Sophanun is an active seven-year-old student in grade one. He and his family come from Battambang province, approximately six and a half hours away from the capital city. He has one younger sister, his father is a musician, and his mother stays home to care for the children. His favorite activities in school are singing Khmer songs and painting. He has recently learned to swim and really enjoys splashing in the water his father. His favorite foods are pork porridge, broccoli with meat, and fresh mango juice. For several years, Sophanun has been experiencing sore throats. During the night he often has trouble breathing. He gets frequent fevers and he doesn't sleep or feel well. Frequent illness causes him to lose his appetite and miss school. Sophanun was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his 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 Sophanun, which is scheduled to take place on September 26th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sophanun of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably and be able to attend school and do all the things he loves. His parents say, "We hope that after surgery, Sophanum will be comfortable drinking and eating and it will be easy for him to breathe."

Thida is a friendly 2-year-old toddler. She has three older siblings, 17- and 14-year-old sisters and a 9-year-old brother. The children live with their rice farming parents in Prey Veng province. While her siblings attend school, she stays home with her mother. She enjoys fried chicken, and likes to watch cartoons on her mother's phone. In 2022 when Thida was learning to walk, she put her right hand in a fire, burning her fingers. She has developed a burn contracture scar on her wrist and fourth and fifth fingers. Children are often at increased risk for serious burn injuries because they have thinner skin than adults. Because of her scars, Thida is not able to use her two fingers or hold anything in her hand. When Thida's parents learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled 2 hours seeking treatment. On August 14th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve her grasp in that hand. Thida's parents are able to contribute towards the cost of the surgery and need help raising $495 to fully fund the procedure. Her mother said, "After surgery, I hope that Thida can hold things and her fingers will look normal."

Hlaing is a 55-year-old man from Thailand who lives with his wife, two sons, mother-in-law, and grandson. He is a construction worker, but he stopped working five months ago due to his health deteriorating. In his free time, Hlaing enjoys listening to music and taking walks in the forest to gather wood for the house. In February, Hlaing noticed a mass developing in his right nostril, which has grown big enough to block the nostril completely. He experiences difficulty breathing due to his right nostril being obstructed by the mass, has persistent coughing and loss of appetite, and sometimes has hot and watery eyes. He underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with an inverted papilloma in his right nasal cavity, meaning that he has a non-cancerous tumor in the right side of his nose. Hlaing sought treatment through our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) and is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the mass from his nose on July 12th. Hlaing and his family need help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Hlaing said, “Thank you BCMF and the donors for paying for my treatment. I can’t afford it by myself. I have wanted to receive the surgery. I am happy to get support from you.”

Dormaha is a four year old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, and likes dancing and watching cartoons. Dormaha suffers from a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. Blood leaks through a hole that exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, bypassing her lungs without obtaining the oxygen Dormaha requires. She needs surgery to prevent her from experiencing the weakness and shortness of breath that she currently lives with. The surgery that Dormaha needs is not currently available in Haiti, so she will be flying to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. Fortunately, on May 18th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to close it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to pay for the surgery. However, Dormaha's family also needs help to fund the costs of many other aspects of Dormaha's care. They are seeking $1,500 to pay for the lab tests, medicines, checkup and follow-up appointments, that are all part of Dormaha's critical treatment. This money will also go towards obtaining passports, and for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Dormaha's family overseas during her care. Dormaha's mother said: "Our family has been hoping for this surgery ever since our daughter was a small baby, and we are very glad the chance has arrived!"

Mao, who is 48 years old, lives with her husband, son, and daughter in Cambodia. Mao's husband works as a rice farmer; her son is a monk, and Mao and her daughter work in a nearby food factory. About ten years ago, Mao noticed a small mass on her lower back. In the last two months, it has grown in size and occasionally bleeds. She experiences some discomfort and is fearful that the mass will continue to grow. Mao sought help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On April 26th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will remove the mass. Now, Mao needs your help to raise $273 to fund this procedure. After surgery, Mao hopes that she will feel more comfortable and be able to get back to her family quickly.

