Fernanda is a five-year-old girl who lives in Bolivia with her parents and younger sister. Her mother and father are citrus farmers. When she was around three years old, Fernanda’s parents began to worry that she was sick more often than other children. Her mother took her to a health center, and doctors discovered that Fernanda had a heart murmur, signified by extra sounds in her heartbeat. They were not able to detect any underlying condition causing the murmur, and Fernanda’s family was left with uncertainty. About two years later, Fernanda was diagnosed with a heart condition called discrete subaortic stenosis. Tissue forms just below the aortic valve, narrowing the passage through which blood can flow and putting strain on the heart. This leaves her weak and short of breath and can lead to heart failure. On October 7th, Fernanda will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally through her heart and body. Fernanda's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to help cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Fernanda's mother shared, “I’m so glad I found this hospital. The cardiologists are so kind, and they gave me peace. We traveled 11 hours by bus to be here, and I’m so grateful that my daughter will have her surgery soon.”

Alexis is a 16-month-old baby from Bolivia. He lives in a children’s home that houses 30 children. His mother left him there because she had him at a very young age and was unable to care for him. Alexis’s condition was discovered when he was unable to gain weight. He has a cardiac condition called a pulmonary artery sling. This is a rare cardiac condition where the left pulmonary artery branches off of the right pulmonary artery instead of the main pulmonary artery, interfering with normal blood circulation and causing respiratory difficulty. Alexis and workers from the children’s home traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. His surgery will take place on October 14th. During surgery, doctors will detach the left pulmonary artery and reattach it at the anatomically normal position. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to help cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. One of Alexis’s caregivers shared, “We are glad to be here. Alexis is such a sweet boy, so playful. Even though he has several health issues, he keeps fighting.”

Emmanuel is a 45-year-old hardworking father from Philippines. He previously worked as driver to support his family, but is currently unemployed, which is challenging while raising two school-going children. His wife is also unemployed, and with no steady income, the family often skip meals and mainly depend on partial repayments of debts from relatives, and occasionally borrow money from the children's uncle. Six years ago, Emmanuel began to experience troubling symptoms, including intense chest pains that radiate to his back, which prevented him from sitting or lying down. He made repeated attempts to seek treatment in public hospitals, but these were unsuccessful due to overcrowding. Emmanuel is growing increasingly worried about not being able to provide for his family, yet he remains hopeful that the surgery could alleviate his painful symptoms and reduce the financial strain on his family. Emmanuel has been diagnosed with cholelithiasis, which are hardened pieces of bile that form in the gallbladder. Doctors have advised him to undergo a cholecystectomy, which the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at a risk of future health complications. Emmanuel is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 11th, through our partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's surgery and care. Emmanuel says: "Despite our current struggles, I remain optimistic about our future. Once I receive treatment for my condition, I'll return to work so I can provide for my family again. My wife and children keep me strong."

Naing is a 12-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and elder brother in a refugee camp in Thailand. He and his brother are students, and his mother is a homemaker. His father works as an agricultural day laborer outside of the camp. Since January 2020, Naing has had an inguinal hernia. Currently, Naing experiences pain, discomfort, and swelling. Sometimes, he has to skip school due to the severe pain. Fortunately, on September 2nd, Naing will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Naing's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 2nd and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Naing's father said, “Our family faces financial problems, and we struggle to afford my children’s school fees and household expenses, as I am the only financial contributor in my house. Now I am very glad that my son gets support for his treatment with the help of BCMF and the donors. I wish you all the best, and may God bless you all.”

Elvin is a 38-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, two daughters and three sons in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her husband works as a community generator operator, while Elvin works as a seamstress. Her children are all school-going. Elvin and her husband's combined income is often just enough to cover their daily needs. They receive free basic health care in the refugee camp from Malteser International (MI) Thailand. Elvin is currently expecting her sixth child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Elvin undergo a C-Section on September 4th. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Elvin needs your support. She says: “My plan and wish are to provide a better future for my children. I want them to have a good life, and the opportunity to live in a better place."

La Min is a 12-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and three brothers in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. His father is a day laborer, and his mother takes in laundry. He and his two older brothers are students, but his younger brother is too young to go to school yet. The family’s monthly income is not enough to cover the family’s daily expenses, so they often borrow money from a neighbor to get by. Since 2023, La Min has been experiencing swollen tonsils which make it difficult for him to breathe. He coughs and snores at night and has difficulty sleeping, so he sometimes has to sleep sitting upright. Because of his difficulty breathing, he gets tired easily, so his parents sometimes do not allow him to play football or cane ball with his friends. La Min was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a tonsillectomy for La Min, which is scheduled to take place on March 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving La Min of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. La Min said, “I look forward to eating anything I can again. Right now, my mother just cooks plain food, so I want to eat something delicious again.”

Ruth is 36 years old and a single mother of three from Malawi. She also has one grandchild from her firstborn. Ruth has experienced multiple family losses. Both of her parents and her two siblings are deceased. The only surviving relative is her uncle, who is physically disabled and fully dependent on her for care and support. She earns a living by selling tomatoes. In 2003, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. Over time, the swelling grew bigger and began to affect her health. She developed symptoms including loss of voice, neck pain, headaches, and frequent coughing. After 15 years, she finally sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are 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 Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth shared, "My only hope is you; I tried all that I could, but failed. I am looking forward to your support."

Selix is a 68-year-old security guard and small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married with four adult children. He and his wife continue working hard to meet household upkeep and basic needs. In 2025, Selix was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. He has been experiencing severe pain and frequent swelling episodes, which interfere with his daily activities. Fortunately, on April 9th, Selix will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Selix is contributing to his surgery treatment, but needs an additional $575 to fund the procedure. He says, "Kindly help me to get better, so I can continue supporting myself, as my children are already supporting their families. I wish to age peacefully, without pain."

Richard is a 35-year-old bricklayer from Malawi who is married with three children. He relies on part-time manual labor to earn a living, which he uses solely for his family's upkeep. Five years ago, Richard was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. He has sought medical care on several occasions; however, the treatment he received did not provide relief. Over time, his symptoms have worsened, becoming overwhelming and disabling, and preventing him from concentrating on his work. During a recent visit to the regional referral hospital, he was advised to visit our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for a review. Upon assessment, surgery was recommended but unfortunately, Richard is unable to raise the required treatment fees. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Richard receive treatment. On April 9th, he is scheduled to undergo surgery to restore his health, allow him to fully resume his work, and enable him to earn a stable income to support his family. Now, Richard needs help to fund this $575 procedure. He says, "I heard about the donor program, and believed that this is my chance. I look forward to rejoicing once I receive treatment through your support."