Yutharo is a 12-year-old football fan. He lives in Takeo province with his parents and his 15-year-old sister. His father drives a tuk-tuk taxi, and his mother works in a provincial garment factory. Yutharo is currently in grade six and is a big football fan. When not playing football with his friends, he enjoys mathematics class and would like to be a doctor when he is older. In June 2023, Yutharo suffered several painful body burns after a trash fire ignited by gasoline burned his body. Burn scar contractures have developed on his abdomen, right armpit, and arm, which severely restrict his shoulder motion and impair his movement. When Yutharo's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On January 3rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to help him regain the function of his arm. This surgery will improve his activities of daily living, such as dressing, grooming, and eating. Now, their family needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Yutharo's mother said: "We hope our son can have a normal life and other children will not make fun of his skin after this operation."

Shane is a four-year-old toddler from Bolivia. She is the middle of three children and lives in a jungle valley in northern Bolivia where her parents are both farmers. When Shany began to walk, her parents noticed that she would become out of breath very easily. After several doctor visits she was diagnosed with a condition called pulmonary valvar and subvalvar stenosis, in which the area in and near one of the four valves of her heart is too narrow. Blood cannot pass easily through this valve, leaving her weak and short of breath. Surgery is recommended to repair her heart. Our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund Shane's surgery. During surgery, doctors will open the valve to a more normal size so that blood can circulate normally through her body. Her mother shares: "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery our daughter will be healthy and strong enough to start school."

Amilaku is a 2-year-old boy from Ethiopia who loves to play football with his mom. His mom is raising him on her own and spends her days caring for him, collecting firewood from the woods, and fetching water from springs. This work requires her to travel long distances and carry the wood and water on her back. She also sells traditional beer to earn a living; however, income from this venture is limited, so her parents support her by giving her some grains from their farm at harvest time. Since birth, Amilaku has had an inguinal hernia that causes him to have a reduced appetite, burning or aching sensations at the bulge, and experience pain and discomfort. Amilaku's mom desperately wanted to seek medical attention for her child, but the nearest health facility was three days away, and she did not have the resources to facilitate their transport. Her hopes of finding treatment for her child diminished. A social worker heard her story and communicated with BethanyKids, our medical partner's care center, who facilitated their travel and accommodation to the hospital. Happily, on December 5th, Amilaku will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $512 to fund Amilaku's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Amilaku's mom said, "I hope with this surgery, the bulge will disappear, and he will get normal and free of any complications."

Alizu is a 15 year-old girl who lives in Kampong Thom province with her parents and two sisters. Her parents work as rice farmers, her older sister is also a cleaner, and her younger sister is still in school. In her free time, she enjoys reading and checking her social media. Alizu has nasal polyps in each nostril that cause bad odor, discharge, and pain. For the last four years, she has suffered from frequent headaches and difficulty sleeping due to the obstruction in her nose. She has been using medications to manage these symptoms but her condition has not improved. Fortunately, surgeons at Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) are able to perform a nasal surgery on September 18th to alleviate these symptoms permanently. Her family needs help to raise $388 to fund the surgery. Alizu said, “I really hope after the surgery my nose will be better, my headaches will go away so I can feel normal again."

Chaw is a 14-month-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, brother, and three sisters. Everyone in her family, except her youngest sister who goes to school, works on the farm, growing rice, betel nut and lime. They also have a small rubber plantation. Sometimes, Chaw's father and brother also work as day laborers. Two days after she was born, Chaw's mother noticed a lump at the base of her spine. The lump gradually increased in size, and when she was brought to a hospital in Thailand, the doctor suspected that the lump was caused by spina bifida. Doctors want Chaw to undergo a 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 and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Chaw's MRI and care, which is scheduled for February 7th. Chaw's mother said, "After I noticed that her lump was increasing in size, I felt very worried that her condition is caused by cancer. I am really thankful to all of the donors and BCMF staff. May this organization continue to help more patients in the future."

Kimberly is a 5-month-old baby girl. She lives in a small city in central Bolivia with her parents, who work in the mining industry, and three siblings. Kimberly was born with several defects in her heart, including a hole between the two upper chambers as well as a second hole between the two lower chambers. As a result of these conditions, her heart struggles to pump blood through her body. During surgery, doctors will be able to sew these holes shut so that her heart functions well and is stronger. Her surgery is scheduled for January 19th. Fortunately, the organization, Gift of Life International, is subsidizing part of Kimberly's medical care, but her family still needs help to fund the remaining $1,500. Kimberly's mother says, "Our family is very hopeful that this surgery will be a success!"

