Gloria is a mother of a two-year-old child from Malawi. Gloria works hard as a small businesswoman to provide for her little one, selling farm produce such as tomatoes, beans, and onions. Three years ago, Gloria began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. She sought treatment at the time, but was only given painkillers that did little to help. By July 2025, Gloria's symptoms had worsened, including neck pain, heaviness, difficulty breathing, inability to carry heavy items, and struggling to climb steps. She rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for seven days. Unfortunately, the staff informed her that the hospital was fully booked until December and advised her to return next year. Heartbroken, Gloria went back to her village. When her pain became unbearable, she visited a referral hospital, and from there, was referred again to Partners in Hope (PIH), our medical partner's hospital, for urgent treatment. At PIH, after undergoing examination and scans, the surgeon confirmed she urgently needed surgery. Gloria has been diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for essential functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gloria receive treatment. On September 3rd, she will undergo a thyroidectomy, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Gloria has contributed a co-pay toward her care and needs assistance raising $1,015 to fund the cost of her treatment. Gloria said, "Kindly save me from these pains. I came a long way to seek support to get better."

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.

Jhennyfer is an 8-year-old girl who lives in southwest Bolivia. She loves math and playing with her friends. Her mother had Jhennyfer at a young age and visits her on the weekends, as Jhennyfer lives with her grandmother. Her grandmother is a primary school teacher. Jhennyfer has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, which means there is a hole in the upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through the hole, leaving her weak and impacting her development. Fortunately, on June 25th, Jhennyfer will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will repair her heart and plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through. Jhennyfer'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 fees, follow-up care, and medications. Jhennyfer's grandmother said, "I was praying a lot, so my granddaughter receives her life-saving surgery. She is my treasure to me; she is like my daughter!"

Aung is an eight-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, younger brother, uncle, and his uncle’s wife in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. His father works as a chef at a restaurant and his mother is a homemaker. His uncle and aunt also work as waiters at the same restaurant as his father. Aung likes to sing and play with his friends during his free time. Aung and his family moved to Thailand to seek treatment for Aung. In December 2023, Aung began experiencing trouble breathing and would snore while sleeping. Aung’s mother took him to a nearby clinic in Burma, where the doctor diagnosed him with tonsillitis. The doctor prescribed a mouthwash to clean his mouth as well as oral medications. Aung returned to the clinic for follow-up visits over the next three months, but his symptoms did not improve. After visits to many different hospitals, Aung was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Aung will undergo a tonsillectomy on April 28th to address his symptoms. Aung and his family need your help to raise $1,500 for his procedure and care. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Aung of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Aung’s uncle expressed his happiness, saying, “Thank you so much to this organization and the donors for helping my nephew’s treatment costs. He then added, “After his surgery and full recovery, we will send him back to school to continue his education.”

Chit is a 26-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her daughter, two siblings, and her parents in an internally displaced camp in the Karenni State, Burma. Her brother and sister are still attending school in the camp. Their family income is just enough to cover their household expenses. Additionally, they harvest vegetables from the jungle sometimes for their consumption. During her free time, Chit loves cooking. Chit is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. The hospital at the camp is not equipped to perform c-sections. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Chit undergo a C-section on May 2nd at their care center, Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Chit needs your support. "I am excited to bring joy to my family with the arrival of my baby boy and to also open a shop in the IDP camp after I give birth," Chit said.

Burke is a 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He has a passion for taekwondo and a love for riding his bicycle. He enjoys seeing his mother happy and takes pride in helping his siblings. His favorite subject is English, and he is known for his kindness, sociability, and ability to initiate conversations, making him well-liked among his peers. Burke’s mother is a single parent to three children. She works hard as a bread vendor, baking and selling bread, and washing clothes for neighbors to support her family. Burke was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Burke is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,231 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Burke's mother said, "I pray that God will help him. I don't know what to expect. If he receives surgery and heals, I will be very happy and grateful."

Arleen is a mother of two from the Philippines. She and her husband are both temporarily unemployed. They rely on her siblings and parents for support. Arleen has been experiencing pain and discomfort on the right side of her chest, especially when lifting heavy objects. Five months ago, she noticed a lump when the pain became unbearable. Arleen has been diagnosed with breast cancer and was immediately advised to undergo a mastectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of her breast tissue to prevent the cancer from spreading. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Arleen receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on December 21st at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Arleen will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Arleen expressed, "This opportunity to receive free surgery is a huge help because we no longer have to worry about my illness worsening due to not being able to afford treatment earlier. I am deeply grateful to the foundation offering assistance because, without it, many people like me would suffer more and longer because we cannot afford treatment. Thank you very much."

