Aung is a 19-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his aunt and uncle who are both shopkeepers. Last year, while Aung was working on a car’s engine, a piece of the car hit him in his left eye, causing a serious eye injury. Aung began to experience immense pain in his left eye and was unable to see. Aung was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, he could lose his vision completely. Aung is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach his retina on April 1st. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. After surgery, Aung's vision will hopefully be restored and he will be able to resume his daily activities comfortably. Aung said, "Once I recover, I am determined to work as a truck driver. When I have enough money, I will start running an automobile accessories shop. This organization and donors have given me the chance to fulfill my dreams."

Mourine is a 9-year-old bright, social and friendly girl from Kenya. She is the firstborn of a family of two and hails from Merigi village in Bomet county. Her mother told us that she is very active while at school and at home, helping do household chores, including tending to a kitchen garden as part of her work. Mourine is passionate about studying and she told us that she aspires to become a neurosurgeon in the future! Mourine was first seen in August 2023 at our medical partner's care center (AIC Cure International Hospital) mobile clinic and scheduled to undergo serial casting. She comes from a humble background where her mother is a homemaker while her father is a farmer. Mourine 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. This condition was not noticeable at a young age and her mother came to notice it when she was 4 years old. Mourine was taken to a hospital and the family were told that her foot needed to be corrected. They stayed home for quite sometime until they heard about AIC Cure mobile clinic and upon review, she was scheduled to undergo treatment. Currently Mourine walks with discomfort, is not flexible, and has pain when walking for a long distance. Fortunately, Mourine's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 30th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mourine's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk comfortably like other children, she will be able to play with her peers since there will be no pain and she will continue with her education without any challenge. She has a bright future ahead. Mourine said: "I'm looking forward to healing and walking comfortably to avoid people always asking me what is wrong with my foot."

Marife is a loving wife and mother from the Philippines. She previously worked as a janitor at Makati Medical Center but had to quit to give more time to her daughter, who has difficulty breathing with asthma. Marife occasionally does freelance work, but their family mostly depends on the income her husband makes as a janitor. Marife and her family reside in a Housing Relocation Site provided by the National Housing Authority. One year ago, Marife began to experience troubling symptoms, including vomiting and extreme abdominal pain. She described it as even worse pain than when she gave birth. For a year, she tried various medications and home remedies to help ease the pain, but to no avail. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Marife was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, or gallstones. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Marife is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) on October 21st. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Marife's surgery and care. Marife says, "This surgery will be a great help for me and my family as it will regain my confidence. I have been through depression since I first felt my symptoms. This illness sacrificed my supervision and parenting time with my daughter. I had come to the point of being hopeless but thanks to this hospital and the donors I will fight and continue my life. I hope they can help more people like me who need an operation. Thank you very much."

Kyaw is a 25-year-old father from Burma. He used to work as a farmer and a day laborer, but he had to stop working seven months ago due to his accident. Kyaw's family grows paddy for their consumption and raises chickens and pigs. During his free time, Kyaw enjoys exercising. In April 2023, Kyaw fell from a tree while collecting honey, resulting in a fracture in his right femur. Since then, he has experienced significant pain and swelling in his right leg, making it difficult for him to walk. Currently, Kyaw relies on crutches to get around. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyaw will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for November 15th and will cost $1,500. The surgery is essential for Kyaw's recovery, as it will alleviate his pain and help him walk comfortably again. Kyaw said, "I was shocked and disappointed after knowing that the surgery would cost more than 40,000 baht (approx. 1,335 USD). I want to get the surgery and recover, but I have no idea who will support me and where I can get that much money. If I recover, I will work and support my family. Now that I learned that BMCF will help me get surgery, I feel so happy and excited."

Danica is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her older sister and her sister's family in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Danica is trained in tailoring and fashion design but is currently unable to work due to her heart ailment. Danica has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related issues, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. As a result, blood cannot circulate adequately through Danica's lungs, leaving her deprived of oxygen and short of breath. Danica will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 1st, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will close the hole in her heart with a patch and remove the blockage from her valve. Another organization, the Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $26,000 to pay for the surgery. Danica's family also needs help to fund the $1,500 surgery prep costs. This cost covers all labs, medication, check-up and follow-up appointments, and the passport needed for Danica and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Danica's family overseas. Danica said, "I am looking forward to having more energy and feeling more healthy after my surgery!"