Vacity is a 14-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the second of five children raised by a single mother. Vacity had been sick in school and was exhibiting symptoms such as fever, rapid heartbeat, increased appetite with weight loss, and fatigue. She was found to have too much thyroid hormone in her body due to nodules that developed on her thyroid. While medications have helped her condition, she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening. Her mother was recently in a motorbike accident, which is making it difficult for her to work and raise the money needed to fund Vacity's surgery. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) is helping Vacity to receive the surgery she needs. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 22nd at AMHF's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Vacity and her family need help raising $936 to fully fund the procedure. Vacity shared, ”My family is needy. I would like to work hard in school so that I can be able to change our living style. Kindly help me so that I can be able to live a healthy life and be able to prosper in future.”

Alex is an 11-year-old pupil from Kenya who is the elder of two siblings. His mother is a housewife while his father works as a casual laborer at construction sites. Due to his clubfoot, which causes his left foot to be twisted out of shape, Alex tiptoes when he walks, cannot walk for long distances, and currently stays home with his mother. He has difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Fortunately, Alex and his family traveled to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 14th. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to help support Alex's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk comfortably and return to school. “I am appealing for support from well-wishers to help my son undergo surgery and I will appreciate it,” Alex's mother said.

Thi is a playful 3-year-old toddler from Cambodia. He loves to eat pork fried rice, play with toy cars, and spend time with his family! His father is in the army, and his mother stays home to look after Thi and his two older siblings. Thi is experiencing a condition called strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye that is caused by injury or dysfunction in the eye's associated nerves and muscles. Without treatment, the condition can lead to issues with depth perception and double vision. Thi's family traveled to our medical partner's care center so he can receive treatment. On March 1st, surgeons will perform a corrective procedure to align Thi's eyes. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $331 to fund this procedure. Thi's dad shared: "I want my son to start school and have good vision."

Dennis is a nine-year-old student. He's the youngest of four children in his family and is in grade six at school. Sadly, his mother passed away several years ago and his father was unable to take care of him. He now lives with a neighbor, who is his guardian. He enjoys playing football and other games in school, although his condition makes it difficult. Dennis was born with clubfoot of both feet, a condition in which the feet are twisted out of shape causing difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. He experiences pain and difficulty walking, and cannot wear shoes. He is unable to play games, like football, which he enjoys. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Dennis receive treatment. On November 22nd, he will undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AMH's care center. After treatment, he will be able to walk well, wear shoes, play with friends and continue with his studies. Now, they need help raising $1,286 to fund his procedure and care. Dennis shared, "I would love to have my feet corrected so that I can walk well and play with my friends."

Jayden is a quiet, shy two-year-old boy. He is the youngest in a family of three children. His mother works as a waitress in a local hotel while his father recently took on a new job as an uber driver. Jayden was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and be at risk of infertility. Jayden's parents learned about our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), through a local television station. When Jayden turned two, his parents brought him to AMH's care center for examination. On November 8th, Jayden will undergo corrective surgery. AHM is requesting $847 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Jayden’s mother shared, “As a family, we are really looking forward to Jayden being able to have treatment.”

Channa is a 13-year-old student. She's the youngest of six children in her family, and has two older brothers, and three older sisters. Her siblings are married and work in construction or at the local clothes factory. Her father sadly passed away six years ago, and her mother has taken over the family farm and grows vegetables. When she is not in school, she likes to go swimming or for walks with her friends. Her favorite subject in school is Khmer literature, and she would like to be a lawyer when she grows up. Since she was born, Channa has had a mass on the right side of her nose. The mass was removed once before, but has come back. She experiences pain and feels ashamed of her appearance. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Channa receive treatment. She traveled to visit CSC's care center where, on December 9th, surgeons will remove the mass. Doctors believe the mass is a hamartoma, or an abnormal growth that is a mixture of cells and tissue, but they would like to do a histology to confirm whether additional treatment is needed following the excision. Now, Channa's family needs help raising $231 to fund her procedure and care. Channa's mother shared that she is hopeful that after surgery her daughter will look and feel better and can go to school.