Kassim is a 32-year-old father of two young children, ages 7 and 4. He once thrived as a primary school teacher and a small-scale farmer in Garissa to provide for his family. Unfortunately, times have become incredibly challenging for them. Kassim describes their current situation as living "hand-to-mouth," just scraping by to meet immediate needs without the ability to plan for the future. Over the past four years, Kassim has struggled with health issues that have taken a significant toll on his family. After being diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2021 and seeking treatment at multiple hospitals, he faced the heart-wrenching reality of renal failure. Since October 2024, he has been committed to his dialysis schedule, traveling to the hospital twice a week, which has added to the family's financial strain. As part of his treatment journey, Kassim was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, to create a fistula in his hand, which will make his dialysis sessions more effective and reduce complications. At the hospital, he was assessed and the medical team found promising signs for the procedure. However, Kassim is unable to afford the procedure, and needs financial assistance to cover the costs of creating this fistula. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kassim receive treatment. On January 8th, he will undergo the procedure to help further his treatment, helping him regain health and stability. Now, Kassim needs help to fund this $1,127 procedure. Kassim says, "I started my dialysis sessions with a temporary catheter, but I’ve faced many challenges, including infections and constant discomfort. I urgently need your help to create a fistula, which would make my dialysis access much easier and more manageable. Thank you so much for considering my request for support."

William is a single father from Kenya who has four children to look after. He does not have any health insurance and works as a small-scale farmer, relying on his crops to provide for his family. He is currently in a lot of pain and can only digest light meals. William is seeking financial support to undergo a necessary surgery so he can return to a healthy, normal life. Seven years ago, William began to experience troubling symptoms, including frequent vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal swelling, and persistent stomach aches. By October 2024, William’s health had significantly deteriorated, and he had lost a considerable amount of weight. William was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where scans revealed intussusception or twisted intestines. William was recommended a curative laparotomy, which would alleviate his pain, allow him to eat properly, and restore his health. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund William's surgery. On November 25th, he will undergo surgery at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. William says, "I feel like a burden to my family, as they now have to take care of me because I am unable to work due to the constant pain."

Luis, who is 11 years old, lives with his parents and three siblings in a small town in the heart of Bolivia. His mother is a homemaker, while his stepfather works in construction. Luis enjoys studying math, going swimming in a nearby river, and cooking. Luis has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus where a hole exists between two major blood vessels near his heart, which causes blood to leak out, leaving him weak, and potentially leading to heart failure. On December 4th, Luis will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During the procedure, surgeons will close the hole so blood can no longer leak through it. Luis' family needs your help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Luis said: "My birthday is coming up in two weeks and I am looking forward to being able to celebrate at home with a healthy heart!"

Ftwi is a six-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He loves to play with his mom and enjoys watching other children play. He giggles when kids are around him. Ftwi's mother is a single parent who used to work as a domestic helper and cared for the children in the household. He never met his father as he joined the military before he was born. Ftwi and his mother live with relatives who farm their small land for food and rent. Ftwi was born with an anorectal malformation, a condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Ftwi is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 22nd and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Ftwi's procedure and care. After his recovery, Ftwi should no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Ftwi's mother said, "I wish my child to get a successful surgery and to give thanks and gratitude and go back to my home."

Meet Lucio, a 49-year-old Lucio factory worker from the Philippines. He and his wife have three children. Their oldest son is married and the younger children are still in school. Three years ago, Lucio developed an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him pain and discomfort in his left side, especially when he is carrying out heavy, physical tasks. Given the nature of his work, which requires physical exertion, Lucio is keen to undergo surgery to address the hernia. He believes that regaining his health will enable him to perform his job more efficiently so that he can continue to provide for his family. On September 13th, Lucio will undergo hernia repair surgery, at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Lucio's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of Lucio's surgery and care. Lucio said: "The prospect of a free operation not only offers a path to recovery for me but also represents a lifeline for my family. Thank you very much to all of you for helping me."