Damaris is 17 months old and lives in a small village in central Bolivia with her mother, who currently cares for her full time. When Damaris was born, her mother noticed that she wasn't breathing well. She brought Damaris to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving Damaris weak and short of breath. Damaris also has Down syndrome. On September 23rd, Damaris will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Damaris’s heart, so that blood will no longer leak through it. Damaris's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Damaris's mother said, "We came from far away, and I am really grateful to have this opportunity so my daughter can have lifesaving surgery."

Claire is a 31-year-old woman from Kabale District in Uganda. Despite acquiring tertiary level education, she has been unable to secure permanent employment, and currently earns a modest income working in a hair salon. Her husband operates a small-scale general merchandise business, which provides limited income that is barely enough to support the family's daily needs. Claire has a one-year history of a previous myomectomy (uterine fibroid removal procedure). Throughout her current pregnancy, she has diligently attended antenatal care where healthcare providers closely monitored her progress. During her antenatal visits, she was advised that because of the previous uterine surgery, a caesarean section would be the safest mode of delivery for both herself and her baby. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Claire undergo a C-Section on July 23rd. This procedure will cost $214, and Claire needs your support. Claire says, "I have followed the advice of the health workers because I would like to deliver my baby safely. I have been told that an elective caesarean section is the safest option for me because of my previous surgery, but my family cannot afford the hospital expenses. I humbly appeal to donors to help me receive this operation, so that my baby and I can have a safe future together. Your kindness will be a blessing that my family will never forget."

Sellina is a 41-year-old farmer from Malawi, married with four children. She and her husband are farmers from Dowa District, about 60 km from Lilongwe. About 23 years ago, Sellina began to experience troubling symptoms, including a minor, painless neck swelling. Despite visiting several clinics and district hospitals, no effective treatment was provided, and the swelling steadily increased. Over time, she developed a cough, mild choking, breathlessness, painful swallowing, difficulty carrying loads on her head, trouble climbing steps, weight loss due to fear of choking, weakness, and hoarseness. Her sister, concerned about her worsening state, brought her to Lilongwe to seek treatment. In October this year, Sellina was assessed and diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, located in front of the neck, produces thyroid hormones responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Sellina receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 10th at Partners in Hope Medical Center where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $ 1,015, and she and her family need help raising funds. Sellina says: "I am ready to be on lifelong medications if it means I can live without the pain. I have seen it all, from physical to psychological pain, and I am really grateful for your consideration to help."

Naw Cho is a 34-year-old woman from Burma. She lives in Karen State, Burma. She stays with her three-year-old daughter while her husband works elsewhere and supports her and her daughter monthly. Naw Cho shares this income with her parents-in-law, who live in a separate house. This money is enough to cover their general household expenses and basic healthcare. In her free time, Naw Cho loves playing with her daughter. She hopes to open a small shop to earn money and send her daughter to school. In 2018, while eating breakfast, Naw Cho opened her mouth and suddenly heard a loud sound in her jaw. She was unable to speak, and her jaw swelled up. After three days, she went to a local clinic that gave her an injection, which helped reduce the swelling. Three years later, her gums began to swell once again, and she sought treatment again. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to receive treatment. Without the financial means to visit a private hospital, she relied on herbal medicine, which provided no relief. Uncertain of where else to seek help, she stopped pursuing medical treatment. Naw Cho's condition slowly worsened, causing much pain and discomfort. She has difficulty eating and speaking. Naw Cho sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on May 22nd. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Naw Cho said, “I feel happy now that I know there are people who can help me."

Zabdiel is a young boy from Bolivia. He lives in Bolivia with his mom, who is a homemaker, his dad, who is a taxi driver, and his two older siblings. Zabdiel was born with a heart condition, as well as Down Syndrome. He has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These deprive the body of oxygen and cause heart failure. On April 23rd, Zabdiel 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 and remove the blockage from his valve. Zabdiel'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. Zabdiel's mother shared, "He is such a sweet and expressive child, so friendly and warm. I pray the surgery will be a success and he can return home healthy."

Desalegn is 15 years old and has a passion for football and a deep love for animals from Ethiopia. He spends his summers caring for his neighbors' livestock. This not only brings him joy but also provides some income, allowing him to buy food and help ease the burden on his grandmother, who cares for him. Desalegn was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition causes him pain and discomfort. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of infertility. Fortunately, Desalegn is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Desalegn said, "In the future, I want to have my own livestock to care for. I hope I will heal completely and support myself and my grandma." His grandma said, "If he gets the surgery and heals, what can I say? I will be the happiest and most grateful woman. I believe he will be educated and support himself and me. I hope he will change our lives."

