Htet Pel is a 50-year-old man who lives with his family in Mae Tha Lar Village, Kyain Seikgyi Township, Karen State, Burma. His main income comes from working as a lottery ticket seller, and he also works as a daily laborer. Ten years ago, Htet Pel severely burned his left hand when he was refilling an oil lamp with diesel near an open fire. His injuries healed, but scars developed. Eventually, the thickness of the scars made his fingers rigid and limited the movement of his fingers, until he could no longer grip anything. Htet Pel will undergo contracture release surgery to treat his condition and help him use his hands again. The procedure is scheduled for January 15 and will cost $1,500. He says, "After surgery, if my hand gets better I will work more to increase my family’s income."

Rabison is a father of six from Malawi. He lives with his wife and son. He does a lot of farming to support himself and his family. Since November 11th, Rabison has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Rabison's surgery. On December 4, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. He says, "I am very very very happy for this program which is helping me; thank you so so so much!"

Jibens is a student from Haiti. He lives in a very rural area in the mountains of southwest Haiti with his parents and three siblings. His parents are farmers. Jibens is in the second grade and enjoys going to school. Jibens has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in his heart is too narrow, preventing blood from flowing through it and causing the blood to back up into his heart. Jibens will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 14, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter with a balloon on the tip into his valve, and then inflate the balloon to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery. Jibens's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. 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 Jibens's family overseas. His mother says, "I am very happy that Jibens can have this surgery so that he can walk to school without getting tired."

Saw Wah is a three-year old boy from Burma. He lives in Htee Moo Hta Village in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, Burma with his parents, aunt, and great-grandmother. In January 2018, Saw Wah’s mother noticed a small bump in a sensitive area. It was small and did not cause him any pain at first. However, the bump grew over time. He was eventually diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia with hydrocele. Fortunately, on September 12, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Saw Wah's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 12 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. "When he grows up I want him to be a doctor or medic, but he wants to be a pilot,” said Saw Wah's mother.

Danstan is a toddler from Kenya. He is the youngest in a family of three. Danstan’s mother work as a cleaner, while his father is a driver. Danstan has clubfoot of his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Danstan traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on September 25. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Danstan's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk without pain and difficulty. “I will be glad to see my son walking to school like other children and that is why I am requesting for support," Danstan's mother says.

Andrew is a baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother and father in a small fishing village on the west coast of Haiti. Andrew has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent oxygen from adequately circulating through his body. Andrew will fly to United States to receive treatment. On August 6, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a patch to close the hole in his heart and will remove the muscular blockage near his valve. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $18,000 to pay for surgery. Andrew's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. 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 Andrew's family overseas. His father says, "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is helping us travel for this surgery."

Ezekiel is a boy from Kenya. He is the second born in a family family of six children. Ezekiel's mother is a small-scale farmer and a single parent. Ezekiel has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Ezekiel traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 6. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,224 to fund Ezekiel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. “My desire is to see my son walking. I am kindly requesting for help," says his mother.

Nwet (BB) is a five-month-old baby boy from Burma. He lives with his family in a village in Karen State. Once he was born, the nurses noticed a protrusion on back of his skull, a neurological condition called encephalocele. He already had surgery but now his head is getting bigger. Doctors want Nwet (BB) to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $469 to cover the cost of Nwet (BB)'s CT scan and care, scheduled for May 21. His mother says, "I started feel worry again when I see my baby's head is getting bigger."

Jenifer is a young girl who lives with her mother, two siblings, and grandparents in Guatemala's rural western highlands. She loves to be at home helping her mother around the house. When Jenifer grows up, she says that she would like to be a teacher because she loves to play with children. Since Jenifer was just two years old, she has shown symptoms of having a congenital heart defect. She often grows tired while playing, and complains frequently of pain in her chest. These symptoms are due to Jenifer's heart condition, which she needs surgery to fix. After many years trying to get her heart fixed, Jenifer has finally been accepted to receive surgery—a procedure that will not only heal her congenital heart defect, but will also change her life. Jenifer will be able to play like a normal child for the first time ever, and she will not be in danger of suffering a life-threatening event related to her heart condition. Jenifer's mother says, "I hope that my daughter can keep growing up healthily so that she can achieve her dreams to become a teacher."

Jean Emile is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and two brothers in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He has been attending preschool, and likes playing with cars and action figures. Jean Emile has a cardiac condition called large ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Jean Emile will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 6, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Jean Emile's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. 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 Jean Emile's family overseas. His mother says, "I have been praying for years that my son could have this surgery. I am very excited the time has arrived!"

Milien is a young man from Haiti. He lives with his parents, brothers and sisters in Port-au-Prince. He has not yet finished high school because of his heart condition. He enjoys going to church and spending time with his family and neighbors. Milien has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not function properly because it was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever he suffered several years ago. As a result, his heart cannot adequately circulate blood through his body, and he is weak and in heart failure. Milien will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 27, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair or replace his damaged mitral valve.. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $60,000 to pay for surgery. Milien's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. 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 Milien's family overseas. He says, "I pray for God's blessings on everyone who is helping me to have this surgery."

Martin is a 23-year-old man from Narok, Kenya. He recently married, and he is enjoying family life. Martin works a motorcycle taxi rider, ferrying clients and luggage within his local town. About a week ago, Martin was hit on his head with a club. He was taken to the local hospital and after first aid, referred to our medical partner's facility. He underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with a depressed skull fracture. A craniotomy has been recommended to treat the injury. Martin is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 4. Now, he needs help raising $1,495. Martin says, “I want to be treated and resume my work. I am having painful head migraines.”