Chantha is a 55-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. He is from Prey Veng province and grows and sells rice with his wife. They have one son, who works as a civil officer. In his free time, Chantha enjoys watching the news on his phone and chatting with friends in the village. Chantha has had right hip pain for about three years due to avascular necrosis, which can occur when blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, leading to bone cell death and the collapse of the femoral head. This pain has worsened over the last four months, affecting his walking and ability to perform daily tasks. It is worse at night, preventing him from sleeping well and leaving him tired in the morning. Fortunately, Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On November 14th, surgeons will perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chantha of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Chantha can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $1,185 more to fund his procedure and care. Chantha said, "After the surgery, I hope to no longer have hip pain, and I will be able to work in the rice fields and do daily tasks."

Bayo is a refugee from Congo. She is a farmer and a mother of six children. In 2018, Bayo relocated to Malawi due to war and now resides at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa with her husband and four of her children. Her first and fourth-born children were left behind in Congo, as they were still in school when the family fled, and they have not been heard from since. For five months, Bayo has been experiencing recurrent bleeding, backache, and abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN III), a high-grade precancerous condition with a significant risk of developing into invasive cervical cancer if left untreated. She also suffers from a heart condition, which is now well controlled. Being a refugee, Bayo began to lose hope, feeling overwhelmed by having two medical conditions in a foreign land and fearing death, but her hope is about to be restored. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Bayo's surgery. On October 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Bayo will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Bayo shared, "I am happy to be in Malawi, where I can access treatment through donor funding, though a refugee. I am looking forward to receiving this rare support."

Carmencita is a 66-year-old from the Philippines who lives with her husband, also a senior citizen. The couple relies on help from their children, even though each has a family of their own. Carmencita receives a small pension of ₱3,000 every three months, but it is not enough to meet their needs, especially since one of her children, who lives with them, recently lost her job, adding to their financial challenges. Carmencita enjoys watching television and doing household chores such as laundry, always putting her family’s welfare before her own. Recently, however, her health condition has made it difficult to keep up with her daily tasks. Two years ago, Carmencita began experiencing pain in her side. Although she was given medicine, a growth in her gallbladder continued to grow. Doctors have now recommended a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder, to relieve her symptoms and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, has scheduled Carmencita’s cholecystectomy for September 19th. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will cover part of the cost, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to fund her surgery and care. “This supported surgery will be a great help for me and my family in reducing our expenses, and will allow me to focus more on my recovery. Thank you so much, Watsi!” Carmencita shares.

Rolly is a barber and a father of two from the Philippines. He operates a small barbershop within their residence. He and his wife have two children. Six years ago, Rolly began to experience troubling symptoms, including difficulty with bowel movements, bleeding, and constipation. He was diagnosed with Grade 2 Hemorrhoids. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Rolly receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on August 20th. During this procedure, surgeons will remove his hemorrhoids. A portion of the cost of his treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,257 to cover the cost of Rolly's procedure and care. Rolly shared, "I am in deep gratitude for any help or intervention that may be extended to me, and I hope that many more patients like me who are in need may be given the opportunity to receive proper medical care."

Fabienne, a 15-year-old student, lives with her parents and sister in a small town in central Haiti. She is in the ninth grade and aspires to become a nurse or doctor when she grows up. Fabienne has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of Fabienne's heart is severely damaged as a result of an infection she suffered earlier in childhood. This has rendered her heart incapable of pumping blood normally through her body. Fabienne will fly to the Dominican Republic, where, on July 15th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair her damaged mitral valve or remove it and implant an artificial replacement. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $6000 to pay for the surgery. Fabienne's family also needs $1,500 to help fund the costs of pre-surgery preparation, lab tests, medications, and follow-up visits. This money will also help secure travel documents for the family and cover travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Fabienne and her family on their trip. Fabienne said: "I am looking forward to this surgery, so that I will have more energy, and can stop worrying about my heart!"

Roger is a 10-year-old student from Bolivia. Roger lives with his mother, father, and older brother in the eastern part of Bolivia. His dad works as a locksmith and his mom is a homemaker. Roger is very extroverted and makes friends easily. Roger has a cardiac condition called 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 February 19th, Roger will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. Roger'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. Roger's dad says: "Our son gets fatigued easily, especially when he runs, and tends to fall asleep in school. We have come from far away because we have hope that our son can return home healthy."

Eliot is a 59-year-old farmer from Malawi. He shares his home with his wife and their youngest child, while their other four children are all married and live with their own families. When he’s not working on the farm, Eliot enjoys spending time outdoors, soaking in the fresh air and humming familiar tunes, his way of finding peace and relaxation. For most of his life, he has enjoyed good health, thanks to his active lifestyle and hard work on the farm. In December 2024, Eliot started experiencing a sharp pain in his lower abdomen. The pain was accompanied by an inability to pass uring, a condition he had never experienced before. Eliot made his way to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he was diagnosed with urinary retention and promptly catheterized, which brought him some much needed relief. Despite the initial relief, Eliot’s condition requires further treatment, as he was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia, which requires surgical intervention. Physicians at the hospital determined that Eliot should undergo an open prostatectomy to resolve his condition, and Eliot is now scheduled for surgery on February 6th, at Nkhoma Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $530 to fund Eliot's procedure. Eliot said: "I am hopeful that after this surgery, I will be able to live my life fully again. It's difficult to explain the discomfort and frustration I feel each time I need to rely on a catheter. If the surgery is successful, I will be able to return to my farm and to the things I love. I will be able to live without the constant worry of my health, and I will never have to face the pain and inconvenience of catheterization again."

