Rodirick is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He was the primary provider for his family, but was forced to stop working because his health no longer allowed him to perform his job safely. Without a regular income, his family has relied on his retirement benefits and social pensions to cover their daily expenses while he awaits treatment. Despite his condition, Rodirick stays active by helping with light household chores and taking daily walks to maintain his strength. Access to surgery would give him the opportunity to recover, reduce his family's financial burden, and help him regain his independence. For seven years, Rodirick has dealt with an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him immense pain that prevents him from moving freely. Fortunately, our medical partner can help him receive the care he needs. On July 24th, Rodirick will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of Rodirick's treatment. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Rodirick said, "The foundation is a great help, especially for people like me who have no job and do not have enough money to pay for medical expenses. I am very thankful for their program, and I hope they can continue helping many more people who are facing the same situation as I am."

Egu is a 60-year-old man from Ethiopia and a father of five children; three sons and two daughters. His wife is a home maker. Though he works very hard in his role at a government bureau, Egu still faces financial struggles in raising his family. About six months ago, Egu started experiencing constant urgency and difficulty in passing urine. The frequency of toilet visits and disrupted nights are affecting his output at work, and Egu is starting to get worried about losing his job. He went to hospital for a medical review and was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland. Physicians at our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, determined that Egu should undergo surgery treatment. The treatment is scheduled to take place on May 18th and, once completed, will improve Egu's quality of life. Now, Egu needs help to fund this $900 procedure. He says: "I hope to receive the treatment, so I can regain my ability to focus on my duties, and regain the energy needed to be an active, present father to my children."

Isabel is a one-month-old baby girl who lives in Bolivia with her mother, a homemaker and former biochemical pharmacology student. Shortly after Isabel was born, doctors found fluid in her lungs and diagnosed her with a congenital heart condition called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). A VSD is a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart that causes blood to leak as the heart pumps. Isabel's condition prevents blood from circulating in her body normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. She has been hospitalized since her diagnosis. On March 24th, Isabel will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, a patch will be sewn over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through. Isabel's family needs $1,500 to help cover the cost of her treatment. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, will need the funds to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgery, follow-up care, and medications. Isabel's mother said, "I pray my daughter improves so she can gain weight and become healthy!"

Korb is 65 years old and a father of two from Takeo Province, Cambodia. His wife sells rice, while their two children work as bag factory workers. In his free time, he likes exercising and helping his wife with some works Around two years ago, Korb began experiencing pain in his left hip due to avascular necrosis, which can occur when blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, leading to bone cell death and the collapse of the femoral head. This condition has caused difficulty walking and limited his ability to perform daily tasks independently. The condition developed naturally, without trauma or accident. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his right hip in 2017 with the help of our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Korb decided to travel back to CSC for treatment on his left hip. On March 17th, Korb will undergo a hip replacement procedure, where surgeons will operate on his hip to relieve pain and improve mobility, allowing him to move comfortably and return to work. Korb and his family can contribute $25, but they need help raising $1,475 to fund his procedure and care. Korb said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have hip pain and be able to walk more easily, so I can move around more independently and do some works to support my family."

Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was 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 functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Grace is a two-year-old girl from Burma. She lives in a refugee camp in Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Ten years ago, her parents moved to the camp to escape the fighting in their village in Burma. Grace lives with her parents, older sister, two aunts, uncle, and her uncle’s wife. Grace’s mother raises pigs and chickens to sell in the camp, and her father is a day laborer. Since birth, Grace has had a hernia granuloma. Currently, Grace’s umbilicus produces bloody discharge every day. While Grace does not experience any pain, her mother’s anxiety grows each passing day. Fortunately, on January 19th, Grace will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Grace's hernia repair surgery. The procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Grace's mother shared, “I worry about what will happen to her if she doesn’t have this issue fixed now. The doctors told us that we needed to go to Chiang Mai for her treatment, which would cost a lot of money. We can't afford that. We don’t know what will happen to her.” Grace’s mom is extremely thankful to the donors for their financial support. She said, “Thank you so much to the donors for helping my child. I want to say so much, but I don’t know what to say. God has finally found a way for my child to receive treatment.”

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."

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!"