Susan is a six-year-old girl from Kenya. From an early age, Susan experienced delayed developmental milestones. She was only able to sit at eight months and did not begin walking until she was two years old. As she grew, her parents noticed that she had difficulty speaking and pronouncing words. They hoped that, with time, she would improve, but the challenges persisted. Her parents enrolled her in school, believing that interacting with other children would help her learn to communicate better. Unfortunately, Susan continued to struggle both academically and socially. While her peers progressed to the next grade, she had to repeat a class because she was unable to keep up with communication and learning activities. Seeking help, her family first took her to a nearby hospital, and later, through a friend’s recommendation, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. After undergoing audiology assessments, Susan was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. The major reason she cannot speak clearly is that she is unable to hear properly. When her parents learned the cost of hearing aids, they were worried. Susan’s father depends on casual construction and farming jobs to provide for his wife and their three children, while her mother works as a waitress at a local food joint. Despite working tirelessly, the family cannot afford the support Susan urgently needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Susan receive treatment. On 21st May, she will be fitted with hearing aids that will improve her hearing. With consistent speech therapy, her communication skills will also improve, so she catch up with her peers. Now, Susan's parents are seeking support to raise $1,171, to aid in treatment for their daughter's hearing, help her find her voice, and continue her education with confidence alongside other children her age. Susan’s mother says, “Susan is a very active and bright child, but because she cannot hear properly, she struggles to keep up with other children her age. Being able to hear would help her speak more clearly, interact confidently, and progress well in her education.”

Aye is a six-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, who are small-scale farmers. They sell their extra vegetables and livestock for additional income every couple of months. Aye and his sister are both students in the village. In his free time, Aye plays games on his mother's phone and enjoys playing football with his friends. He dreams of becoming a professional footballer when he grows up, just like his idol Ronaldo. In 2024, Aye's mother noticed a small mass on the left side of his neck. Over the next four months, she watched it grow in size. Currently, the mass measures 15 cm and continues to grow despite previous treatment. Aye feels no pain and is not impaired in any way, but his mother is deeply worried about what it could be and anxious about the cost of his care. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, will help Aye undergo mass removal surgery. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Aye needs your support to fund the surgery. Aye's mother said, “I hope that once he recovers, I can send him back to school. I hope he becomes a teacher in the future since there is a shortage of teachers in our village. Thank you for your help.”

Altiya is a lively baby girl with boundless curiosity from Ethiopia. She is always exploring and playing with anything she can find around her. Toys and other items captivate her, reflecting her joyful spirit. The name “Altiya” means “happy” in Afan Oromo, and her family was overjoyed when she was born. Altiya lives in a single room with her parents and her paternal grandparents. Her mother is a dedicated housewife, while her father works as a farmer, providing for the family through agricultural activities. Farming sustains both her immediate family and her father’s extended relatives. Altiya was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. When her mother first noticed Altiya’s condition, panic set in, and she struggled to believe that a surgical solution was possible. It took two months, but with the support of their family, her mother eventually decided to seek medical help. After visiting a local hospital, they were referred for further treatment. However, upon learning about the high costs involved, Altiya's mother felt overwhelmed and began to lose hope, unsure of how to proceed. After reaching out to those around her, Altiya's mother learned about Mother Teresa Mission from a neighbor and decided to seek help there. The MOC staff provided invaluable support, helping them travel to Addis Ababa for advanced treatment. They arranged accommodation, meals, and other essential services, and guided them to the Bethany kids center. This collaboration opened doors for Altiya, enabling her to receive the necessary care without the burden of financial stress. Her first surgery was remarkable and successful, restoring hope for the future. With deep gratitude, her mother expresses sincere appreciation for the support they have received and looks forward with hope to the success of the upcoming procedures. Altiya is scheduled to undergo another surgery to correct her condition on March 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Altiya's procedure and care. After her recovery, Altiya will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Altiya's mom said, "I am truly grateful for your incredible support. After this treatment journey, I feel happy knowing that my child will be healthy following the surgery. Please continue to provide your support; it means the world to us."

