Dirya is a five-year-old girl from Cambodia, and the middle child in her family. Her father works as a construction worker and her mother is a homemaker. She has an older brother, who is 12, and a younger brother, who is two. Dirya's mother shared that she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up. In her free time, Dirya enjoys drinking milk and eating rice with soup. She also loves playing with toys and riding her bicycle around the house. Dirya was born with scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of her spine, along with left radial dysplasia, where the radius bone in her left forearm is underdeveloped. Over the past four years, Dirya's scoliosis has progressed, leading to abnormal posture. Her parents are concerned that she may face difficulties at school including back pain or difficulty breathing caused by the curvature. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Dirya receive treatment. On September 3rd, specialty surgeons at CSC will perform a spinal procedure during which growing rods will be implanted vertically along her spine to correct Dirya’s severe scoliosis. The procedure will help straighten her spine and improve her posture, and she will be able to stand and improve her health as she continues to grow. Dirya's parents can afford to contribute $25 of the cost of the procedure. Now, her family needs help raising the additional $1,475 for the surgery, hospitalization, implants, medications and physiotherapy. Dirya's parents shared, "we want Dirya to live a healthy life as she grows up and we are hopeful that this operation will straighten her back."

Lydiah is an 18-year-old from Kenya. In February 2022, Lydiah's schooling and aspirations for becoming a doctor had to be put on hold when she began to experience excruciating pain in her right leg and hip. The pain progressed to the point where she could no longer bear weight on her leg, forcing her to leave school. When she was unable to find help in her province, Lydiah moved to live with her aunt in Nairobi. Despite visits to various dispensaries, and attempts to secure medical care, including painkillers, Lydiah's condition did not improve. She and her aunt tried visiting hospitals, but could not afford to pay for the necessary scans. In November 2023, Lydiah developed a swelling on her hip joint. Financial limitations prevented her from accessing care, leaving her in persistent agony. In June 2024, when her condition deteriorated further, Lydia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Lydiah was diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right thigh bone and was recommended to undergo sequestrectomy surgery. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The recommended surgery will remove the bone that has died, as a result of the infection. Again, finances have been a challenge, and Lydiah has remained in pain. Currently, Lydiah suffers from a painful, swollen thigh with a draining sinus, intensified by the cold season. Compounding her challenges, Lydiah is the only child of her mother who has been grappling with mental health issues since her husband's passing in 2015. Her aunt is her only hope since she is the one who has been taking care of her since she fell ill. Lydiah’s aunt is a casual beauty laborer, who weaves hair extensions for women, and whose income is precarious. Lydiah’s aunt is also a single mother to three children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the $1,400 needed for Lydiah's surgery, scheduled for July 16th. They hope this intervention will not only alleviate her suffering, but also pave the way for her to pursue her dreams. Lydiah said: “I know that I am advanced in years, but I am willing to continue from Form 2, where I left off, and proceed to pursue my career as a doctor.”

Baby is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves being with his older sister, playing with other children and enjoys playing football. His dad is a farmer and a daily laborer, while his mom is a housewife. His dad also does casual work at a construction site for additional income. Baby was born with bladder exstrophy, a congenital anomaly that affects the bladder and surrounding structures, causing the bladder to form outside the body instead of inside the abdomen. The condition can lead to various challenges, including difficulties with urinary control, potential risks of infection, and a risk of infertility. Fortunately, Baby is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. After surgery and recovery, Baby will have an improved quality of life. Baby's dad said, "God knows about his surgery, but I hope he will heal. I hope his open bladder will be addressed, and he can become healthy."

Linhcheu, who is 17 years old, lives in Kandal Province in Cambodia with her parents and three siblings. Her parents and oldest brother are construction workers, while her two younger siblings attend a nearby school. Linhcheu would like to be a teacher someday. In November 2023, Linhcheu was in a motor vehicle accident that caused injuries to her head and right leg. She was taken to Vietnam for medical care, where she underwent surgery to address a head injury that left her unconscious for 13 days. Her family spent their entire savings and borrowed money to cover the costs of the treatment. But Linhcheu suffers from a skull defect as a result of the accident, and requires a cranioplasty to repair the defect, and to reduce swelling in her brain, caused by her injuries and the previous surgeries. When Linhcheu and her mother learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two and a half hours to seek treatment. On June 13th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a cranioplasty to repair the bone defect in Linhcheu's skull. Her family can contribute $100 towards the surgery, but they still need $573 to fully fund the procedure. Linhcheu shared that she wants to return home soon, and hopes to find a job to support her family.

Win Mar is a 57-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and their nine-year-old granddaughter in Karen State. She is a homemaker with two daughters who work as domestic workers in Bangkok. In January 2024, Win Mar began to experience blurred vision in both eyes, with more intensity in her left eye. Additionally, she feels occasional pain in her eyes. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for her to see clearly. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Win Mar was diagnosed with retinal detachment and needs to undergo surgery to reattach her retina. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has scheduled Win Mar's surgery for October 8th and is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After surgery, Win Mar's vision will hopefully be restored. Win Mar expressed her gratitude, saying, “If BCMF and donors do not help with my treatment, I would have to be blind for the rest of my life. Thank you BCMF and donors for helping me. I pray BCMF will help more patients who cannot afford treatment costs.”

