Miftah is a playful eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys playing football, spending time with his younger brother, and watching television and cartoons. He is currently in Grade Two. Miftah's father is a daily laborer, while his mother works as a cleaner. Since birth, Miftah has had an inguinal hernia. This condition occurs when tissue or part of the intestine pushes through a weak area in the groin muscles, causing a swelling or bulge. His mother first noticed the swelling while he was playing. The swelling would appear and then disappear on its own. Later, when Miftah became unwell and complained of stomach pain, his mother took him to the hospital. During the examination, the doctor noticed the swelling and requested an ultrasound scan. Miftah was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Fortunately, on September 25th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $512 to fund Miftah's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Miftah's mother shared, “The staff welcomed us warmly and clearly explained everything about my son’s condition and treatment. I am very grateful for their support. It was a great relief to learn that he could receive the surgery. Thank you to everyone who is helping children like Miftah. I pray that Miftah will be blessed with good health and many more happy years. May God bless you all for the care and support you have given him.”

Eyob is a cheerful and playful three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His joyful personality brightens everyone around him. He loves playing with his toy cars, pretending that chairs are cars and that he is the driver, and watching animated movies. Eyob lives with his mother, aunts, and maternal uncle in a supportive family environment. His mother is a single parent who works part-time as a cleaner to support the family. Eyob was born with hypospadias, a condition that may cause urinary dysfunction and infections. When Eyob was two years old, he became seriously ill with a high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. During his evaluation at a private clinic, doctors explained to his mother that surgical treatment was necessary. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, Eyob is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 14th. His family needs help raising $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyob's mother shared, "Thank you so much for giving my son this opportunity. Your kindness has brought hope to our family. May God bless you abundantly and reward you for changing our lives."

Sabita is 12 years old and a 5th-grade student from India. She is the youngest among six siblings, having four brothers and two sisters. Sabita is cheerful, cooperative, and emotionally resilient. She enjoys drawing and dancing, which reflect her creative and lively personality. She comes across as a determined child with a positive attitude towards treatment and recovery, supported closely by her family. Her family engages in farming and daily wage labor. About 10 years ago, Sabita sustained a severe burn injury after accidentally falling into boiling curry. The injury resulted in post-burn scars and contractures involving her right hand, elbow, and forearm, leading to difficulty in movement and function. Sabita has been receiving care with our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and has been under follow-up for the management of post-burn treatment. The burn injury and resulting post-burn contractures have significantly affected Sabita's mobility, function, and daily activities. Her scars and limited movement also affect her self-confidence and social interactions with peers. These limitations may interfere with academic performance, play, and participation in extracurricular activities such as dancing, which she enjoys. When Sabita's family learned about G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, they traveled for 2.5 hours seeking treatment. On May 27th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will improve her mobility and prevent further worsening of the post-burn contractures. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Sabita's father shared, "Our only wish is that our daughter can use her hand properly and live like other children. She has suffered a lot since childhood, yet she always stays cheerful and brave."

Efrem is a 30-year-old electrician from Ethiopia. He is a resilient man who has built his life from the ground up. He lives on his own and works hard, earning a living through the steady, careful work of electronics maintenance in small shop - a role he's proud of, and his primary way of being the provider for those he loves. Efrem's heart is always with his family. He cares for his brother and sister, making sure they have everything they need. He is used to being the strong one, but right now, a painful battle with tonsillitis has brought his busy life to a sudden halt. For a man who never stops, being stuck in bed and unable to work is a heavy burden to bear. Six years ago, Efrem began to experience waves of exhaustion and a difficulty breathing and swallowing. Recently, his symptoms got worse, and he sought treatment at our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with enlarged tonsils. If not treated, the condition will cause his symptoms to persist and continue to intensify over time. The pain in his throat makes it hard for him to eat, speak, or rest and his exhaustion has caused him to step back from his job, and his social life. Our medical partner is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Efrem, which is scheduled to take place on December 27th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils in order to relieve Efrem of his symptoms and help him live more comfortably. "I try so hard to save, but it's like trying to move a mountain. My medical bills and family expenses swallow my savings instantly. I just want to be free from this pain so I can enjoy my work and support the people I love," said Efrem.

Peterson is an 18-year-old young man, the firstborn in a family of four children from Malawi. Hailing from Dowa District, Peterson had been supporting his family financially, a role he can no longer fulfill due to his current health condition. This has prompted their appeal for financial assistance towards his surgery. Five months ago, Peterson began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain, which intensified and was accompanied by vomiting of greenish substances. Alarmed by his deteriorating condition, his family rushed him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with acute appendicitis complicated by peritonitis and bowel perforation. An emergency appendectomy along with a loop ileostomy was performed. A stoma, a surgically created opening on the abdomen, was necessary to divert bowel contents and allow the injured intestines to heal before a reversal could be considered. Peterson remained hospitalized for a month and was discharged with instructions to return on May 2nd for wound debridement and secondary closure, which was successfully done. He is now fit for ileostomy reversal since healing has been confirmed. Peterson's condition has brought significant challenges to both him and his mother, who is his primary caregiver. His illness has deeply affected the family’s livelihood, as Peterson was the main breadwinner, earning a living through casual labor. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund his surgery. On August 5th, he will undergo a laparotomy procedure at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will complete his treatment, greatly improving his quality of life. "Kindly support my surgery treatment, this thing is terrible for me, the doctors told me that a reversal will help me to pass stool and urine normally," said Peterson.