Aprilann is 39 years old anda hardworking mother from the Philippines. She and her husband once worked as street vendors to support their family. Since her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis and began treatment, she now relies on her mother and siblings to help meet their daily needs, especially the expenses for her children’s education. She spends most of her time at home, managing household chores and running errands. Before falling ill, Aprilann enjoyed playing volleyball. Aprilann has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Aprilann receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on January 17th at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Aprilann will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Aprilann shared, "I hope to be able to work again and take care of my children like before. A full recovery means so much not only for me but also for my family. I can live normally again without thinking about what could go wrong because of my illness."

Hannah is a mother of four from Kenya. Her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, earns a modest income through casual construction work. Their older children, aged 14, 6, and 2, are currently under the care of a relative while he stays at the hospital to support Hannah and their newborn. Hannah is grateful to be alive after narrowly escaping death on the 22nd of November 2025. She was on her way home on a motorbike with her six-year-old son when a lorry lost control and struck them. At the time, Hannah was 33 weeks pregnant. Although both of them survived the crash, they were left badly injured. Well-wishers rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they received first aid. Over the next five days, Hannah and her son remained in severe pain with no improvement. Concerned, they came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further evaluation. Scans revealed that Hannah had a fractured right leg requiring surgery. Even more alarming, it was discovered that her water had broken during the accident, something she had not noticed, putting her unborn baby at serious risk. Hannah and her son were immediately admitted for urgent care. On the same day, Hannah underwent an emergency caesarean section to safely deliver her baby, followed by external fixation surgery on her leg. Her son also received external fixation surgery to treat his leg injury. Thankfully, all procedures were successful, and after one week, both mother and child are making commendable progress. Hannah still requires a skin graft on her injured leg. She continues to experience significant pain and swelling, and the procedure is essential for her recovery. Unfortunately, her insurance coverage has been exhausted after paying for her surgeries and her son’s. With three outstanding medical bills, Hannah's and those of her two sons, her husband has been unable to gather the funds needed for the upcoming surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Hannah receive treatment. On December 10th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help heal her leg and regain her mobility. Now, Hannah needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Hannah shared, “I am still frightened when I recall how close we came to losing our lives. My greatest hope is to walk again and be present for my children."

Janaika is a 33-year-old woman from the Philippines. Her partner is a motorcycle delivery driver. When opportunities arise, he also takes on construction jobs to supplement his income. Five years ago, Janaika was diagnosed with mixed hemorrhoids. She continues to experience discomfort, pain, and bleeding. She finds it difficult to move in and out of bed. Janaika needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Janaika receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on November 8th. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is covering a portion of the cost of her treatment, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,257 to cover Janaika's procedure and care. Janaika says, "I am very grateful because you are giving others like me a chance to have surgery who cannot afford it due to the high cost. Thank you for being a bridge that allows us to create a better future —one that will allow me to work again and improve myself."

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.”

Woodline is a five-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger sister in a suburb of Port-au-Prince. Her father works in construction and her mother is a homemaker. She will start kindergarten as soon as she recovers from her surgery and returns home. Woodline has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Woodline will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On September 16th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization will be paying for her surgery. Woodline's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $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 Woodline's family overseas. Woodline's mother says: "I am very hopeful that my daughter will be healthy and vibrant after her surgery!"

Dickson is a four-year-old boy from Tanzania. For him, communication is shaped by his cultural background, as he speaks only the Maasai language. Despite this, he finds ways to express himself, and his quiet yet observant nature allows him to connect deeply with those who understand him. Dickson’s family lives a traditional pastoralist lifestyle, relying primarily on livestock for survival. Their livelihood revolves around cattle and goats, which provide milk and, occasionally, income through sales. Dickson was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition that has affected the strength and alignment of his legs. 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. With the surgery, Dickson will have the chance to run and play more freely with other children, bringing hope to his family for a stronger and healthier future. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Dickson. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 19th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Dickson's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Dickson's father says, "I hope my boy will be able to walk our cattle just like his older brothers because it's our wish for him to be part of our culture."

Deymar is a seven-year-old student from Bolivia. He lives in La Paz with his dad, who works in construction, his mom, who is a homemaker, and his three older siblings. Deymar frequently got sick as a young child, but the cause was only discovered recently when he was found to have a heart problem. Deymar has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exist between two major blood vessels next to his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. On July 21st, Deymar is scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Deymar'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. Deymar's father says: "Our family is so grateful that the doctors can help my boy, we are happy now that we know his heart can be fixed."