Eyob is a 10-year-old boy who lives with his parents and two younger sisters in Ethiopia. His father works with an electric company, while his mother is a home maker. For the past four years, Eyob has been experiencing severe tonsillitis which has caused extreme throat pain, loss of appetite, high fever, trouble swallowing, and breathing difficulties. This has affected his sleep and rest, and he often feels disappointed when he's unable to help his sisters with their homework or when they seek his assistance. When he was younger, his parents tried treating him with traditional remedies, hoping he would get better, but the condition persisted. Eyob 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 Eyob, which is scheduled to take place on August 10th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Eyob of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. His parents say: "We hope that our son can go back to being a happy, energetic boy, so he can go to school without interruptions, and play with his sisters, like other children."

Reaksa is a hardworking barber from Takeo province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his sister, who works in a garment factory. His father is a truck driver, and his mother also works in a garment factory. In his free time, Reaksa enjoys listening to music and helping his parents with daily tasks around the home. In 2016, Reaksa fell down the stairs at his home, injuring his hip. Since then, he has suffered from ankylosis of the hip with severe flexion deformity, which makes it difficult for him to walk, sit, and maintain a normal posture. He also experiences back pain when sitting for long periods. After the accident, he was treated at a government hospital with medication, but his condition did not improve. He was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), where doctors treated him with a cast. It initially relieved his pain and allowed him to walk without support. However, over time, his posture gradually worsened, and the hip deformity became more noticeable. On March 16th, Reaksa will undergo an uncemented hip replacement procedure on his left hip. Reaksa can contribute $100 for his treatment, and needs help to raise an additional $1,400 to cover surgery, a special prosthesis, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Reaksa shared, “My hip still makes it hard to sit and walk properly, and I worry about my posture getting worse. I hope the treatment at CSC will help me move more comfortably and live without pain.”

La Min is a 21-year-old young woman from Burma. She lives with her aunt in Bangkok, Thailand. She moved to Bangkok from her village in Karen State, Burma, in 2023 in search of better job opportunities. She worked as a waitress, but had to stop because of her health. La Min has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves -the aortic and mitral valves - and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, La Min experiences fatigue and a rapid heartbeat while walking even short distances, poor appetite, and chest pain. Even though she has lived with her condition almost all her life, she still experiences anxiety and stress during her episodes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and have a more active and healthy life ahead. In the future, La Min hopes to continue to work in Bangkok and save enough money to return to her village in Burma. There she dreams of opening a restaurant and selling Thai food. She said, “When I lie down at night, I hear my rapid heartbeat and have trouble falling asleep. When I am very tired and experience heart palpitations, I worry that my heartbeat will stop suddenly. I want to know what the world is like without my heart disease.”

Christine is a social and cheerful young girl from Kenya who loves singing and making friends. She is the second-born in her family of three and a Grade 5 pupil with big dreams of becoming a doctor one day, so she can help others who are suffering. Christine was born with a bowed right leg, known as right genu varus. For many years, she lived with the condition, and her family believed it was just a normal way of life. Christine's misaligned right leg causes her pain, especially when she walks long distances. This has made it hard for her to play, take part in school activities, and help at home. One day, Christine and her family were involved in a motorbike accident. She was taken to the hospital for treatment. While treating her injuries, the doctors noticed that her right leg was bowed. They referred her to the CURE mobile clinic for review, where surgery was recommended. Her family realized that Christine's condition was not normal, and there was hope to relieve the pain she experienced day to day. Christine is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 28th to correct this condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Christine's procedure and care. “I pray that I will get healed and be like my friends,” Christine told us.

Abenezer is a shy three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football, playing with toys, and watching cartoon movies. He is the third child in his family and enjoys spending time with his older brother and older sister. His father works as a daily laborer, and his mother is a housewife. Abenezer was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Abenezer has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Abenezer will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 2nd. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Abenezer's mother shared, "My hope is in God, and I pray for my child. Thank you to the donor for your unwavering support. I hope Abenezer will recover fully and be in good health."

Natan is a charming young boy from Ethiopia. He has a deep love for cars and a passion for music. Playing with toy cars brings him immense joy, and he often enjoys listening to kid-friendly tunes. His dream is to drive his own car one day. Natan lives with his mother and grandmother, forming a close-knit family. Sadly, Natan's father passed away because of an accident at work. This devastating event left the family shattered, and Natan’s mother struggled to raise him alone while grappling with her grief. She worked tirelessly as a cleaner, often taking on additional jobs such as washing clothes and performing other daily labor to make ends meet. Natan's mother noticed something was different with Natan's body. Natan was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a birth condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Natan has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Fortunately, Natan will receive help from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 17th. AMH is requesting $1.073 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Natan's mother said, "We have a great opportunity, and God will support him during the surgery, and I am very thankful."

