Hillary is a 28-year-old man from Kenya, full of determination and hope despite the many challenges he has faced. He completed school until the fourth grade, and he dreams of continuing his education and building a better future for himself and his family. He currently works as a farmer, growing maize, beans, and seasonal potatoes on a modest plot of land. Though hardworking, his income is minimal. He lives with his parents and contributes what he can to help support his siblings’ education. Tragedy struck on February 21st, when Hillary was involved in a road traffic accident. He was riding a motorcycle that lost control and collided with another motorcycle. He was taken to the hospital and was found to have multiple serious injuries, including a deep laceration to his forehead, wounds to his knee and thigh, and significant trauma to his left leg. Imaging revealed a fractured jaw and a distal femur fracture. Due to the severity of his injuries, Hillary was urgently taken to the operating room, where he underwent irrigation and debridement of the wounds and was placed in a long-leg posterior splint for support. He later underwent a second procedure to stabilize his femur with an external fixator. His jaw was also surgically repaired using arch bars and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), restoring the structure of his face. During recovery, Hillary has remained resilient. He has followed strict precautions, including non-weight-bearing movement and a liquid diet. He is now able to move with crutches, though his mobility remains limited, and his ability to speak and smile is still affected by the jaw fixation. Hillary has returned to the hospital for the next stage of his care: removal of the external fixator and complete surgical repair of his femur to restore function fully. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner care center can help. On April 2nd, Hillary will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to restore stability and function to his leg. To make this possible, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,014 is needed to fund his surgery. Hillary says, "I thank God for this far towards my recovery, please assist me, and looking forward to complete healing. I will go back to school, and I promise to help others too in the near future."

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father works for a private company, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. He enjoys playing with toys alongside his sister, and his favorite meal is soup, especially lemongrass sour soup. Laysing was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side. His parents first noticed the condition when he began walking. As he has grown, the scoliosis has caused him to tire easily when walking or playing. The condition makes everyday activities difficult and sometimes causes discomfort. Laysing's parents are concerned about his posture and possible complications in the future. Laysing's family heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled four hours to attend a consultation. After extensive testing, doctors recommended that Laysing have spinal surgery. Without treatment, Laysing's symptoms will continue, and he will be at risk of future complications. On March 23rd, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal "growing rod" into Laysing's spine to help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. This treatment will help him stand taller, move more comfortably, and reduce fatigue. After recovery, he should be able to play, walk, and participate in daily activities more easily, improving both his quality of life and his confidence. Laysing's mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”

Kwardun is a three-year-old boy. He is the second oldest in his family and lives in a household where access to specialized healthcare is limited. Kwardun’s mother is responsible for caring for the children while managing household duties. His father financially provides for their family. Kwardun is an energetic and social child who enjoys playing with other kids in the community. However, his clubfoot has affected his ability to walk properly. As he grows older, the deformity has begun to limit his mobility, causing him to tire quickly and struggle to keep up with his peers during play. Without treatment, this condition could worsen and significantly affect his independence and future participation in school. Kwardun was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Kwardun's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on February 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Kwardun's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he has a strong chance of improved mobility and a more active childhood. Kwardun's father says, “He wants to run and play like the other children, but his foot makes him walk slowly and fall often.”

Esther is a 16-year-old girl from Uganda. She was born healthy, and met all of her early developmental milestones, until it was time for her to begin speaking. At first, her parents believed her speech was simply delayed. However, as the months passed, it became clear that Esther was unable to develop speech like other children. By the age of three, although she appeared aware of the people around her, it was evident that she could not perceive sound. Esther's parents longed to hear her speak, and sought help from several hospitals. Unfortunately, financial constraints made it impossible for them to afford the care she needed. As a result, Esther was enrolled in a special school, where she learned sign language, and adapted remarkably well. She is now preparing to enter Grade 9 when school resumes. Esther’s sister shares that she loves writing, and dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Recently, Esther was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where medical evaluations confirmed significant hearing loss. Doctors recommended hearing aids that would enable her to hear, to communicate more easily, and which would significantly improve her quality of life. However, the cost of the hearing aids is far beyond the family’s means. Esther’s parents rely on small-scale farming for survival in Uganda, where the family lives, while her elder sister is the primary breadwinner, selling clothes to support the household. With hearing aids, Esther would have a real opportunity to experience a fuller, more independent life, and to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to raise $1,171 so Esther can be fitted with hearing aids on December 19th. Esther’s sister said: “She loves writing and helping other children, both at school and at home. I know that being able to hear would make a big difference in her life.”

Dulce is five years old and a preschooler from Colombia. She is a curious girl with good academic performance and strong personal motivation: she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up. About a year ago, Dulce was diagnosed with multiple deep cavities. Since then, she has been under follow-up, but the progression of the disease has caused intense and persistent pain, inflammation, episodes of infection, and difficulty eating and sleeping. She needs treatment urgently. Finally, it was determined that the treatment must be performed under general anesthesia, due to the number of teeth affected and the young age of the patient. On November 21st, Dulce will undergo dental surgery that will relieve physical pain and allow Dulce to regain her quality of life, improve her school performance, and continue dreaming of helping others when she becomes a doctor. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund Dulce's treatment and care. Dulce's mother says, "I want to thank those who support my daughter, Dulce. Your generous gesture is much more than material help; it is a sign of selfless love, faith in dreams, and light at a time when we urgently needed it. Thanks to your noble heart, Dulce will be able to receive the treatment she so desperately needs and, with it, regain the smile and quality of life that every child deserves."

Simon is a six-year-old boy from Bolivia. He lives with his aunt and his five older siblings, as his mom sadly passed away giving birth to him. When Simon was small, doctors noted a heart murmur and explained that it may resolve itself over time. Unfortunately, it didn't, and doctors determined that it can only be treated with an open heart surgery. Simon has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 16th, Simon will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Simon'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. Simon's aunt shared, "I am very hopeful that my nephew's health will be much better after this surgery!"

Paw is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her younger sister, niece, and nephew in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. She and her sister’s family fled to the refugee camp in 2023 due to the military situation in their area in Burma. In the refugee camp, they receive cash support from an international aid agency. Paw's sister helps out at their church with cleaning, special events, and weekly decorations. In exchange, she sometimes receives pay for her work or donations from the church. Paw helps with household chores, while her niece and nephew are students. They receive free basic health care in the refugee camp provided by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). In her free time, Paw loves to read the Bible and also listen to gospel songs or her pastor preaching online. In the future, she plans to open a small shop at home to make different snacks and sell them. Paw has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves, the aortic and mitral valves, and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Paw feels tired when she walks or climbs the stairs. She still helps her sister with household chores, but she often feels tired and needs to rest before finishing her chores. She cannot sleep well at night and has a poor appetite. Aside from her symptoms, she feels stressed about her condition. Her sister also feels worried for her and sad seeing her suffer. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on July 9th. Once completed, she will hopefully live more comfortably and have a more active and healthy life ahead. Paw said, “I used to make different snacks when I was in Burma for sale, but now due to my condition and often feeling tired, I can no longer make it.”