Nereida is a four-year-old preschooler from Bolivia. Nereida lives with her mother who sells pet items in a small store; her father works far from home in construction. Nereida loves to paint and to play with her older brother. The family lives in the westernmost region of Bolivia. As she was born during the pandemic and unable to see a doctor regularly, her mother only found out about her heart condition recently. Nereida has atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Two holes exist in her heart, one between the two upper chambers and another between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes, leaving her weak and short of breath. On December 12th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew patches over the holes so that blood can no longer leak through them. Nereida's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Nereida's mother says: "I trust in the surgeons and all the medical staff. I know they will take good care of my daughter. Thank you so much."

Joyce is an elderly woman from Kenya, born into a family of eight siblings. Three of them have passed away and the remaining five are also elderly and dependent on their children for support. Joyce has no children of her own and relies on small-scale farming to provide food for herself. Early October, Joyce accidentally slipped and fell, injuring her left elbow. Living alone on a small piece of land given to her by relatives, she took some time to get up after the fall, but eventually managed to call her family for help. They took her to a nearby health facility, where she received first aid for her injury. However, her elbow was extremely painful, and she was unable to move her arm. To help with her pain and limit movement, her arm was placed in a cast. Seeing how much pain Joyce was in, her relatives decided to bring her to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment. Scans showed that her fracture was serious, and she would need surgery to properly heal. Unfortunately, without health insurance to cover her medical costs, Joyce is currently in pain and struggling to lift her arm or concentrate on anything else. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 13th, Joyce will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Once recovered, Joyce will regain her independence and return to her daily life without pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Joyce says, “I feel like my arm is in two pieces. I am in so much pain.”

Elle is a spirited seven-year-old girl from Thailand. She lives in a small village in Tak Province with her parents, an older sister, and a younger brother. Originally from Burma, Elle's family moved to Thailand in search of better job opportunities and a safer life away from conflict. Her father works as a day laborer, while her mother takes care of their home and family. Their monthly income just covers daily needs and basic health care, leaving little room for significant medical issues. Elle is a creative child who loves to draw and paint in her free time. Unfortunately, in July, she was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, which now causes her discomfort and prevents her from walking to school and playing with her friends. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund is helping Elle receive treatment. On October 16th, she is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital. Once completed, it will alleviate her symptoms, ensuring she can return to being the happy, energetic child she is. Now, Elle's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Elle's mother says, "We don’t have enough income to afford the surgery for my daughter. Thank you to BCMF and all the generous donors for providing the support we need for her treatment."

Collins is a freelance electrician from Kenya who relies on casual labor for income to support his family. Collins is the family's main provider, consisting of his four younger siblings, his widowed mother, his wife, and their two-year-old child. In October 2022, Collins was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on his way home from work and fractured his left leg. After surgery, an internal fixation device was installed, but unfortunately, he was still unable to walk and continued to experience pain even after his discharge. Scans revealed the device was misplaced, resulting in further surgery to remove and replace the device. The second set of surgeries was a success and Collins could finally walk again. Tragically, in July 2024, Collins suffered another setback. He slipped and fell in the bathroom, fracturing the bone above his left knee. He was diagnosed with a fracture of the left distal femur which requires immediate surgery. Unfortunately, Collins cannot afford the cost of the surgery. His insurance covered previous medical expenses but has now reached its limit. On September 16th, Collins will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk again, regain his livelihood, and continue supporting his family. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,042 to fund this procedure. Collins says, “My family has struggled since my accident, I am unable to provide for them and this pains me so much.”

Margaret is a 59-year-old woman from Nairobi, Kenya. Margaret has two adult sons. Both were married but separated from their wives, leaving their children with Margaret. Margaret works as a domestic worker and sells boiled maize at the market to provide for her family. In 2013, Margaret developed a boil on the roof of her mouth. Despite seeking help at several hospitals, Margaret couldn’t afford the costs of scans and diagnosis. The boil continued to grow, affecting her teeth and speech, and causing her discomfort and pain. For the past eleven years, Margaret has endured this pain without treatment as she could not afford to seek help. In March 2024, our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, conducted an outreach in the area where Margaret lives. During the free check-up, Margaret was advised to visit the main hospital for further diagnosis. However, she couldn’t afford the transportation costs and took four months to make the trip for a follow-up. In July 2024, doctors diagnosed Margaret with a hard palate mass that had extended from her palate up to her nose. Margaret needs a mass excision surgery to remove the growth before it causes further complications. On August 14th, Margaret will undergo surgery and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure. Margaret says, “I am stressed out, I keep on thinking this growth will affect me further and I will not be able to speak.”

Lydiah is an 18-year-old from Kenya. In February 2022, Lydiah's schooling and aspirations for becoming a doctor had to be put on hold when she began to experience excruciating pain in her right leg and hip. The pain progressed to the point where she could no longer bear weight on her leg, forcing her to leave school. When she was unable to find help in her province, Lydiah moved to live with her aunt in Nairobi. Despite visits to various dispensaries, and attempts to secure medical care, including painkillers, Lydiah's condition did not improve. She and her aunt tried visiting hospitals, but could not afford to pay for the necessary scans. In November 2023, Lydiah developed a swelling on her hip joint. Financial limitations prevented her from accessing care, leaving her in persistent agony. In June 2024, when her condition deteriorated further, Lydia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Lydiah was diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right thigh bone and was recommended to undergo sequestrectomy surgery. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The recommended surgery will remove the bone that has died, as a result of the infection. Again, finances have been a challenge, and Lydiah has remained in pain. Currently, Lydiah suffers from a painful, swollen thigh with a draining sinus, intensified by the cold season. Compounding her challenges, Lydiah is the only child of her mother who has been grappling with mental health issues since her husband's passing in 2015. Her aunt is her only hope since she is the one who has been taking care of her since she fell ill. Lydiah’s aunt is a casual beauty laborer, who weaves hair extensions for women, and whose income is precarious. Lydiah’s aunt is also a single mother to three children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the $1,400 needed for Lydiah's surgery, scheduled for July 16th. They hope this intervention will not only alleviate her suffering, but also pave the way for her to pursue her dreams. Lydiah said: “I know that I am advanced in years, but I am willing to continue from Form 2, where I left off, and proceed to pursue my career as a doctor.”