Samwel is an 11-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the last born to his mother in a family of seven children. His parents are livestock keepers and are also involved in agriculture. Samwel was born with his feet twisted inward and downward. This condition is a source of concern for his parents, who worry about its potential impact on his mobility in the future. Aware of the importance of addressing the issue early, Samwel's mother mother received valuable information during her church attendance from the priest about possible treatment options for their son. Samwel and his family traveled seven hours to seek medical care. He was diagnosed with 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. Surgery is recommended to treat his condition. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Samwel is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery on August 4th. AMH is requesting $935 to fund Samwel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and lead a normal and quality life. Samwel’s mother said, "I pray my son’s leg will be normal after this treatment. We wish for him to have a good future.”

Meet Maria, a one-year-old with Down Syndrome from La Paz, Bolivia, who lives with her parents; her father is a musician, and her mother is a student. Maria was born with two holes in her heart: one between the two upper chambers, and another between the two lower chambers. Because of her heart defect, blood leaks through the holes, leaving her weak and short of breath. To improve her quality of life, skilled surgeons with our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, will sew both of the holes closed so that blood flows normally through her heart and body. Her family is currently reaching out for your assistance in raising $1,500 to support the cost of this treatment. Your help can make a significant difference in Maria's life and her family's journey towards her health and well-being. Her mother shared: "Our family was so happy to learn that our daughter can have this chance to have her heart fixed!"

Yi is a 52-year-old mother who lives with her husband, two sons and a daughter in a conflict area called Rakhine State. Her husband, daughter and younger son are unemployed while she is a homemaker. Her older son works as a taxi driver but does not always have work. They are financially supported by Yi's third son, who is also a taxi driver and lives separately. In her free time, she like to meditate and read Facebook posts relating to health. Yi first felt unwell in 2010 when she experienced severe joint pain. Later on, she also developed difficulty breathing and heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with a heart condition requiring surgery, but she could not afford to pay for it. Over the years, she tried to manage her symptoms through medication, but they would only help her feel better temporarily. Currently, Yi tires easily and does not have energy to do anything. She cannot walk long distances, and she cannot walk downstairs. If she does, she experiences chest pain and difficulty breathing. When she talks a lot, she feels tired. She has no appetite and cannot breathe well. She also has chest pain and cannot sleep at night. In May, she went to Pun Hlaing Hospital in Yangon, where the doctor diagnosed her with mitral valve stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation. She now needs to undergo surgery to have two valves in her heart replaced. Yi is scheduled to have this surgery on July 20th with our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). They are requesting $1,500 to fund her procedure. Her son said, “Thank you so much to the donors and the organization [BCMF] for helping with the cost of my mom’s surgery. I worry about my mom and want her to get surgery as soon as possible.”

Aye is a 48-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her family, and recently stepped away from work due to health concerns. In her free time, Aye enjoys making traditional Burmese food. Since March, Aye has been experiencing bloating, a sense of fullness in her stomach, fatigue, and weakness. After seeking out medical care, Aye was diagnosed with a right ovarian tumor. Doctors recommended she undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, a procedure wherein surgeons will remove her uterus. If left untreated, Aye's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for future health complications. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. Aye is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 13th at BCMF's care center. Now, BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Aye will no longer experience discomfort and can live more confidently. Aye said, "Since I was diagnosed with this condition, I cannot work. So, I have no income. I feel sorry that my niece's family has to support me despite their financial problems. However, I now feel relieved that this organization [BCMF] will support my treatment."

Kiberian is a 3-year-old boy from Kajiado County who needs surgery to help him walk well. He comes from a large pastoralist family with many siblings. His father is a farmer/herder, while his mother takes care of their family and home. Kiberian was born with a deformity in his legs that has greatly affected his mobility. His knees bend inward, while his ankles remain apart. He cannot walk long distances and often falls while walking. Kiberian's father took him to a satellite clinic for treatment and the doctors recommend procedures that will reposition the femur and tibia of each leg into alignment. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of the surgery, scheduled for June 20th. This treatment will be impactful to Kiberian because he will be able to walk well, play with other children, and continue with his education. Kiberian’s father shared, “The joy of a father is to see his children growing well without any challenge or deformity and I would love to see my boy walking well.”

Paola is a brilliant little star from Colombia. She was born in Putumayo a region in the south of Colombia, and lives with her mother, brother and grandparents. Her brother is 10 years old and they love painting and drawing together. She is really good at school, and loves math. Paola 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, Paola's family traveled to visit our Medical Partner Clínica Noel. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 22nd. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,500 to fund Paola's bilateral clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk without pain and continue studying without further complications. Her mother said: "I hope you can help my little girl, I struggle a lot seeing her suffering and not being able to help her or stop her pain."