Saroem is 22 years old and the youngest of four siblings from Cambodia. Her siblings work as factory workers, and the family lives together as a close-knit household. Saroem was born with a congenital condition called neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes usually noncancerous tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. In 2017, with the support of Watsi, she underwent surgery to remove the mass on her hand, as it was affecting her ability to write, eat, and complete everyday tasks. For many years now, Saroem has had a mass on the right side of her upper jaw. The condition has persisted throughout her life without causing significant pain, but it has gradually affected her facial appearance and self-confidence. She often feels shy and self-conscious in social and professional settings due to the visible swelling. Saroem is scheduled for surgery on June 15th. Surgeons will perform a right facelift and mass removal to improve facial symmetry, reduce the mass, and help restore her confidence. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $791 to fund her treatment and care. Saroem said, “For many years, I have been self-conscious because of the swelling on my face. I hope this surgery will improve my appearance and allow me to feel more comfortable and confident in my daily life.”

Daniel is a six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and riding bicycles. During her pregnancy, Daniel’s father left the family, and his mother faced many challenges while raising him alone. With support from family members, Daniel continued to grow and receive care during the first year of his life from his aunt. Daniel's uncle noticed that there was something different about Daniel, and took him to a clinic for assessment. After examining Daniel and explaining the condition, the doctor helped the family understand that it was a manageable and treatable condition. Daniel’s mother then focused on raising him while waiting for an opportunity for surgery. Daniel was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Daniel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on May 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Daniel's mom said, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity. We are truly happy as this is not a small thing for our family. I sincerely hope Daniel will be doing well after the surgery.”

Mersimoy is a 12-year-old middle schooler from Ethiopia. He lives with his mother and his sibling. After losing her husband, Mersimoy's mother has been working hard to raise her two children alone. For the past five years, Mersimoy has been experiencing symptoms such as fever, difficulty eating, struggling to breathe, and mood swings. Because of the constant pain and hospital visits, he had to miss a lot of school. This was hard on him; he fell behind in his classes and deeply missed playing with his friends. His mother wanted to find a job to support them, but she couldn't leave her son while he was sick. Mersimoy was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Mersimoy, which is scheduled to take place on January 10th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Mersimoy of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Mersimoy's mother said with a smile, “I am so happy that my son is finally having his surgery. Once he is healthy again, our whole lives will change for the better. I am truly grateful for this chance.”

Jana is a four-year-old young girl from El Bagre, Colombia. She is an active, cheerful preschooler who loves spending time with her family and enjoys music and dancing. Even at a young age, Jana shows a caring heart and dreams of becoming a doctor one day so she can help people, or animals, in need. Unfortunately, Jana has developed severe dental caries and infections. Because of her young age, she requires extensive dental treatment under general anesthesia to safely address the problem. At times, Jana feels sad because other children tease her about her teeth, and she hopes her teeth can be fixed. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund treatment for her infection and severe tooth decay under general anesthesia on March 20th. Doctors hope this care will allow Jana to grow up healthy, free from pain, and able to smile with confidence. Jana's mother shares, "To anyone who wants to do their bit to help my daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are a low-income family; I am a single mother, I do odd jobs, and unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to cover the treatment she needs, as it is very expensive. God bless every person who can help make this surgery possible. My daughter dreams of the day when she can smile without fear or pain. She always tells me, 'Mom, when I have my pretty teeth, I'm going to laugh all the time, and they won't hurt anymore.' That is her greatest wish, and hopefully we will see it come true very soon. May God reward you for your support, solidarity, and prayers."

Joshua is a 12-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents, who are livestock keepers, and is one of five children in the family. Joshua is currently in middle school and is described as a bright and responsible child. He enjoys completing his homework and helping care for animals after school. Joshua dreams of becoming a politician when he grows up. For the last three years, Joshua has experienced limited hand movement, making tasks such as writing, feeding himself, and helping with household chores difficult. His doctors recommend an amputation of Joshua's left hand, which has a burn scar with contractures involving multiple fingers. This will prevent his symptoms from getting worse as he grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Joshua's surgery on February 17th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully help improve his health and quality of life. After recovering, Joshua is looking forward to improved hand function that will enable him to regain independence in daily activities and continue developing his leadership potential without physical barriers. Joshua's father says, “He cannot grip objects well because some fingers are damaged and tight from the scar.”

Naw Paw is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She has been living in the refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her husband, her son, her daughter, and her grandson for more than 20 years. Naw Paw is primarily a homemaker. Together with her son, she assists in growing and selling vegetables and produce from their garden. Her daughter is also a homemaker and cares for Naw Paw’s grandson, while her husband volunteers at the camp church. The family’s limited income from vegetable growing allows them to cover only basic daily living expenses. In her free time, Naw Paw enjoys playing with her grandson, tending to the garden and speaking with neighbours. Watching her plants grow brings her happiness. However, ongoing health issues and financial uncertainty have caused her significant stress. In June 2025, Naw Paw reported lower back pain and pain in her right lower abdomen. An ultrasound was performed, which revealed gallstones. Naw Paw has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Naw Paw's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Naw Paw is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on January 12th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Naw Paw's procedure and care. Naw Paw shared, “I am always worrying about where I can find more money, especially with my health problems. I feel very relieved and thankful to receive support from the donors during this time.”

Erick is a calm and polite 15-year-old boy from Kenya. He loves watching movies and playing football, though his feet have limited his ability to play to the fullest. Recently, Erick completed Grade 9 and is eagerly waiting to join Grade 10. He dreams of becoming an IT expert one day. Erick was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital, by his cousin. His parents recently traveled to Saudi Arabia seeking greener pastures, after struggling for many years without employment. Erick has clubfoot in both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Living with the condition for close to 16 years, Erick has faced daily challenges, including criticism and mockery from friends at school whenever he walked. This made him feel left out and discouraged, but he never gave up hope. Hope came when one of the principals at his school connected his family with AIC CURE Hospital. Upon review, Erick was scheduled to begin serial casting in preparation for surgery, starting with his right foot. The treatment will improve his foot position and strengthen his mobility. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Erick receive treatment. On December 11th, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery, getting him closer to his dream to walk better, run, and play football confidently. Now, Erick's family needs help to fund this $1,286 procedure. “I have lived with this condition for so long, but now I hope to walk, run, and play football like other kids. I want to show my friends that I can do it too,” Samuel shared.

Yohane is a 12-year-old student from Tanzania. He comes from a large family of eight children, and his parents are small farmers who rely on the land for their livelihood. Despite his condition, Yohana has always shown a determined spirit and a bright smile. He had to drop out of school because of the challenges he faced walking to and from school. Yohane has clubfoot on his right foot, 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. Fortunately, Yohane's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where the medical team will begin clubfoot treatment on November 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Yohane's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Yohane says, “I miss going to school with my friends.”