Liam is a one-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He and his mother live they live at the home of his grandmother. Their entire extended family is working to support Liam and his mother during this time. Liam has a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. A narrowing of the aorta that causes blood to back up and places strain on the heart. On August 11th, Liam will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will surgically repair the affected section of the aorta so that it is a more normal size. Liam's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Liam's grandmother shared, "We are just praying that doctors can help sweet Liam, and he can have a successful surgery. We are so grateful to all the wonderful people who are helping us; we have no words."

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.”

Christina is a farmer from Malawi. She is married and a mother of six. Four of her children have completed high school but are currently unemployed. The other two of her kids are still in high school. Christina's income from farm produce caters to their household upkeep and her children’s education, making it financially impossible for the family to raise funds for surgery. Since 2001, Christina has been experiencing uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. She visited several health facilities over the years. However, no definitive diagnosis was made. A cervical biopsy was performed earlier this year. It was determined that Christina needs a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus, to return to good health. Christina believes that undergoing surgery will restore her health and enable her to continue supporting her family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is able to help fund Christina's surgery. They are requesting $1,363 for her care. On April 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Christina will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and reduce her risk of future complications including cancer. "Your support will save my life," shared Christina.

Musa is a jovial and sociable 14-year-old boy from Narok County in Kenya. He is the last born in a family of seven, and is currently a Grade 7 student. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a small-scale farmer to provide for their family. Like many boys his age, Musa enjoys being active, but his biggest dream is to become an athlete in the future. However, Musa’s journey has not been easy. He was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition where the feet are twisted out of shape, which makes walking and running difficult. Because of this condition, Musa has often struggled with mobility, which has limited his ability to run and participate in sports like other children. Despite these challenges, Musa has not given up on his dreams. Musa is not new to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. He previously underwent surgery on his right foot, which is now corrected, greatly improving his mobility. Musa now needs corrective surgery on his left foot. Although resources are limited, Musa’s parents remain hopeful and supportive as their son continues his treatment journey. Musa was admitted to the hospital, and is currently undergoing serial casting in preparation for surgery on his left foot. Musa is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th at AIC CURE Hopsital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Musa's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, run freely, and continue with his studies without hindrance. Most importantly, it will bring him closer to chasing his dream of becoming an athlete and, perhaps one day, representing Kenya in international athletic events. Musa says: “I really looking forward to standing upright, walking well, and achieving my dream of becoming an athlete in the future."

N is a 54-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, and they both work as day laborers. Nwet also grows vegetables in her home backyard for household consumption. Nwet has two sons and one daughter who live in nearby villages with their own families. In her free time, Nwet likes doing chores and watching movies. Last April, N began to experience troubling symptoms. Doctors suspect the presence of stones in her urethra and recommend a ureteroscopy to be able to treat her symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. N expressed her gratitude and said, “I am very thankful to BCMF and the donors who are providing financial support for my surgery. I want to recover as soon as possible after surgery, so that I can return to work as a daily laborer, save money, and repay my debt. Thank you once again, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness and empathy.”

Eaint is a 22-year-old woman from Burma. She lives in a temporary community in the jungle in Karenni State, Burma. She has been living in the jungle since August 2023 due to airstrikes by the Burmese military. Eaint is a volunteer Burmese teacher at a school that has been set up in the community, living with the other teachers and students. While students’ parents try to pay for their education, it is not enough to cover her daily expenses, so she receives 30,000 MMK from her parents each month. As there are no healthcare facilities where she is staying, minor health problems are generally treated with traditional medicine and over-the-counter medication when it is available, with only major emergencies being taken to the nearest hospital. In 2021, Eaint noticed a mass growing on her left elbow, which after some time began to hurt. She underwent surgery at the local hospital the same year to remove the mass, and a biopsy indicated that the mass was benign. However, her elbow remained swollen after the surgery so in 2022, she went to another doctor, who told her that the previous doctor had not removed the entire mass. She underwent another surgery to remove the mass, however the mass once again returned. Doctors have advised Eaint to undergo an MRI, an imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition better and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Eaint's MRI and care, scheduled for December 1st. Eaint says, “Even if I have to have my arm amputated due to the mass recurrence, I can still participate in my school and my community. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”

Jayson is 41 years old and a single father of three from the Philippines. He and his children live with his elderly parents, whom he looks after, too. He works as a food delivery rider and a courier for packages. He enjoys fish-keeping as a hobby and hopes to return to jogging and playing basketball once his condition is treated. For 23 years, Jayson has been living with an inguinal hernia. This causes persistent swelling and pain. The pain and restricted mobility have further impaired his capacity to work efficiently as a delivery rider, a job that requires prolonged sitting, lifting, and continuous movement. Fortunately, on January 9th, Jayson will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Jayson's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jayson said, "This surgery will be a big help not only for me but also for my family. I could go back to work and live normally again without pain or fear that I cannot provide for my children."

Nan Lae is a 15-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, her two younger siblings in Karen State, Burma. Her father is a rice farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. She had to stop studying after the fourth grade due to her family’s financial difficulties. The family earns money from harvesting and selling rice, and their income is just enough to cover their daily expenses. In 2023, Lae noticed swelling in her gums. She visited the local clinic with her mother, where the medic removed a mass in her gums. The swelling disappeared, but after a year, the mass returned. Lae continues to experience swelling around her gums and difficulty opening her mouth. She can only chew on her left side because her right side is swollen. Nan Lae sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 12th, and needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Lae shared, “I cannot eat; sometimes I have to avoid chewing hard food.” Her mother added, “I want her to recover from this as soon as possible. She has already suffered for two years.”