Thiago is a five-year-old boy from Colombia. He lives in Yarumal, Antioquia, with his family. He is intelligent, charismatic, and very friendly. His joy and curiosity shine through every day at preschool, where he interacts with his classmates with enthusiasm and warmth. When he grows up, he dreams of becoming a great doctor to help those in need. Since birth, Thiago has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. Umbilical hernias cause mild discomfort or tenderness around the navel, especially when crying, coughing, or straining. It often causes discomfort that prevents Thiago from carrying out daily activities such as playing, jumping, and enjoying his childhood. It can, in many cases, lead to tenderness in the area and an increased risk of complications if left untreated. Fortunately, on July 28th, Thiago will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Thiago's surgery. Once completed, this procedure should allow him to live more comfortably. Thiago's mother said, "As Thiago’s mother, I can’t thank you enough for your generosity. The support you’re providing for my son’s surgery means so much more than just financial assistance; it gives us hope again and makes us feel that we’re not alone during this difficult time. We’ve been waiting a long time for this treatment, as we’re confident it will improve his quality of life, prevent complications, and allow him to go about his daily activities just like any other child his age."

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.

Mateo is a toddler from Bolivia. He is his parents' first child. He lives with his mom, who is a homemaker, and his dad, who works distributing soda. When he was born prematurely at 30 weeks, Mateo had to be in an incubator where doctors detected his heart condition. Mateo has a cardiac condition called tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a combination of four heart conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Mateo does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 6th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow more normally. Mateo'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. Mateo's mother shared, "I'm grateful my child is going to receive his surgery so he can grow and be a healthy boy."

Ra is a 68-year-old man from Siem Reap province in Cambodia. He and his wife have two children. His wife sells biscuits, their eldest child is a grocery seller, and their youngest is a car repairer. In his free time, Ra helps his wife with household and work-related tasks. In 2019, Ra began experiencing pain in his right hip due to avascular necrosis, a condition in which bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply, which caused a structural failure of his hip ball joint. Ra underwent a total hip replacement through our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), at that time. However, over the past year, his pain has returned, and walking has become difficult. His x-ray showed that some of the acetabular cup and femoral stem (components from his hip replacement surgery) have come loose, leaving him unable to walk comfortably or perform daily activities. Ra was referred back to CSC for treatment. On April 8th, he will undergo a revision hip replacement procedure on his right hip. This surgery will stabilize the hip, relieve his pain, and restore his mobility. Ra was able to contribute $100 to his care and is requesting assistance to raise the remaining $1,400 to cover the cost of prosthesis, surgery, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Roth said, "I had a hip replacement in 2019, but over the past year, the pain has returned, and it's become difficult for me to walk. I hope further treatment will fix the problem and help me move comfortably again."

Pu is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his parents and older brother in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. His parents are retired, while his older sister works in the banana farm outside of the camp. Pu has stopped working since his accident in 2024. In his free time, he loves to hunt rats or mice in the forest to help them get by every month. Pu underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Pu's case, his colostomy requires reversal to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Pu. The surgery is scheduled to take place on March 10th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently, and return to work. Pu said, "I want to recover and find work. Now with my colostomy bag, it prevents me from working. Thank you for helping me."

N is a 54-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, and they both work as day laborers. Nwet also grows vegetables in her home backyard for household consumption. Nwet has two sons and one daughter who live in nearby villages with their own families. In her free time, Nwet likes doing chores and watching movies. Last April, N began to experience troubling symptoms. Doctors suspect the presence of stones in her urethra and recommend a ureteroscopy to be able to treat her symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. N expressed her gratitude and said, “I am very thankful to BCMF and the donors who are providing financial support for my surgery. I want to recover as soon as possible after surgery, so that I can return to work as a daily laborer, save money, and repay my debt. Thank you once again, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness and empathy.”

Aye is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and four children in Mae La Refugee Camp, Tak Province, Thailand. Aye is a homemaker. Her eldest daughter has had to stop studying to help take care of her and look after household chores. Her husband and two sons are agricultural day laborers, and her youngest daughter is a student. Since July 2024, Aye began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain in her left lower back and upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. She was diagnosed with gallstones and advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Aye is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on January 7th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Aye's procedure and care. Aye said, “I feel sad and stressed as I have to visit the hospital every two months for my condition. My elder daughter has had to sacrifice her studies to care for me. Thank you to BCMF and donors for accepting my case for support with my treatment cost.”

Ada is a young student from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who is a school custodian, and her teenage sister. Ada loves to sing; she is very friendly and has a strong personality. In 2022, Ada was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On December 10th, Ada will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Ada's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical fees, follow-up care, and medications. Ada's mother says, "My daughter is in God's hands; I pray He can heal her through these wonderful doctors."

Aung is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives by himself in a refugee camp in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. He is unemployed, and the community provides him with free accommodation, food, and basic healthcare, as he has no relatives to look after him. Sometimes he weeds by hand in someone’s yard for some money. Aung underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Aung's case, his colostomy requires reversal to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Aung. The surgery is scheduled to take place on November 11th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Aung said, “When the doctor talked about the treatment cost, I felt sad, and I decided not to undergo the treatment since I have nothing, and I cannot afford it. But when I know that BCMF and donors are going to support my treatment, I feel happy. When I recover, I am going to find a job and earn money to support myself.”