Paw is a 30-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and son in a refugee camp in Thailand. She and her husband receive monthly cash support from an international aid agency. Another organization provides access to basic healthcare in the camp. During her free time, Paw cleans her house and tends to her vegetable garden in their yard. Paw is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Paw fund and undergo this procedure on December 24th. This operation will cost $1500, and Paw needs your support. Paw’s pregnancy is progressing well, and looks forward to giving birth. She says, "I will love this baby, whether it is a boy or a girl."

Synowden is 22 years old and a father of one from Malawi. He works at the city council as an E-Parking Officer, while his wife has a small-scale business to support the family. In 2018, Synowden noticed a swelling in a sensitive part of his body. He ignored it, but the swelling worsened and started to cause him pain. This year, the pain became so severe that he was rushed to the hospital. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia. He needs surgery to address his symptoms. On July 7th, Synowden will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Synowden's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Synowden said, "The problem has disturbed me from concentrating on my work, leading to much absenteeism. Kindly help me because I am afraid of losing my job."

Erlinda is a young student from Bolivia. She lives in central Bolivia with her parents, who both work in agriculture, and her five brothers. Erlinda stopped attending school last year because she felt too weak. Erlinda has a cardiac condition called aortic stenosis. One of the valves of the heart is too narrow; this causes blood to back up, leading to weakness and heart failure. On November 19th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will reconstruct the valve so that it opens to a more normal size. Erlinda'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. Erlinda's father shared, "I hope this surgery goes well so that my daughter can have a healthy heart and can go back to school!"

Chanthou is an eight-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal province with her parents, two sisters, and one brother. She is the youngest child and is currently in third grade. Her parents both work long days in construction to make sure their children eat well and have uniforms for school. At home, Chanthou likes to read books, play with dolls, and help her mother with housework. For the past three years, Chanthou has had bilateral ear discharge once or twice a month. Her hearing is slowly declining. Even though her parents have purchased medication at the local pharmacy for her condition, Chanthou continues to get ear infections. This infection caused her tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in both ears to perforate, causing Chanthou pain, fever, and chronic ear discharge. She cannot communicate clearly with others or hear the teacher, and often misses school. Chanthou traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On June 3rd, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $482 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Chanthou's mother said, "I hope that after surgery, my daughter's hearing will improve, and she will stop having ear infections."

Dibora is a five-year-old preschooler from Ethiopia. She is the cherished second child in her family and enjoys playing with her siblings. For three months now, Dibora had had difficulty eating and sleeping, affecting her mood, energy, and interactions at school. Dibora was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Dibora, which is scheduled to take place on April 30th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Dibora of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Dibora said, "I wish I can eat better and play with my friends again."

Kanhchana is seven years old and the middle child in her family from Cambodia. Her mother is a primary school teacher, and her father is a cashew farmer. She enjoys studying Mathematics, Khmer, and Social Studies. Kanhchana dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up, just like her mom. At home, she loves reading books and playing with her brothers. Kanhchana was born with multiple osteochondromas, which are benign bone growths that form near the growth plates of long bones. These growths are present in both her upper and lower limbs, and they have led to malformations in her right elbow and both knees. Kanhchana was brought by her father to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, seeking treatment. On April 8th, she will undergo the removal of condromas. The procedure involves the use of an 8-shaped plate, which is a metal plate that will be placed in her right knee to help stop the growth of the longer bone, while allowing the other bone to grow normally. Kanhchana needs help to raise $726 to fund her treatment, which includes the surgery and necessary post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Kanhchana's father shared, “I hope the surgery helps my daughter and she can be more comfortable at school."

Chandyna is 14 years old and the oldest of three from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her father runs a small shop selling grilled duck and chicken, and her mother helps with the business. Chandyna is currently in sixth grade, with Khmer as her favorite subject, and dreams of becoming a nurse in the future. In her free time, she helps her mother with household chores and looks after her younger sister. She enjoys soup with a lot of vegetables. Chandyna was diagnosed with an abnormal spine when she was 11 years old, after her father took her to a local governmental hospital in Phnom Penh. A scan revealed a condition called scoliosis, where the spine curves abnormally to the side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. It can affect the upper (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine, or both. Scoliosis can develop at any age, but it is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15. Chandyna has been wearing a brace since she was 11. While she does not experience constant pain, she has noticeable differences in shoulder height, gets tired easily during physical activities, and occasionally has back pain. Unfortunately, her parents could not afford the care available at the hospital and referred her to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, seeking treatment to correct her spine. On August 11th, Chandyna will undergo surgery with instrumentation to correct her scoliosis and stabilize her spine. This surgery will improve her posture and allow her to live a healthier life. Her family hopes an operation will help her live more comfortably and avoid future complications, but they need help with the $1,500 cost of the surgery. This will include surgery, anesthesia, medication, and postoperative care. Chandya's father said, "After the operation, I hope that my daughter will have a normal spine like other people and not have any pain. I want her to grow strong and healthy so she can follow her dreams."

