single mother of two boys aged 22 and 16. Each month, she earns about $420, which covers household needs and her children’s school fees. For about 21 months now, Ellen has been experiencing abdominal pain accompanied by uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. Since August 2024, she has undergone numerous tests, which were costly and strained her finances. She has been diagnosed with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade III (CIN III), the most severe form of precancerous cervical cell changes. If left untreated, it can progress to invasive cervical cancer. Removing the affected tissue prevents this progression. 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 Ellen's surgery. On December 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Ellen will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain, and prevent future medical complications. Ellen says, “With your support to undergo surgery, I know I will get better, continue caring for my children as their breadwinner, and keep serving the nation as a health worker.”

Helen is a 63-year-old woman from the Philippines. She lives with her daughter and grandchildren. Helen noticed a small lump on the left side of her face. At first, she didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t painful, and it didn’t really bother her. She hoped it would go away on its own. However, over time, the lump gradually grew larger and became more noticeable. She began to worry, especially since it was close to her ear and jaw, and it was affecting her appearance and overall well-being. Her family is worried that it could cause other problems in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On November 8th, Helen will undergo mass removal surgery. Now, she needs help to raise $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. Helen says, "This help brought me a sense of relief and renewed hope for me and my family. Thank you so much to everyone who strengthened my determination to undergo the procedure and showed their love and support for me."