Zerubabel is a 17-month-old, energetic baby boy from Ethiopia. He is the only child of his mother. He already loves to run and play football with other children. Bread is his favorite food. Both of his parents currently have no income. His father used to work at Mekele University at the student's café, but lost touch with their family after the war broke out. Zerubabel's mother has no income and has moved to Addis Ababa where she stays with relatives. Zerubabel was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of cancer and infertility. A year ago, Zerubabel's mother noticed his condition but was unable to take him to the hospital sooner. The neighbor of her relatives told her about our medical parter at BKMCM and she came to the hospital with hope. The doctors have recommended surgery to treat Zerubabel, his mother is appealing for financial assistance. Fortunately, Zerubabel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Zerubabel's mother said, “I look forward to seeing him completely healthy. I want to see him grow up. I hope he will be a professional football player. ”

Rayan is a baby from Tanzania with two siblings. Their parents are small-scale farmers and cattle breeders who cultivate maize and wheat, and cattle for milk production. The family's livelihood has been impacted by drought, and recently the cost of maintaining the farm exceeds any profit they make. When Ryan was 11 months old, he crawled to the kitchen where his mother had started an open fire, and burned his right hand on a piece of firewood. The scars from the wound have since made it difficult for Rayan to use his right hand because the skin around the fingers is webbed together. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will help Rayan with treatment. On March 9th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery. After the procedure, Rayan will be able to open his fingers fully and use his hand. Now, Rayan and his family need help to fund this $832 procedure. Rayans’s mother says, “I hope this surgery will be a big step in helping my son’s condition.”

Michael is a beautiful baby who likes playing with blocks and waving his arms in time to music. Michael has a cardiac condition called tricuspid atresia: he was born without one of the four valves that is normally present in the heart. As a result, blood cannot flow through his lungs and body normally, leaving him sick and short of breath. On March 1st, Michael will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will perform a technique called a Glenn procedure to create a conduit to allow blood to bypass the missing valve and more easily circulate through Michael's body. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery, but Michael's family is still in need of $1,500 and have turned to the Watsi community for support. Michael's mother says: "It has been very frightening to see my son have such difficulty breathing, and I am so glad we can finally find a way to help him."

Simon is an 11-month-old baby and the second born in his family. He also has a twin sister. They all came together to our medical partner because the mother couldn’t leave Simon’s twin at home. Their family lives in a remote area in the western part of Tanzania. They are from a community that mainly depends on small-scale subsistence agriculture, depending on the rainy season as their major source of agriculture. They have had a good rice harvest that enables them to provide food for their family. And then they sell the little harvest surplus they have, to afford other basic needs. Simon has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, they visited our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery to heal his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Simon's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to wear shoes and walk easily. Simon’s mother says, “I wish my son to be free from this disability so that he will be able to play with his twin sister as they grow old.”

Luz is a sweet baby from Bolivia, where she lives with her parents and two older brothers in a small mountain village. Her parents work as farmers to support their family. Luz, in addition to being diagnosed with Down Syndrome, was born with a ventricular septal defect, a heart condition where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. As a result, blood leaks through the hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Fortunately, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance who is expanding their work in Bolivia, is helping Luz receive treatment. On January 19th, Luz will undergo surgery where doctors will sew a patch over the hole, allowing for blood to flow completely through her heart and reach her lungs, obtaining oxygen and, ultimately, allowing her to grow as a healthy baby girl. Luz's family needs help raising $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. From Luz's mother: "Our family is all praying that after the surgery our daughter will be stronger and healthier."

Chamroeurn is a 25-year-old father of one from the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia. He is a construction worker, and his wife stays home to care for their 18-month-old daughter. They raise ducks and chickens at home to support the family's nutrition needs. In March of 2021, Chamroeurn fell at his construction worksite, fracturing his left humerus (upper arm). He didn't have the funds to visit the hospital and used a bamboo splint to help. Unfortunately, his fracture has not healed properly. He is in constant pain and unable to work construction anymore, making it challenging for him to support his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On January 3rd, Chamroeurn will undergo a fracture repair procedure to correct the unhealed fracture with a plate and add a bone graft. This will help his arm heal properly so he can eventually return to work. CSC is requesting $483 to cover the cost of this procedure; Chamroeurn's family gathered $100 to contribute to his care. Chamroeun shared: "I hope I can use my arm and will no longer have pain. I need to work to feed my family."