Andrice is a 15-year-old student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and three siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He enjoys going to school and would like to be a minister when he grows up. Andrice has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Andrice's heart was severely damaged as a result of an infection when he was young. Although the valve was surgically repaired six years ago, he has continued to grow, and the valve needs another repair or replacement to function normally. Andrice will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 14th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair Andrice's damaged valve or remove it and implant an artificial replacement. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6,000 to pay for the surgery. Andrice's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. He needs $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 Andrice's family overseas. Andrice's father shared: "Our family is all praying that everything will go well with Andrice's surgery!"

Monika is a nine-year-old second-grader from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and 12-year-old older brother in Siem Reap province. Her mother works as a janitor, while her father is a security guard at a local company. At school, she likes drawing class, and in her free time, she enjoys reading books and coloring pictures. She shared that she would love to be an artist when she grows up. When it comes to food, Monika enjoys eating chicken or pork. One year ago, Monika had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Monika experiences ear pain, discharge, and mild hearing loss. This makes it difficult for her to hear clearly at school, affecting her ability to follow lessons. She sometimes misses class due to discomfort and the need for medical care. Medications from the local pharmacy have not helped. Monika traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 11th, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Monika's mother shared: "I hope my daughter will no longer be in pain or have any discharge after treatment."

Tha Zin is a 25-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in Karen State, Burma. The couple works as subsistence farmers, but her husband occasionally takes on day labor jobs to earn extra income. Tha Zin was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Tha Zin still feels tired when walking long distances and occasionally experiences chest pain. Medications help manage her symptoms, but she sometimes struggles to sleep well. Her heart condition has affected her ability to work on the farm, and she relies more on her husband’s support. The frequent travel for healthcare has also placed a financial burden on her family. Her husband often has to take time off work to accompany her to medical appointments. Tha Zin is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on May 20th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Tha Zin's procedure and care. For the future, Tha Zin said, “I dream of opening a small food shop, because I cannot work in the hot sun anymore.”

In August 2024, Kennan's family began to notice that something wasn't quite right. When they spoke to him, the six-year-old boy often seemed distracted, staring off into space, only responding when someone touched him. At first, his mother and grandmother thought he was being difficult, and they would scold him, urging him to pay attention. But their concern deepened when they received a call from the school. Kennan was having trouble hearing his teachers and classmates, which explained why he struggled to communicate like other children his age. At school, Kennan relies on lip-reading, watching his teachers closely and occasionally asking classmates to repeat what was said. It became clear to his family that his difficulties went beyond a lack of interest, prompting them to seek help. But it hasn’t been an easy journey for Kennan’s family. His father tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2023, leaving behind a deep void. Now, Kennan's mother works hard selling oranges at the market, while his grandmother is unemployed. His mother struggles to provide for Kennan and his younger sister, who is just 4 years old. Each day, she works tirelessly just to put food on the table. Kennan's grandmother is especially worried about him. She often fears for his safety when he plays outside, anxious that he may not hear an approaching vehicle or motorbike. Her heart breaks knowing she can’t do more to help her grandson. Recently, Kennan's grandmother brought him to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he was diagnosed with reduced hearing. The good news is that hearing aids can provide the help he needs to thrive and connect with the world around him. However, the cost of these hearing aids is a barrier for Kennan’s family. They are now reaching out for support to help provide Kennan with the hearing aids he desperately needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kennan receive treatment. On February 6th, he will be fitted with hearing aids, allowing him to hear, learn, and grow. Now, Kennan's family needs help to fund the $1,171 treatment. Kennan says: "When I'm in class, I often have trouble hearing the teacher, so I rely on my friends to fill me in by telling me what's going on."

Katia is five years old and lives with her mother in the municipality of Nechí, Antioquia. Katia is a very sweet, intelligent, diligent, and empathetic girl. She loves to skate and play with her friends, and her favorite food is meat with rice, lentils, and salad. After experiencing some pain in her abdomen, Katia was taken to our medical partner, Clínica Noel. There, she was diagnosed with an umbilical herniorrhaphy and requires surgery to prevent other complications. Katia is scheduled for surgery on March 6th and her family needs $786 to help fund the repair surgery. Katia's mother shared, "I look forward to when Katia is feeling well again and for her to grow up playing with her friends."