Martin is a three-year-old boy from Colombia. At his young age, Martin is exploring the world and dreams of being many things; he loves backhoes and often says he wants to drive a dump truck like his uncle. Currently, Martin's teeth are severely compromised; he has a broken tooth and experiences constant pain, which causes him to cry and feel uncomfortable. On January 19th, Martin will undergo dental surgery under anesthesia. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund his procedure and care. Martin's mother says, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful work you do and for your noble desire to help children and parents who, due to our financial limitations, would not be able to afford a procedure like this. May God bless you and keep you always, both you and your families. Thank you very much again."

32-year-old Lornah lives with her husband and three young children on a quiet hillside in Kenya. Her days are usually simple, tending to a few potato rows and mango trees with her husband, caring for her children, and managing the little they have with gratitude. Even though life is often difficult, she has always been known for her determination and deep love for her family. Lornah is now in the third trimester of her fourth pregnancy, but she continues to do as much as she can to care for her family. Two weeks ago, the children had gone without a proper meal, and the house was nearly empty of food. Her husband had gone to look for casual work. Out of necessity, Lornah decided to gather mangoes to sell, as has happened before. Lornah had climbed the same tree many times before, but that day would change everything. As she held onto the branches carefully, she accidentally stepped on a dry branch that looked firm. It suddenly snapped. She lost her balance before she could steady herself, and in an instant, she fell. The pain was sharp, and she could not stand. More than anything, she feared for her unborn baby. Neighbors rushed to her aid and took her to the nearest health facility. There, she received first aid and was stabilized, before being referred to the hospital for further management. When she arrived, the pain was intense. She was given medication and sent for an X-ray. The results showed a pelvic ring fracture, that has since confined her to bed. She also had an olecranon fracture on her elbow. Thankfully, the unborn baby was unharmed and has continued to be well, something Lornah is grateful for. Lorna underwent a surgical repair of the elbow fracture, and although it was partially aligned, further imaging revealed that it was comminuted, broken into several pieces, making a second surgery necessary. This time, Lornah would need an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure to fix the bone properly. Her pelvic injury requires long periods of bed rest, meaning Lornah cannot sit, walk, or take care of herself without assistance. Her husband now moves between the fields, the house, and the hospital, trying to manage everything at once. Their three young children are being cared for by their father, and they keep asking when Mama will come home. Now, facing a second surgery, Lornah has another challenge: her medical cover won't support a second procedure, and her family simply cannot afford the cost. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lornah receive treatment. On December 9th, she will undergo a fracture repair procedure at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. This treatment will help her recover and return home in time to welcome her new baby. Now Lornah's family needs help to fund this $1,014 procedure. Lonah says: "I thank God that me and my unborn child survived the fall. I am looking forward to a day when I will be on my feet. I hope I get better before the baby is born. Please support my treatment."

Benyas is a shy four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a small, rented house with his mother, grandmother, and two brothers. Life has not been easy for the family. His mother works as a domestic helper, while his father, who lives separately, does casual labor. Despite their hard work, the family often struggles to put enough food on the table. His grandmother, once a strong source of support, had to stop working due to asthma, which added even more strain to their situation. Benyas has been facing several health challenges that have further drained the family’s finances. One particularly difficult day, after experiencing itchiness and pain, he was taken to a hospital that referred him to a larger public hospital. However, the family had to wait long for treatment, leaving them frustrated and anxious. His grandmother was especially distressed, worrying about his future and saddened that Benyas had not yet started school. Just when hope seemed lost, a family friend advised them to visit our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Benyas was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future medical complications. Fortunately, Benyas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Benya's grandmother said, "My only wish is for good health, education, and stability. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to see him in good health and reflect that after his treatment, I'll see him like other healthy children."

Cecilia is a 10-year-old girl from Malawi. She is the oldest of two children. Her mother sells baked Irish potatoes, while her father is a driver. She is in the fifth grade and is a very bright student. When Cecilia was four years old, her mother observed that Cecilia would experience abdominal pain. She took Cecilia to different hospitals, where Cecilia was given pain medication, but her condition did not improve and worsened over time. This affected her health, her attendance at school, and her ability to perform daily tasks. Cecilia was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she will undergo hernia repair surgery on October 7th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Cecilia's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Cecilia's mother shared, "I can't wait to see my daughter well and happy again."