Santiago is a charming four-year-old boy from a mining community in the mountains of central Bolivia. His parents both work in office roles at a local mining company. Santiago enjoys watching cartoons and making new friends. He also loves to dress up as his favorite superheroes like Spiderman, who he aspires to be when he grows up! Santiago was born with a ventricular septal defect, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Fortunately, Santiago is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 26th with the support of our long-standing medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance, which is now growing and expanding into Bolivia. Surgeons will close the hole with a patch, allowing blood to properly flow through his body and improving his quality of life. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $2,500 to pay for a portion of Santiago's procedure costs. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the remaining costs, which cover surgical expenses, cardiac exams, medications, and travel fees so Santiago and his family can travel to receive his life-changing cardiac procedure in La Paz. Santiago shares, "I hope that after my surgery, I will grow up to be Spiderman!"

Sotheany is an eight-month-old girl from Cambodia. She is an only child. She likes to play with her doll. Sotheany has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for her to see clearly. Sotheany traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On November 2, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align her eyes. Now, Sotheany needs help to raise $292 to fund this procedure. Her father says, "I worry about my daughter's vision and hope she can see straight."

Salha is a girl from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. For the past two years, she has been having breathing problems, especially at night. Salha was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Salha, which is scheduled to take place on November 2. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Salha of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably.

Eden is an Eritrean refugee from Kenya. She has been living in Kenya since 2015. It took her two months to cross into Kenya through Sudan. Eden has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Eden. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 31. After treatment, Eden will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Eden says, “I want to be treated and be cancer-free. I am confident I will manage to fight off the condition."

Tin is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her family in Koh P’long Village, Hpa-An Township, Karen State. Since 2014, Tin has been experiencing lower abdominal pain and troubling gynecological symptoms. She has been diagnosed with a pelvic mass. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Tin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Tin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on November 16. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, Tin will no longer experience lower abdominal pain and she will be healthy again.

Mach is a vegetable vendor from Cambodia. She has three sons. She likes to cook and watch TV. Two years ago, Mach was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in her right arm. It is difficult for her to work and use her arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 22, Mach will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $430. This procedure will help her use her arm freely again. She says, "I hope I have no more pain and can use my arm again soon."

Srey Touch is a street food vendor from Cambodia. She is married and has a daughter. She likes to play games and watch TV in her free time. Twenty years ago, Srey Touch had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in her left ear to perforate. For this reason, Srey Touch experiences ear discharge, tinnitus and headache. She cannot hear well. Srey Touch traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 16, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $423 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope my hearing improves after the operation."