Hean is 67 years old and a rice farmer from Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. She is married and has five sons and four grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also a farmer, and her youngest son. Three of her sons are farmers, while the other two work as steelworkers. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks’ sermons and joining religious ceremonies. About one year ago, Hean developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Hean learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 2nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. She can contribute $10, but needs help raising $253 more to fund her procedure and care. Hean said, "I hope that after my eye surgery, my vision will improve so I can see more clearly, recognize my relatives easily, travel to distant places, and return to my rice farming without difficulty."

Edson is a five-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, where his parents work as vendors. Edson is in preschool, likes arts and crafts, and has been learning to read. Edson has a cardiac condition that involves several related congenital conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent blood from circulating normally through the heart and from passing through the lungs to obtain enough oxygen. Edson needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 6th, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart and remove the muscular blockage from the valve. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, has raised $6,500 to assist in paying for surgery. Edson's family needs help funding the costs of surgical preparation. He needs help raising $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Edson's family overseas. Edson's mother shared, "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery, our son's health will finally be completely normal!"

Ann is a bright 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the firstborn in a family of six children and is a fourth-grade student. She dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can one day support vulnerable children in her community who often struggle to access healthcare services. Her father is a small-scale farmer who works hard to support his family. Ann has clubfoot in both feet, a condition that has significantly affected her mobility. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. She is unable to stand upright or walk long distances. Living in a hilly and rocky area has made everyday activities, including attending school, extremely challenging. To ensure that she does not miss classes, her father has often had to pay for motorcycle transport to take her to and from school despite the financial burden and the long distances involved. Ann experiences teasing from some of her peers, which has affected her confidence and social interactions. Ann is currently receiving treatment at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, and is scheduled to undergo serial casting followed by corrective surgery to address her condition. This treatment is expected to improve her mobility, restore her confidence, and allow her to walk, learn, and thrive like other children her age. On June 10th, Ann will undergo clubfoot repair surgery, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Ann's treatment and care. After her recovery, she will be one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor and making a difference in the lives of children facing challenges similar to her own. “I would love to have feet just like my friends and other children,” Ann shared. “I want to recover fully, walk confidently, and live a normal life just like my friends,” she added.

Nusrat is a nine-year-old girl from West Bengal, India. She has an elder brother and goes to school in her village. She lives in a home that her family shares with extended family, and she is equally loved and adored by everyone. When she was just an infant, Nusrat sustained severe burns when a vessel full of hot oil was accidentally spilt as her uncle walked by carrying the pot. She was treated locally for a few weeks, but developed extensive scarring on the left side of her face, lower lip, neck, and chest. She had two previous surgeries in 2019 to treat the burned skin on her neck. Nusrat needs surgery for her residual neck contracture and lower lip scarring. She has high hopes of restoring her neck mobility and improving her appearance with surgical repairs. Nusrat has travelled a considerable distance for treatment with our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center. The G.S. Memorial Trust will cover a portion of the cost of her procedure, and the family is seeking assistance to raise the remaining $866 to fund her next procedure. Her surgery is scheduled for April 8th. Nusrat's mother says, "The surgical team and the hospital have been supportive during her treatments before, and we have full faith in their abilities to treat her and help her regain confidence as they have done from day one."

Samuel is a 27-year-old father of two from Kenya. He previously worked as a casual laborer at a milk processing company and was very committed to providing for his family. In 2019, a neighbor asked Samuel for help picking mangoes. He accidentally fell and sustained a spinal injury that led to paralysis. Over time, he was able to move around using a wheelchair, but he could not go back to work. His wife is now the family’s breadwinner, taking on any casual jobs available. On the 24th of January, 2026, Samuel accidentally fell from the bed and landed on his left leg, resulting in a closed fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 16th, Samuel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This treatment will prevent complications such as nonunion of the bone, and his situation will become even more difficult, as he may remain permanently bedridden. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,048 to fund this procedure. Samuel shared, "I have waited, but my family is not able to pay the fee for this surgery. I would really appreciate it if helped, so that I can be operated. This will relieve my pain, and at least I can be well enough to move around rather than be in bed throughout."

Given is a four-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second-born in a family of three children and lives with his parents, who rely on farming to meet their daily needs. Given is an active and playful child who enjoys being outdoors, but his ability to move freely has been compromised. Given was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition that causes his legs to bow outward. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. The condition has made walking difficult and sometimes painful for young Given, limiting his ability to keep up with other children. As he grows, the condition continues to affect his mobility and could impact his future independence if left untreated. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Given. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 14th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Given's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Given's father says, "He struggles to walk properly and cannot keep up with other children when playing."

