Natanim is a quiet and gentle two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his friends, watching cartoons, and spending time with his mother. He lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works as a shoemaker, and his mother is a housewife. As Natanim grew, he began experiencing symptoms such as pain, itching, and difficulty urinating. Concerned about his health, his parents took him to a health center, where, upon review, a doctor explained that he would need corrective surgery. The news worried Natanim's mother. She felt frightened, anxious, and uncertain about what would happen to her young son. The family was referred to a higher-level hospital for specialized care. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis as hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. They explained that because Natanim had already been circumcised, his surgery would be more complex and would require specialized pediatric surgical care. Natanim was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Natanim's mother says, "Thank you so much to everyone. May God bless you all. I am deeply grateful to the BethanyKids team and all the staff for welcoming us with such kindness and respect. The care and service we received were truly different from anywhere else we had been. Thank you for giving my son this opportunity to receive treatment. My greatest hope is that Natanim will grow up healthy and achieve his dream of becoming a football player. May God bless you all."

Hikma is a charming 20-month-old girl who lives with her parents and older brother in Ethiopia. Her parents were small-scale farmers until they were displaced due to war in their area. Now, her mother is a dedicated home maker, and her father works as a daily laborer. As with many other displaced families, it has been difficult for them to afford their daily necessities. Hikma was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that can lead to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. However, the symptoms were not obvious until she was around one year old. Her mother was deeply distressed by what she observed and immediately informed Hikma’s grandmother, who then began seeking for medical assistance. To avoid social stigma, however, the family tried to keep Hikma’s condition private. Eventually, the grandmother came across a Catholic missionary organization, which connected the family with a field coordinator of our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). With the support of relatives and the Catholic missionaries, Hikma's family raised funds to travel to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors explained that Hikma would need a series of surgeries to eliminate bowel dysfunction. The family was relieved and encouraged to hear that Hikma could be helped. Presently, Hikma has already undergone the first surgery, a colostomy creation, and recovered well. Now, Hikma needs support for her second surgery, which will occur on April 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Hikma's procedure and care. After her recovery, Hikma will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Hikma’s mother said, “I would like to thank you sincerely for your support and the services you provided. Thank you again. I truly hope my child will grow up to be a wonderful woman.”

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

Mar is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his sister, niece, five nephews, and a grandniece in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Mar is retired. His niece and sister are teachers at the camp school, while his nephews work as construction and carpentry day laborers. Their combined income is just enough to cover their daily living expenses. They received free basic health care at the camp clinic. During his free time, Mar volunteers to clean at the church. In the middle of September 2025, Mar began to experience pain in his lower back and noticed blood in his urine. He visited the camp hospital, where a doctor examined him and suspected he may have a benign mass in his prostate, and referred him to a bigger hospital for further investigation. Mar sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the mass on February 13th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “It is not comfortable to walk with this urine tube. Without it, I cannot pass urine. I hope I can have surgery soon,” said Mar. He also added, “Thank you, BCMF, for helping me with my treatment. I hope to live without this urine tube after the surgery.”

Loudmia is a preschooler from Haiti. She lives in a small coastal village in northwest Haiti with her four siblings and her parents, who both fish and farm. She enjoys going to preschool and playing with the children in her neighborhood. Loudmia has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Loudmia will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On January 21st, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood no longer leaks through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing to pay for surgery. However, Loudmia's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. They need help raising $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. This also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Loudmia's family overseas. Loudmia's mother shared, "I am hopeful that after this surgery we can stop worrying about our daughter's health so much!"

Albert is a nine-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is full of potential and quiet courage. As the firstborn in his family, he carries a deep sense of responsibility for his siblings and supports his mother in household and farming tasks. Albert’s father left the family years ago, leaving his mother to raise the children alone. She farms a small plot of land to feed them. Albert recently started primary school, but his path has been difficult. Albert has clubfoot on both feet. 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. Albert has lived with pain and limited mobility all his life. He walks long distances with great effort, determined not to let his condition stop him from pursuing education. Fortunately, Albert's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Albert's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Albert’s future would drastically change, giving him the ability to walk without pain, attend school more confidently, and build a life defined not by his disability. Albert’s mother says, “I want to make sure my boy grows up happy and healthy."

Nan Lae is a 15-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, her two younger siblings in Karen State, Burma. Her father is a rice farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. She had to stop studying after the fourth grade due to her family’s financial difficulties. The family earns money from harvesting and selling rice, and their income is just enough to cover their daily expenses. In 2023, Lae noticed swelling in her gums. She visited the local clinic with her mother, where the medic removed a mass in her gums. The swelling disappeared, but after a year, the mass returned. Lae continues to experience swelling around her gums and difficulty opening her mouth. She can only chew on her left side because her right side is swollen. Nan Lae sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 12th, and needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Lae shared, “I cannot eat; sometimes I have to avoid chewing hard food.” Her mother added, “I want her to recover from this as soon as possible. She has already suffered for two years.”