Sara is a four-year-old girl who lives in Nechí, Antioquia with her mother and sister. Sara is a caring, loving, attentive, and intelligent child. She enjoys playing with dolls and her favorite foods are fish, lentils, and eggs. Sara is in pain due to severe tooth decay and needs surgery to address her oral health issues. This intervention will significantly improve her quality of life, as it will eliminate the pain and allow her to eat better. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund the surgery Sara needs. Sara's mother shared, "I am grateful for the care my daughter has been receiving at Clínica Noel and all the help they are able to provide my family."

In August 2024, Kennan's family began to notice that something wasn't quite right. When they spoke to him, the six-year-old boy often seemed distracted, staring off into space, only responding when someone touched him. At first, his mother and grandmother thought he was being difficult, and they would scold him, urging him to pay attention. But their concern deepened when they received a call from the school. Kennan was having trouble hearing his teachers and classmates, which explained why he struggled to communicate like other children his age. At school, Kennan relies on lip-reading, watching his teachers closely and occasionally asking classmates to repeat what was said. It became clear to his family that his difficulties went beyond a lack of interest, prompting them to seek help. But it hasn’t been an easy journey for Kennan’s family. His father tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2023, leaving behind a deep void. Now, Kennan's mother works hard selling oranges at the market, while his grandmother is unemployed. His mother struggles to provide for Kennan and his younger sister, who is just 4 years old. Each day, she works tirelessly just to put food on the table. Kennan's grandmother is especially worried about him. She often fears for his safety when he plays outside, anxious that he may not hear an approaching vehicle or motorbike. Her heart breaks knowing she can’t do more to help her grandson. Recently, Kennan's grandmother brought him to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he was diagnosed with reduced hearing. The good news is that hearing aids can provide the help he needs to thrive and connect with the world around him. However, the cost of these hearing aids is a barrier for Kennan’s family. They are now reaching out for support to help provide Kennan with the hearing aids he desperately needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kennan receive treatment. On February 6th, he will be fitted with hearing aids, allowing him to hear, learn, and grow. Now, Kennan's family needs help to fund the $1,171 treatment. Kennan says: "When I'm in class, I often have trouble hearing the teacher, so I rely on my friends to fill me in by telling me what's going on."

Blute is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and seven siblings. The entire family works on a farm. In his free time, Blute enjoys playing with his siblings and toys. Three months ago, Blute accidentally hit his head on the floor and began experiencing slight swelling on his head accompanied by weakness in his body. Blute was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which has caused fluid to build up in his brain. He has already received surgery where the doctor inserted a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain the fluid from his head. However, during his follow-up appointment on January 14th, 2024, he received an MRI and the doctor explained that the shunt was not working and the fluid was not draining properly. Doctors recommend that Blute undergo surgery to remove and replace the shunt. Without immediate surgery to alleviate the intracranial pressure that the excess fluid is causing, he is at risk of developing severe, potentially fatal medical complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the insertion of a VP shunt for Blute which will drain the fluid that has accumulated in his brain. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17th, and, once completed, will greatly improve Blute's quality of life. Blute's father said, "I am worried for my son but more than that I can't do anything to help him. I believe that the doctor would do the best to help my son and I hope that everything will be going well. Thank you to all the donors for your continued support."

Surafel, who is two years old, lives with his parents and two brothers in Ethiopia. Surafel's mother is a housewife dedicated to raising her children, while his father works as a security guard at a school. Surafel was born with a congenital condition, and when he was four months old, his mother took him to a health center for evaluation. Surafel was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, Surafel would continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and could be at risk of infertility. Surafel was referred to a hospital, where he was placed on a waiting list for surgery. For more than a year and a half, they patiently waited for a call from the hospital, but it never came. She frequently visited the hospital for updates, only to be told that there were more urgent cases ahead of hers, and to wait patiently. Eventually, she learned about our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. Surafel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 25th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Surafel's mother said: "I hope my child will get the necessary treatment and heal."

Mee is a 50-year-old woman who is originally from Karen State in Burma, but now lives with her mother and sister in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. The family moved to Thailand in December 2023 due to a civil war in Burma. Mee has a mental disability, and her mother takes care of her while her sister works as a day laborer to support the family. The family's income is insufficient to cover their daily expenses, leading them to occasionally borrow from relatives. At present, they are in debt. For health care, they usually visit Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot for minor ailments. In early 2024, Mee began experiencing back pain and abdominal pain. She could not walk straight because of the pain and felt that the skin of her belly was tight. She has been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition that occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. A total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix, has been recommended. If left untreated, Mee's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mee is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on October 22nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this surgery will help Mee free from her uncomfortable symptoms. Mee’s sister said, “I feel anxious about her condition, especially since she also has a mental disability. Now that she needs surgery, I have yet another worry: how we can afford the costs. When I learned that there is an organization and donors willing to help my sister, it felt as if all my worries had lifted."