Nazly is a jovial three-year-old girl from Colombia with a smile that brightens the mood of those around her. Although she is still young, she understands the importance of caring for others and dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. Nazly also enjoys listening to music, and aspires to be a dancer too! About a year ago, Nazly was diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, she has been under observation, but the progression of the condition has caused intense and persistent pain, inflammation, episodes of suppuration (presence of pus), and difficulty eating and sleeping. Doctors at our medical partner, Clinica Noel, have determined that Nazly needs to undergo a procedure under general anesthesia, to treat her multiple cavities. This treatment will relieve her physical pain and enable Nazly to have a better quality of life, study better, and live out her dreams. The procedure has been scheduled for February 20th, and Nazly's family needs help to raise $868 for her care. Nazly's mother says, "Thanks to your kind heart, Nazly will be able to receive the treatment she so desperately needs and, with it, regain the smile and quality of life that every child deserves. My daughter's surgery is very important for her health and her future, and your support gives us enormous hope. We will never forget this beautiful gesture."

Topista is a 79-year-old mother of five from Uganda. She is a strong, vibrant, confident, and charming lady, full of stories and delightful to be around. She has two sons and three daughters, all of whom are now married and working as small-scale farmers. After losing her husband, she he has survived mainly through farming, growing food crops mostly for home consumption, while relying on her children for financial support. At home, she enjoys a meal of millet posho with meat, which she has on special occasions. Topista has had a swelling on her right thigh for a very long time. For many years, it was painless, but two months ago it became tender, painful to touch, and caused discomfort while walking, along with pins‑and‑needles sensations. Topista traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment, and it was recommended that she have surgery to remove the mass. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, has scheduled this surgery for February 3rd. The procedure will cost $137, and Topista and her family need help raising money to fully fund the surgery and her care. Topista says, "At my age, I am no longer working. I depend on my children's support for everything. This time, however, they also can’t raise the money needed for my surgery, and kindly seek your support.”

Novence is a 16-year-old girl from Kabale District, Uganda. She lives with her parents, who are small-scale farmers, and her five younger siblings, who attend primary school. Novence enjoys studying and has a vision and mission of becoming a nurse. About a year ago, Novence developed swelling around her umbilical region. Her parents took her to a health center, but the health center was unable to provide a diagnosis. At first, the swelling was small and painless, and Novence and her family continued to monitor the situation. But over time, the pain increased to the point where Novence could no longer help her parents in the fields. So far, she has been determined to continue her studies, but the condition is becoming more and more painful. Novence's family has also become increasingly worried, as they have never seen anyone with this condition. Recently, a friend of Novence's mother told her about our partner's medical care center, Rushoroza Hospital. The family travelled to the hospital, where Novence finally received a diagnosis of an umbilical hernia. Without surgery, she will continue to suffer, and the condition could get worse. Fortunately, on February 10th, Novence will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $170 to fund her surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently, and to attend school without pain. Novence's mother shares, "Truly, if it were not for my friend, then no one would have shown me the way to Rushoroza Hospital. I pray that we may have a chance to be helped, and I believe that my daughter will undergo a successful surgery."

Clinton is a 12-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second-born in a family of five children and currently studies in Class Two. Clinton is a gentle child who speaks softly, especially around new people, but he is attentive and eager to learn. Clinton was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. He was brought to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, by his father with concerns about the inward bending of both legs, a condition that began when Clinton first started walking. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. His parents had never sought treatment before due to limited resources and lack of access to specialized care. The family survives through animal keeping and farming, doing their best to meet their children’s needs. Clinton has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus and is planned for bilateral DFO surgery. This treatment will help straighten his legs, improve his mobility, and allow him to walk and attend school without pain or limitation. His parents hope this intervention will give Clinton the opportunity to grow, learn, and play like other children his age. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Clinton. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 12th and will hopefully restore Clinton's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Clinton says, "The pain I feel while walking to school makes it hard to enjoy my classes, and I would love for the pain to stop."

U Shwe is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, son, two daughters, and two grandchildren in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. He and his wife are retired, and his daughters and grandchildren are students. His son works as a freelance Burmese-Thai translator, and another daughter works at a dormitory, and sends money to support the family when she can. In early February 2025, U Shwe had a pain in two of his teeth. He had tehm extracted, which which seemed to solve the problem. However, when he went for a check-up for his diabetes in May, the medic conducted an oral exam and noticed that white spots that resembled a tumor were found in his gums. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, for specialized care. Currently, U Shwe is experiencing severe pain inside and outside his mouth. Due to the pain, he can only eat soup and soft foods, and has difficulty sleeping. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can help. On October 6th, U Shwe will undergo a tumor removal surgery. He needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. U Shwe said, “I hope that after my surgery I will feel better when eating and sleeping that I can eat and sleep with my family again.”