Safina is an 8-month-old from Cambodia who lives with her parents and her 8-year-old brother. Her father works in a garment factory, and her mother is a homemaker. Safina enjoys taking naps, drinking milk, and eating porridge. Safina was born with bilateral congenital vertical talus, a condition that causes her feet to bend abnormally, and she was also diagnosed with dislocated hips. If left untreated, she may have difficulty walking in the future. To correct these conditions and support her ability to walk in the future, Safina will need to undergo an adductor tenotomy and a closed reduction on both hips. On April 24th, Safina will undergo these procedures through our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). After the surgery, Safina will be able to grow stronger and have a better chance of walking properly as she gets older. CSC is requesting $485 to fund this surgery, which includes the cost of the operation, hospital stay, medication, and follow-up care. Safina's mother shared, "I hope my daughter can be healthy and happy as she grows up."

Evelyne is a 32-year-old farmer from Uganda. Earlier on in life, Evelyn had to drop out of school after Primary 3, due to her family's financial difficulties. As a teenager, she worked as a domestic helper until she got married at the age of 19. Evelyn and her husband's first born child brought great joy to her husband's family, especially since it was their first granddaughter. However, over time, the pressure to bear a grandson intensified. Sadly, when she became pregnant again Evelyne suffered a miscarriage. Soon after, she got pregnant again, but during delivery, there were some complications that resulted in a partial hysterectomy. While the procedure was life-saving, it left her unable to bear more children, and the affection and support she once received from her in-laws vanished. Feeling neglected and unwanted, she made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, who went ahead to marry another wife. Since the separation, Evelyne has been living at her parents’ home, caring for them in their old age, and farming to sustain herself and her family. About a year ago, she began experiencing lower abdominal pain, backache, and severe generalized body weakness. She first sought treatment at a local hospital, but her condition did not improve. She then visited our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibale, where she was referred to a gynecologist. After a thorough examination, she was diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain resulting from adhesions, and a curative laparotomy procedure was recommended. However, upon learning the cost of the surgery, she broke down in tears, telling the doctor that even with a decade to save, it would never be within her means. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Evelyne access the care that she needs. On April 10th, she will undergo a curative laparotomy to treat her condition, enabling her to continue caring for her family in good health. Now, Evelyne needs help to fund this $242 procedure. Evelyne said: "I am enduring a significant amount of pain. Without surgery, I fear my situation will only worsen, leading to further suffering. I humbly request your support to help ensure the success of my surgery."

Srey Lin is a four-year-old preschooler from Cambodia. She is an only child and lives with her parents in Phnom Penh. Her father works as a food delivery driver, while her mother is employed at a local clothing factory. While her parents are working, her relatives take care of her at home. She enjoys playing with toys and drinking milk. For at least three years, Srey Lin has been experiencing fever and difficulty swallowing. While sleeping, she has started to snore, which worries her parents. Her mother cannot afford to take her to a hospital, so she has purchased medicine at the local pharmacy, which has not helped address Srey Lin's symptoms. Srey Lin was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Srey Lin, which is scheduled to take place on May 9th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Srey Lin of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Srey Lin's mother shared, "I hope this illness will go far away from my daughter and she will be able to eat and start school when she is older."

Malino is 75-year-old small scale farmer from Malawi. He works hard on his farm, growing maize, nuts, tobacco, and soya beans to provide for his wife and their nine children. Despite his age, Malino has always been active and committed to his farming, which has been his primary means of supporting his family. Two weeks ago, Malino started experiencing uncomfortable symptoms including urinary retention, where the bladder cannot fully empty. This left him feeling unwell and worried about what could be causing the problem. Initially, Malino sought help at a local health center where he was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a condition that causes the prostate to enlarge and obstruct the flow of urine. While the diagnosis was a relief in some ways, he was advised to seek further treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Mission Hospital, for a more comprehensive approach to managing his condition. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital determined that Malino should undergo a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on January 21st and once completed, it will hopefully improve Malino's quality of life. Malino says, "I am truly grateful for the donors' support. I can finally have peace of mind knowing that I will receive the best and most needed treatment for my well-being. Thank you."

Bunthoeub is a 50-year-old man from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He lives with his wife who works at a hair salon. Bunthoeub used to work as a check-in agent at the airport, but had to resign three years ago after suffering a stroke, which left him with partial paralysis, speech difficulties, and blood vessel issues in the brain. At home, he enjoys gardening and growing fruits and vegetables. When Bunthoeub was around 10 years old, he fell from a tree and injured his right leg, which became swollen. Since then, he has developed a painful mass on his leg, which has grown significantly and now measures 10x10 cm. The mass causes discomfort while walking and is painful to the touch. Bunthoeub's right leg and arm have developed signs of muscle weakness, making it difficult for him to walk without assistance. Bunthoeub traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 21st, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a procedure to remove the mass. Now, Bunthoeub needs help to raise $273 to cover the cost of this procedure. Bunthoeub shared, "I hope I can have surgery so the pain will go away, and I won't have to worry about the mass anymore."