Sancia is an 11-year-old girl and the oldest of two siblings from Kenya. They live with their mother who takes on casual jobs like washing clothes to support her family. Sancia has been suffering from reduced hearing since she was three years old. This has led to delayed milestones in her life, such as difficulties with speech because she can hardly hear sounds around her. Her mother has undertaken numerous journeys to various hospitals looking for a cure, but these efforts have not been successful. Now in the 5th grade, Sancia is having a harder time academically due to her hearing issues. Her speech is distorted, making clear communication difficult. Sancia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors recommended fitting bilateral hearing aids to improve her hearing and potentially improve her speech difficulties. Sancia will be fitted with hearing aids on September 6th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, needs help to raise $748. Sancia’s mother says, “Sometimes I ask her to bring me something and she brings a completely different item. She is not doing well in school, and I am afraid she is missing out on her childhood. I hope you can help her regain her hearing so she can enjoy her childhood."

Magdaline is a 47-year-old woman from Kenya. She resides with her husband and four children in Gitithia village, Lari Sub County in Kiambu County. Neither Magdaline nor her husband works, and they mainly depend on the income they receive from their small piece of land. The company her husband used to work for closed after the onset of COVID-19, while Magdaline used to be a cook at a nearby school. Two months ago, Magdaline began experiencing heavy bleeding and lower abdominal pains. She sought medical treatment, but the bleeding continued. Magdaline was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and doctors recommended for her to have a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Unfortunately, Magdalene and her husband cannot afford the cost of this treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $657 to fund Magdaline's surgery. On July 31st, she will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Magdaline will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. “This problem is making it difficult for me to care for my family and even to socialize; I cannot go out to visit friends or family. I am kindly requesting for consideration so that my life can be normal again, and I can continue with my house chores without problems,” said Magdaline.

Su is a 16-year-old teenage girl from Burma. Her father is a chef at a restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand who contributes monthly to his family in Burma. The monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses. They need to borrow money to meet monthly expenses. In her free time, Su likes to watch drama series on her phone and listen to music. In August 2023, Su started to experience discomfort in her left neck. There was a swelling that gradually became bigger. Su was seen at a local hospital but her condition did not improve. Unfortunately, the civil war prevented her from seeking further treatment. Three months ago, Su, her mother, and her younger sister came to stay with her uncle's family in Tak Province, Thailand to seek treatment for her condition. They borrowed money for transportation to come to her uncle’s house. Su was brought to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), where doctors performed several scans and tests. Su was diagnosed with a mass on the left side of her neck and is scheduled to undergo a mass excision on November 18th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Su's procedure. Su said, “I feel sad about my condition and my mother worries about me a lot.” Su added, “Thank you to BCMF and the donors for helping me.”

Bernadin is a playful two-year-old girl from Haiti. Bernadin has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Bernadin has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Bernadin will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Bernadin at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on May 9th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Bernadin's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment and follow-up care, Bernadin should develop into a strong, healthy young girl. The family is looking forward to Bernadin growing up happy and healthy.

Jhon is a 13-year-old seventh-grade student who lives with his parents and older sister in a central Bolivian city. His father is a strawberry farmer, while his mother works as a house keeper. Jhon enjoys his math and science classes, finding inspiration in these subjects. However, he faces a significant challenge due to a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, which creates a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. This condition causes blood to leak through the hole, leaving him weak and often short of breath, but Jhon remains determined to pursue his education and dreams. On August 14th, Jhon will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Jhon's family needs help to fund the $1,500 costs of cardiac care and surgery. Jhon says, "I can't wait to play sports with my friends once my heart is healed."

Neisha is a toddler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and older brother. Her father works in construction and her mother is a homemaker. She likes playing with the other children in her neighborhood and helping her mother make food. Neisha has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, where a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves are present. These prevent blood from circulating through her lungs, leaving her weak and short of breath. Neisha will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will patch the hole in her heart and remove the blockage from her valve. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8500 to pay for surgery. Neisha's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. They need $1,500 for labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the social workers from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Neisha's family overseas. Neisha's mother says, "Our family is so glad to know that we will soon be able to stop worrying so much about our daughter's heart!"

Sokneang lives with her husband and her two children. Her husband is a construction worker, and her son and daughter both attend local schools. She works in the home, cleaning, and cooking, and in her free time she enjoys watching Khmer dramas. Since 2019, Sokneang has had discharge from a small hole in front of her ear, called a pre-auricular sinus. These are common congenital abnormalities adjacent to the external ear. However, this condition makes her prone to chronic ear infections. Germs can enter the ear canal and cause an infection, resulting in swelling, soreness, and redness. For the past three months, Sokneang has had ear pain and discharge on both sides. Medications from the local pharmacy haven't helped. Frequent infections prevent her from being able to care for her family. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Sokneang and her family need $297 to cover the cost of the surgery, which will take place on February 20th. This will cover surgery, medications, and post-operative care. Sokneang says, "I hope that my ear will stop discharge, and I will not have any infections."