Rebecca is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; she graduated from a local college with a business degree but has been unable to work for the past ten years because of her heart condition. She enjoys cooking and listening to Haitian music. Rebecca has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Rebecca's heart was severely damaged due to an infection she suffered as a teenager; her heart could not adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery that she needs is not available anywhere in Haiti. Rebecca need to fly to the United States to receive treatment. She will undergo cardiac surgery, and doctors will remove Rebecca's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, will contribute $26,000 to pay for surgery. Rebecca's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow-up care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. Rebecca shared with us: "Once I am fully healthy, I would like to return to Haiti and adopt a child to start my own family."

Four year old Mary is the youngest in a family of four. They all live in Kandutura village in Nyandarua county in Kenya. Mary's mother is a homemaker, while her father is a farmer. Although Mary was born healthy and has been thriving at home, her different walking style was recently noticed by her grandmother, who brought it to her mother's attention, back in December 2022. After observing Mary for a year, it was decided to bring her into the hospital for evaluation. After examination, Mary was diagnosed with a condition called Genu valgus, on her left knee. This condition causes the knees to angle towards each other and to touch, when a person stands with their feet and legs together. Mary has now been scheduled to undergo a complex procedure to help her heal on February 5th, at AIC Cure International Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting your help to fund this $1,224 surgery, which will enable Mary to walk upright, and importantly to enroll in school. “I appeal for support from donors to help my daughter undergo surgery so that she can continue to walk well,” Mary’s mother told us.

Naiduka is a 14-year-old boy from a large family in Ngorongoro, Tanzania. His father, a livestock keeper and being the eldest child of his family, Naiduka has always harbored a strong desire to attend school. Unfortunately, his aspirations have been thwarted, as most of his siblings were fortunate enough to receive an education, while he was left behind to care for the family’s livestock. At the tender age of 4, Naiduka’s legs began to bow inward, marking the onset of a mild condition that has since worsened as he grew older. While attending church, Naiduka received news of an upcoming clinic for children with treatable disabilities, which would be staffed by visiting doctors and nurses. He was excited to hear of this clinic and hopeful for a chance at receiving the treatment he needed. On July 6th, a kind priest facilitated his transportation to our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Naiduka was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, meaning that his legs bow inwards. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, this condition severely limits his purpose and role in his Maasai community, preventing him from undertaking the crucial task of herding cattle over vast distances in search of nourishing green pastures. He was also diagnosed with malnutrition and has been undergoing treatment and the implementation of a feeding plan to address this issue before he undergoes surgery. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund surgery for Naiduka, which is scheduled for June 27th. Treatment will hopefully restore Naiduka's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Naiduka says, "I wish to get better and for my legs to look normal. Hopefully, after this treatment, my legs will be fine."

Thorn is a 23 year-old who lives in Kandal province with his parents and two siblings. Three of his siblings have moved nearby with their families and visit often. Thorn enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, and checking out social media. On October 12th, Thorn was in a motorbike accident and wounded his right foot. He went to a nearby hospital and had wound debridement and regular dressings. Thorn returned home and continued to care for the wound, but it still has not healed and is now infected. He is in pain and cannot walk properly. On December 4th, Thorn will have a leg surgery to remove damaged tissue and reconstruct defects in the foot and ankle. After surgery, he will be able to walk more easily and eliminate pain from the infection. Our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $991 to fund this surgery. Thorn shared, "I hope I can feel better so I can go back to work and hope to play soccer again too."

Meet Collins, a 12-year-old calm boy, the second born in a family of 3 children and a student at a special school. Their family hails from Shamata village in Nyandarua county. His mother is a single mother and is a small farmer. She shared how devastated she was upon receiving the news of her son's spine deformity. In her mind, she thought that her child could not survive until she was referred to a specialist, who explained the condition and how it could be corrected. Collins was born with a condition known as severe scoliosis, a spine deformity and a sideway curvature of the spine. This condition has greatly affected his mobility. He cannot bend and gets tired quickly while walking. Apart from the spine deformity, he is also mentally impaired, which has delayed his education. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to help heal his spine. The treatment will be impactful to him because he will be able to walk upright and continue with his education uninterrupted. "I am kindly requesting you to support my son, who is undergoing surgery and we are unable to pay for it. Your help will be highly appreciated as you help me put a smile on my son's face. Thank you so much for considering my request," shared Collin's mother.