Rayan is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the first child of his parents, and he is an active and interactive child who loves playing with other children. His father takes on casual jobs to earn a living, while his mother is a homemaker. Rayan was born with a congenital condition affecting his left hand, in which two fingers are joined together, causing concern for his parents regarding its impact on his future. Fortunately, Rayan's mother learned about our medical partner's care center Kafika House from a previous patient and made the decision to take him there. At the center, Rayan was diagnosed with left-hand syndactyly, a condition that is corrected through surgical intervention. The plastic surgeons intend to carry out a release procedure to separate his left hand's third and fourth fingers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rayan receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 7th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to enhance the mobility of his fingers. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Rayan’s mother says: “I hope my son’s hand will be okay and that the condition will not affect his future.”

Benard is a 37-year-old husband and father from Uganda. He and his wife have two children. Benard completed school up to primary class seven before having to leave school and work due to a lack of school fees. He and his wife are small-scale farmers, but Benard has been unable to work lately due to his condition. The crops they harvest are for his family's food consumption. For seven years, Benard has had a hernia that causes him to experience severe pain. He had used local herbs to try and manage the pain, but there was no improvement. Benard was later referred to Ibanda Hospital, where the doctors ordered an ultrasound scan. As he could not pay for surgery at the time, he received treatment to help relieve the pain while Benard sought options. Fortunately, on his discharge papers from the hospital, Benard was given the hospital administrator's phone number. He was able to connect with the administrator and return to to the hospital for immediate review, as he was getting weaker from the pain. On June 27th, he will undergo repair surgery that will allow him to live more comfortably. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $201 to fund Benard's surgery. Benard said: "I am very happy for the warm welcome. I know my surgery will be successful, and I will be able to continue with farming."

Dah Htoo is a two-year-old boy who lives in a village near the Thai-Burma border. He lives with his parents, uncle, grandmother, and younger brother. His father is a subsistence farmer and an agricultural day laborer. When Dah Htoo was one year old, he was crawling in the kitchen while his mother cooked soup. He accidentally knocked over the boiling soup, spilling it over his arm. His parents brought him straight to a clinic, where medics bandaged his arm and hand. Over time, Dah Htoo lost functionality in his arm and hand. Dah Htoo underwent two successful surgeries to treat his injuries. After recovery, he could straighten his arm. On November 23, Dah Htoo underwent a third surgery to improve the functionality of his hand. Now, his family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. “My son’s health is more important than other things,” says his father, “so I left my farm and came with my son to get treatment.”

Naing Soe is a husband and father of two sons from a village in Burma. His older son just began kindergarten. In November, Naing Soe was riding his motorbike home from work when an oncoming truck forced him to swerve off the road. He hit a tree and lost consciousness. An ambulance brought Naing Soe to a nearby hospital, where staff sutured cuts on his jaw and head. Two days later, Naing Soe underwent x-rays on his head and left arm, which was broken. His doctor explained that he would probably experience a long-lasting headache and advised him to rest. Naing Soe left the hospital, knowing that the mounting medical bill was more than he could pay. When Naing Soe returned home, he used traditional medicine to treat his pain. Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted. Finally, he visited our medical partner’s hospital, where he underwent an internal fixation procedure to heal his arm on December 8. Naing Soe works as an agricultural day laborer, and he is the sole income earner in his family. After paying for his emergency treatments, the family is in debt. Naing Soe needs help to pay his $1,500 medical bill. “I hope that my condition will be cured soon,” he says, “so that I can go back to work.”

Bradel is an active 22-month-old boy. He is the youngest in a family of two children. He lives with his family in a rental house in Nairobi. Eight months ago, Bradel’s mother noticed a swelling on his groin. Recently, the swelling became painful, and Bradel grew very irritable. His parents brought him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. He was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia. Without treatment, he risked intestinal damage and increasing pain. Fortunately, on December 8, Bradel underwent a hernia repair procedure. Bradel's mother is a housewife, while his father works on a construction site. They cannot afford their son's healthcare. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 in funding. “It hurts to see Bradel in pain," says his mother. "We hope that he will lead a normal life."

Rosa is a one-month-old girl from Guatemala. Since her birth, her mother has had difficulty producing breastmilk. As a result, Rosa is not growing and is losing weight. This limited diet is insufficient and has dangerous implications for Rosa’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration. It can also compromise brain development, putting Rosa at risk of long-term damage. Fortunately, Rosa began treatment for lactation failure on December 20. Rosa lives with her parents and siblings in rural Guatemala. She has one older brother and two twin sisters. Her parents hope that she will study hard in school and become a nurse. Rosa’s father works in agriculture, and her mother manages the household. The family's income is small and inconsistent. They cannot afford this treatment, so our medical partner is requesting $1,107 in funding. Rosa's treatment will be simple and effective. She will receive formula, which will give her the protein, calories, and nutrients she needs to grow and develop. Her mother will receive in-home nutrition education, so she will learn low-cost ways to prevent future cases of malnutrition. Rosa's immune system will strengthen, and she will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby. "I've been worried since my daughter's birth because I don't have breast milk to give my daughter, and she is losing weight," says Rosa's mother. "I want to see my daughter grow well so she does not get sick."