Vireak is a 21-year-old man from Cambodia who lives with his parents, sisters, two brothers-in-law, two nephews, and three siblings. His father collects coconuts for sale by climbing palm trees, while his mother is a housewife. His siblings and their spouses work as fishermen or construction workers. Because Vireak cannot work, he spends his time watching TV with his family. In September 2022, Vireak was in a motor vehicle accident, which resulted in an open fracture of his left femur. He was sent to a local hospital for treatment, where he had an external fixation for six months. After removing the fixator, a nail was put in, but it became infected and had to be taken out. Additionally, his left leg is now shorter than his right leg due to bone loss. It is difficult for him to walk, and he is in chronic pain. Due to his family's limited means, he cannot afford to return to the hospital where he first had surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 1st, Vireak will undergo a fracture repair procedure. His family is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $383 more to fund the procedure. Vireak said, "After surgery, I hope to walk normally without pain and be able to find a job to help my family."

Peter is a farmer from Rukungiri district in southwestern Uganda. He is a father to four children who are all in school. Peter and his wife grow food crops for their family's consumption and sell the surplus to generate income. For three years, Peter has had a left inguinal hernia, causing swelling and pain. Doctors recommend that he undergo surgery and, fortunately, on April 3rd, Peter will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Peter's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Peter says, “I hope for a complete recovery and will be able to resume farming in good health to sustain my family.

Rayan is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the first child of his parents, and he is an active and interactive child who loves playing with other children. His father takes on casual jobs to earn a living, while his mother is a homemaker. Rayan was born with a congenital condition affecting his left hand, in which two fingers are joined together, causing concern for his parents regarding its impact on his future. Fortunately, Rayan's mother learned about our medical partner's care center Kafika House from a previous patient and made the decision to take him there. At the center, Rayan was diagnosed with left-hand syndactyly, a condition that is corrected through surgical intervention. The plastic surgeons intend to carry out a release procedure to separate his left hand's third and fourth fingers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rayan receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 7th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to enhance the mobility of his fingers. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Rayan’s mother says: “I hope my son’s hand will be okay and that the condition will not affect his future.”

Dorothy is a 68-year-old woman from a village in the Lilongwe District of Malawi with three married children. She depends on small-scale farming as she grows maize and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes to support herself. Dorothy started experiencing itching followed by a lump in her left breast which kept growing in size and became painful. She visited different health centers where she was unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment until she was seen by a surgeon from Nkhoma Hospital who conducted a free clinic at her nearby health center. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer and she needs to undergo mastectomy surgery. She is willing to undergo the procedure but is unable to afford the surgery. This condition has had a negative impact on Dorothy’s life as she feels pain in her breast and is worried that the cancer could spread. Treatment will relieve Dorothy of the pain and she will no longer be stressed. Dorothy is requesting $567 to fund treatment from our partner, African Mission Healthcare. Dorothy says, “I am looking forward to treatment and full recovery.”

Alexander is a 7 year-old student from Haiti. Alexander lives with his parents and younger sister in a small rural community. He is in the first grade and likes going to school and helping his family with farm chores. Alexander has a cardiac condition called double ventricular septal defect. Two holes exist between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through these holes without passing through Alexander's lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Alexander will need to travel to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On January 30th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew patches over the holes so that blood can no longer leak through them. Alexander's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow-up. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Alexander's family. Alexander's mother shares: "Our family feels very blessed to know that our son can have this chance for surgery!"

Racheal is a 31 year old from Uganda. She is a mother to two children, both currently studying. While trained as a teacher, Rachael, unfortunately lost her job during the country lockdown in the Covid-19 period, and she since has not been able to find a new opportunity to continuing in the teaching profession. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Despite the challenges, Rachael is a lively individual, full of stories, and she has a humorous way of talking that brings laughter to everyone during interviews. To sustain herself, she engages in farming, focusing on crops for her family to eat, but she also sells surplus produce to generate income. Her husband works as a security guard, and they reside in a two-room rental house in Maya trading center. She shares a history of experiencing a miscarriage. Now that she is expecting a new baby, she has attended antenatal care at Nyakibale Hospital. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of her high risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Racheal undergo a caesarean section on December 12th. This procedure will cost $252, and Racheal needs your support. Rachael says, “I hope to get your support to deliver a live baby and have a successful delivery.”

Sandos lives in Kampong Cham province with his wife, parents, and sister. His wife is a homemaker, and both of his parents are retired, so he is the primary source of financial support for the family. When not working construction jobs, he likes to play soccer or sing popular Khmer songs. Sandos developed a right elbow deformity as a child, which limits his range of motion. When Sandos was working at a job a month ago, he fell and injured his elbow. His elbow is extremely painful; he cannot bend his arm or work. Fortunately, doctors at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, can help. Sandos has been diagnosed with arthritis, which occurs when the cartilage in the elbow becomes worn or damaged. Damage can occur due to an injury, such as a fracture or dislocation. He now needs help to pay for a $579 elbow repair surgery. After surgery and rehabilitation, Sandos will have an improved quality of life, decreased pain, and can return to construction work to support his family.