Saw Eh is a three-year-old boy who lives with his parents and younger brother in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. His father works in the refugee camp as a water supply staff and he occasionally works as a day labourer. Saw Eh’s mother is a homemaker. Saw Eh used to go to preschool but stopped in March 2023 due to his condition. Saw Eh’s parents noticed a concerning swelling last March so his mother took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. Over the next couple of months, Saw Eh returned for two follow-up appointments. In September, Saw Eh’s condition became more swollen and painful. The size and pain increased especially while he plays. When his father brought him back to the hospital in the refugee camp, the doctor referred him to Mae Sariang Hospital for further treatment. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis and scheduled Saw Eh's surgery for October 5th. His parents are concerned that he had to stop going to school due to his condition and he cannot play or run around with his friends. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund is requesting $1,486 to fund hernia repair surgery. This will hopefully allow Saw Eh to play and live more comfortably. Saw Eh's father shared: "I am worried about my son's condition, and I am concerned about his pain and discomfort."

Ra is a 50-year-old mother of two. Ra lives in a refugee camp near the Thai-Burma border with her family, where they are provided with accommodation and a monthly food allowance. During her free time, Ra shared that she enjoys praying. Since July 2023, Ra has been experiencing discomfort in her lower abdomen, accompanied by pain and heavy menstruation. During a routine medical check-up in the camp, a mass was detected by the doctor. She has been diagnosed with severe endometriosis, an often-painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, it is expected that Ra's symptoms would continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ra is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on September 7. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, it is hoped that Ra will no longer experience pain, discomfort, and the other symptoms that have impacted her life. Ra said, "I feel uncomfortable and worried. It feels like something is moving in my belly. I hope this will go away after the surgery. Thank you BCMF and donors. May God bless you."

Say is a day labourer. He lives with his family parents and sister in Burma. During his free time, Say likes to spend time on his phone, watching the news, and listening to gospel songs and sermons. Since January 2023, Say has been experiencing pain in his groin area, back, and lower abdomen. He cannot sit for long periods of time and feels uncomfortable when he walks due to tenderness in the area. He has been diagnosed with a mass in his groin area. Our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a mass/cyst removal operation, scheduled for June 12th. Say shared, "I feel so fortunate that God has presented me with donors who can support my treatment. I would love to express my gratitude to thank all of you, BCMF and my donors, for your support. If I complete my treatment and recover completely, I will work around the house raising animals and growing vegetables."

Phen is a 39-year-old rice farmer from Kandal province. She is married and her husband also works on their rice farm. In her free time, she likes watching the news and Cambodian comedy TV shows. About one year ago, Phen developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and 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 Phen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for an hour and a half seeking treatment. On February 2nd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. She said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better and I can go back to work."

Tha Zin is a 43-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives in a refugee camp in Tak Province with her husband and two sons. Tha Zin and her husband run a shop in the refugee camp. Their total monthly income is not enough to cover their basic expenses, and sometimes Tha Zin needs to borrow money with interest from her neighbor for her children’s school expenses. Tha Zin shared that in her free time she loves reading the Bible, praying, and knitting hats for her family. In 2022, Tha Zin started to experience pain when sitting. She also experienced bleeding in a sensitive area. In the refugee camp, they receive free basic health care from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Tha Zin went to the hospital in the refugee camp, where they completed a physical examination, diagnosed her with severe hemorrhoids, and provided her with basic medication. While Tha Zin took the medication, she felt relieved, but after she finished her medication, the pain worsened, and she experienced increased swelling and inflammation. As time went on, the pain worsened. She felt it was harder to stand up, walk or sit. Currently, Tha Zin feels like she has less energy and has difficulty completing her everyday tasks. She also experiences difficulty sleeping due to her worries about her condition. Tha Zin sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo surgery on June 2nd at our partner's care center. Tha Zin needs your help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Tha Zin said, “Because of my illness, I had to close my shop and leave my two children with my relatives. So, I worry about them. But I am thankful to those who will support my surgery because I cannot afford to pay for it by myself. When I recover, I will reopen my shop and pay back my debt that I borrowed for my children’s school expenses. If my family has the opportunity to do so, I want us to be resettled in a new country one day.”

Besufikad is an energetic 4-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football with other children. He enjoys eating Shiro with injera, meat, and vegetables and loves drinking milk. He has one older sister; she is in grade three at a community school. Besufikad's mother used to work at a government office, but she had to stop working in order to care for him. People around her support her with food and house rent. They live with her sister, who is paralyzed. She and her family are dependent on unreliable support, thus they are unable to afford the recommended treatment for Besufikad. Besufikad was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Besufikad is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Besufikad's mother said, “If he gets the treatment and becomes well, I may be able to start working again. I will educate him. I hope he will become a doctor.”