Martha is a 45-year-old woman from Malawi. She is a single mother with three children, aged 22, 18 and 15. Martha practices farming to support her family. In her free time, she shared that she enjoys chatting with her children and eating whatever is available! For four years, Martha has been experiencing uterine fibroids. Initially, she managed the condition with medication, as the fibroids were too small to require surgery. However, in 2024, she began to experience worsening symptoms that led to the development of anemia. Mary experienced weakness and abdominal pains and needed a blood transfusion. Uterine fibroids are a condition in which abnormal growths develop on a woman's uterus. If left untreated, fibroids continue to grow, both in size and number, worsening a person's symptoms. As Martha needed urgent care, she was referred to our medical partner's center for assessment. The surgeons determined she needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. On February 21st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at the care center. Martha contributed a co-pay to her care and needs help raising $1,363 to fund her surgery. Once recovered, Martha will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. She is looking forward to being able to continue supporting her children as a single mother. She shared: "I am ready to live without a womb and live peacefully without the bleeding that has stolen my joy."

Muhizi is a 67-year-old man that has faced immense suffering over the past four years due to a challenging medical condition that has forced him to seek treatment across borders. Living in South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a region troubled by political instability and conflict—he began experiencing severe health issues in 2021, including passing blood in his urine. Despite seeking help from local clinics, his condition continued to worsen, and ongoing turmoil in the area prevented him from accessing larger hospitals for the care he desperately needed. In July 2024, with the support of his sons, Muhizi traveled to Rwanda in search of better medical care. There, he received some treatment, but unfortunately, his condition did not improve. Fearing the dangers of returning home, his sons gathered resources to bring him to Kenya in January 2025. At the hospital, doctors conducted scans that revealed a mass in his bladder, causing the painful bleeding. Muhizi was then referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for more specialized care. Muhizi urgently needs surgery to remove this growth and relieve his suffering. However, despite their best efforts, his family struggles to raise the necessary funds for this life-saving procedure. He is a father to eight children, aged 25 to 45, many of whom are living as refugees and grappling with their own hardships after fleeing their home. Once a family of livestock keepers, they have lost everything to conflict, leaving them in a precarious financial situation. One of Muhizi’s sons currently sells phones and accessories in Kenya to support the family, but the financial burden for his father's surgery remains overwhelming. As Muhizi endures constant pain and distress, he is reaching out for compassionate assistance to help him secure the surgery that could not only save his life but also alleviate his emotional and physical suffering. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Muhizi receive treatment. On January 23rd, he will undergo a mass excision surgery to relieve the painful symptoms, provide him peace of mind and reduce the risk of future medical complications. Now, Muhizi needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Muhizi says: "Frequent pain and the presence of blood in my urine make it very difficult for me to find peace. I often struggle to sleep and constantly feel the need to stay close to the bathroom."

Faith is a two-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the youngest of seven children, raised by a single mother after their father passed away in 2021. Her mother takes on any job she can find, including washing clothes and cleaning houses, to provide for her children. However, she cannot afford health insurance for them, and as a result, Faith has endured pain for the past eight months. In May 2024, Faith was playing in the house while her mother put supper on the table. Unfortunately, she accidentally knocked the food over, and hot soup spilled onto Faith's head, running down her cheek and left hand. Before her mother could remove her sweater, part of the skin on the areas where the soup had poured was torn off along with the fabric. It was around 10 pm, and nearby dispensaries were closed so Faith had to spend the night in excruciating pain. The following morning, she was rushed to the hospital. After being bandaged, her mother was advised to perform daily dressings to help her daughter’s wounds heal properly. Faith’s mother has been applying medicine to the wounds, but they have not healed. Faith’s hand, the most affected area, remains immobile, and sleeping has become especially difficult for her. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Faith receive treatment. On December 13th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help relieve her pain and improve her hand's mobility and functioning, allowing her a chance to grow and enjoy the company of her friends as she plays. Now, Faith needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Faith’s mother says, “Faith was once a very active child, but since the accident, she can’t even play. She’s always crying because of the pain.”

Mercy is a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the fourth born in her family and comes from Bandani village in Kisumu County. Her mother makes soap to sell in the village and town, while her father works as a farmer. She is in the 6th grade and dreams of becoming a doctor. Football is her favorite sport. Mercy was born with clubfoot on her left foot, which her mother noticed shortly after they were discharged from the hospital. "Her left foot looked different, so I had to go back to the hospital for a review," Doris explained. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Doctors began serial casting when she was only three days old. The treatment continued for about a year, but the family lost contact with the hospital after Doris gave birth to another child who had sickle cell disease and required extra care. As Mercy grew older, her condition worsened, affecting her ability to walk confidently or play her favorite sport. Fortunately, Mercy was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on November 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mercy's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk with confidence, boosting her self-esteem and allowing her to play football without any challenges. Most importantly, she can continue her education and work towards becoming a doctor. "I am eagerly looking forward to healing quickly so I can walk confidently and continue my education, just like other girls my age," Mercy said with great hope.