Titus is a 40-year-old man from Kenya who is married with three children, all of whom are in school. Titus used to work for a transportation company but had to resign due to his medical condition. He practices small-scale farming, growing potatoes to provide for his family. In December, Titus was in an accident that caused him to sustain an open fracture of the left tibia. He was brought to a nearby facility, where the doctors gave him a splint and advised him to undergo surgery. Due to financial constraints, he opted to transfer to a facility near his home for the surgery. Following the procedure, at his regular check-up, the medical team noticed that his wound was open and not healing properly, and the exposed hardware from the surgery was causing him pain. He then visited our medical partner's hospital for further help. He met with the orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with chronic osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Titus needs to undergo a series of surgeries to heal. He has undergone a successful procedure through his national insurance to remove the implant and now requires two more procedures. Titus is requesting financial help for his final surgeries to heal his wound and fracture fully. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On April 14th, Titus will undergo a skin graft procedure. AMH is requesting $1,183 to fund this surgery. Titus shared: "I am a young family man, and they are really dependent on me. I am, therefore, looking forward to faster healing so that I can go back home to continue with my farming activities to be able to provide for my family. I would love to see my children's growth since I didn't have a chance to study past high school due to financial challenges."

Blute is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and seven siblings. The entire family works on a farm. In his free time, Blute enjoys playing with his siblings and toys. Three months ago, Blute accidentally hit his head on the floor and began experiencing slight swelling on his head accompanied by weakness in his body. Blute was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. He has already received surgery where the doctor inserted a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain the fluid from his head. However, during his follow-up appointment on January 14th, 2024, he received an MRI and the doctor explained that the shunt was not working and the fluid was not draining properly. Doctors recommend that Blute undergo surgery to remove and replace the shunt. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a VP shunt for Blute which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17th, and, once completed, will greatly improve Blute's quality of life. Blute's father said, "I am worried for my son but more than that I can't do anything to help him. I believe that the doctor would do the best to help my son and I hope that everything will be going well. Thank you to all the donors for your continued support."

Surafel, who is two years old, lives with his parents and two brothers in Ethiopia. Surafel's mother is a housewife dedicated to raising her children, while his father works as a security guard at a school. Surafel was born with a congenital condition, and when he was four months old, his mother took him to a health center for evaluation. Surafel was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, Surafel would continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and could be at risk of infertility. Surafel was referred to a hospital, where he was placed on a waiting list for surgery. For more than a year and a half, they patiently waited for a call from the hospital, but it never came. She frequently visited the hospital for updates, only to be told that there were more urgent cases ahead of hers, and to wait patiently. Eventually, she learned about our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. Surafel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 25th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Surafel's mother said: "I hope my child will get the necessary treatment and heal."

Mee is a 50-year-old woman who is originally from Karen State in Burma, but now lives with her mother and sister in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. The family moved to Thailand in December 2023 due to a civil war in Burma. Mee has a mental disability, and her mother takes care of her while her sister works as a day laborer to support the family. The family's income is insufficient to cover their daily expenses, leading them to occasionally borrow from relatives. At present, they are in debt. For health care, they usually visit Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot for minor ailments. In early 2024, Mee began experiencing back pain and abdominal pain. She could not walk straight because of the pain and felt that the skin of her belly was tight. She has been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition that occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. A total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix, has been recommended. If left untreated, Mee's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mee is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on October 22nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this surgery will help Mee free from her uncomfortable symptoms. Mee’s sister said, “I feel anxious about her condition, especially since she also has a mental disability. Now that she needs surgery, I have yet another worry: how we can afford the costs. When I learned that there is an organization and donors willing to help my sister, it felt as if all my worries had lifted."

Sancia is an 11-year-old girl and the oldest of two siblings from Kenya. They live with their mother who takes on casual jobs like washing clothes to support her family. Sancia has been suffering from reduced hearing since she was three years old. This has led to delayed milestones in her life, such as difficulties with speech because she can hardly hear sounds around her. Her mother has undertaken numerous journeys to various hospitals looking for a cure, but these efforts have not been successful. Now in the 5th grade, Sancia is having a harder time academically due to her hearing issues. Her speech is distorted, making clear communication difficult. Sancia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors recommended fitting bilateral hearing aids to improve her hearing and potentially improve her speech difficulties. Sancia will be fitted with hearing aids on September 6th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, needs help to raise $748. Sancia’s mother says, “Sometimes I ask her to bring me something and she brings a completely different item. She is not doing well in school, and I am afraid she is missing out on her childhood. I hope you can help her regain her hearing so she can enjoy her childhood."