Damaris is 17 months old and lives in a small village in central Bolivia with her mother, who currently cares for her full time. When Damaris was born, her mother noticed that she wasn't breathing well. She brought Damaris to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving Damaris weak and short of breath. Damaris also has Down syndrome. On September 23rd, Damaris will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Damaris’s heart, so that blood will no longer leak through it. Damaris's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Damaris's mother said, "We came from far away, and I am really grateful to have this opportunity so my daughter can have lifesaving surgery."

Alisse is a three-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives in southwestern Bolivia with her mom and dad, who both work in a small convenience store. Her parents noticed she was not growing properly and frequently became sick, and took her to the local doctor, who discovered a heart murmur; she was then referred to La Paz to see the cardiologists there. Alisse has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to her heart. This condition prevents Alisse's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition goes untreated. On July 22nd, Alisse will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Alisse'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. Alisse's father shared, "We just pray our little girl can have a successful surgery; we came from far away seeking help."

Aye is a six-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, who are small-scale farmers. They sell their extra vegetables and livestock for additional income every couple of months. Aye and his sister are both students in the village. In his free time, Aye plays games on his mother's phone and enjoys playing football with his friends. He dreams of becoming a professional footballer when he grows up, just like his idol Ronaldo. In 2024, Aye's mother noticed a small mass on the left side of his neck. Over the next four months, she watched it grow in size. Currently, the mass measures 15 cm and continues to grow despite previous treatment. Aye feels no pain and is not impaired in any way, but his mother is deeply worried about what it could be and anxious about the cost of his care. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, will help Aye undergo mass removal surgery. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Aye needs your support to fund the surgery. Aye's mother said, “I hope that once he recovers, I can send him back to school. I hope he becomes a teacher in the future since there is a shortage of teachers in our village. Thank you for your help.”

Altiya is a lively baby girl with boundless curiosity from Ethiopia. She is always exploring and playing with anything she can find around her. Toys and other items captivate her, reflecting her joyful spirit. The name “Altiya” means “happy” in Afan Oromo, and her family was overjoyed when she was born. Altiya lives in a single room with her parents and her paternal grandparents. Her mother is a dedicated housewife, while her father works as a farmer, providing for the family through agricultural activities. Farming sustains both her immediate family and her father’s extended relatives. Altiya was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. When her mother first noticed Altiya’s condition, panic set in, and she struggled to believe that a surgical solution was possible. It took two months, but with the support of their family, her mother eventually decided to seek medical help. After visiting a local hospital, they were referred for further treatment. However, upon learning about the high costs involved, Altiya's mother felt overwhelmed and began to lose hope, unsure of how to proceed. After reaching out to those around her, Altiya's mother learned about Mother Teresa Mission from a neighbor and decided to seek help there. The MOC staff provided invaluable support, helping them travel to Addis Ababa for advanced treatment. They arranged accommodation, meals, and other essential services, and guided them to the Bethany kids center. This collaboration opened doors for Altiya, enabling her to receive the necessary care without the burden of financial stress. Her first surgery was remarkable and successful, restoring hope for the future. With deep gratitude, her mother expresses sincere appreciation for the support they have received and looks forward with hope to the success of the upcoming procedures. Altiya is scheduled to undergo another surgery to correct her condition on March 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Altiya's procedure and care. After her recovery, Altiya will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Altiya's mom said, "I am truly grateful for your incredible support. After this treatment journey, I feel happy knowing that my child will be healthy following the surgery. Please continue to provide your support; it means the world to us."

Fabian is from Tanzania and the only child under the care of his guardian. His mother passed away when he was six months old, and he shared that he never knew his father. He was raised by his grandmother before moving in with his current guardian about four years ago. Fabian sustained a burn injury to his left-hand during childhood after falling into a fire during an epileptic episode. He does not recall the incident but has lived with the resulting contractures ever since. Due to epilepsy and social challenges, he never attended school and now supports himself through daily labor on farms. The condition causes pain, blistering, and difficulty gripping tools, limiting his ability to work effectively. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Fabian receive treatment. On February 6th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and skin graft to to enable him regain hand function, work without pain, and improve his independence and livelihood. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Fabian says, “I cannot hold farming tools for long because my hand hurts and blisters, yet it is the only work I know.”

Jane is a 45-year-old woman from Kenya. She works as a domestic worker, washing clothes for others to support her family. Her husband is a construction worker, and they have three children together. In 2012, people began to notice that Jane could not hear well. She was diagnosed with hearing loss and advised to use hearing aids, but she could not afford them. Jane has learned to cope with her condition. She avoids public spaces and prefers to stay at home with her family, who understand and support her. In 2023, Jane visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, hoping to receive help, but when she discovered that she still could not afford the hearing aids, she returned home discouraged. Since then, she has largely kept to herself, praying for an opportunity to hear clearly again and live a normal life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On January 14th, Jane will be fitted with hearing aids, and she needs help to raise $1,171. With this support, she hopes to be able to reconnect with her community and live a better life. Jane says, “I’ve lost so many friends. I always feel like a burden asking people to repeat themselves or speak louder so I can understand.”

Lia is a young student from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who is a homemaker, her dad, who is a truck driver, and her two younger siblings. Lia's mom noticed that her daughter had a constant headache, body aches, and dizziness. She took Lia to the doctor, which led to her being diagnosed with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition prevents Lia's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On December 16th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Lia'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. Lia's mother shared, "I just hope my daughter has good health after the surgery, and stops being sick so often."

Henry is 41 years old and a father of two from Malawi. Before his illness, he worked full-time as a security guard at a local church near his home in rural Lilongwe. Since the operation, he has been unable to resume work and now depends largely on his wife, who has also been unable to engage in farming because they spend most of their time in and out of hospitals. As a result, their children have also suffered the impact of this financial and emotional strain. One year ago, Henry began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, difficulty standing upright, blurred vision, and blood in his urine due to intestinal perforation following a motorbike accident. He underwent surgery where a stoma was created to divert intestinal waste while his intestines healed. Henry has lived with this stoma for over a year, enduring both physical and emotional challenges. Fortunately, his wound has now healed, and he is ready for a reversal procedure to restore normal intestinal function, but he needs financial support. Physicians need to perform a laparotomy to open up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Henry's surgery. On November 11th, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. “My condition is unbearable; I truly need God’s intervention. I have experienced firsthand how real stigma can be,” said Henry during the assessment.