Emmanuel is a 45-year-old hardworking father from Philippines. He previously worked as driver to support his family, but is currently unemployed, which is challenging while raising two school-going children. His wife is also unemployed, and with no steady income, the family often skip meals and mainly depend on partial repayments of debts from relatives, and occasionally borrow money from the children's uncle. Six years ago, Emmanuel began to experience troubling symptoms, including intense chest pains that radiate to his back, which prevented him from sitting or lying down. He made repeated attempts to seek treatment in public hospitals, but these were unsuccessful due to overcrowding. Emmanuel is growing increasingly worried about not being able to provide for his family, yet he remains hopeful that the surgery could alleviate his painful symptoms and reduce the financial strain on his family. Emmanuel has been diagnosed with cholelithiasis, which are hardened pieces of bile that form in the gallbladder. Doctors have advised him to undergo a cholecystectomy, which the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at a risk of future health complications. Emmanuel is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 11th, through our partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Emmanuel's surgery and care. Emmanuel says: "Despite our current struggles, I remain optimistic about our future. Once I receive treatment for my condition, I'll return to work so I can provide for my family again. My wife and children keep me strong."

Hadassa is a seven-year-old girl from Haiti. She is the middle child in her family, with an older sister and a younger brother. She does not currently attend school but enjoys helping her parents around the house and watching cartoons. Hadassa has a cardiac condition called a partial atrioventricular canal defect. A hole exists between the chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak between them instead of properly circulating through the lungs to receive oxygen. This leaves her weak and short of breath. Hadassa also has Down syndrome. Hadassa needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 24th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will repair the hole in her heart. Another organization is paying for the surgery, but her family also needs help with travel and 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 Hadassa's family overseas. Hadessa’s mother shares, “Our family is so happy to know that there is a way to fix our daughter’s heart, and we hope everything will go well!”

Beatrice is 46 years old and lives in Malawi. She is a single mother of two children and a grandmother to one. She earns a living through small-scale farming, growing vegetables and maize when the season allows. What she harvests is what sustains her home. For the past year, Beatrice has been struggling with her health. She has endured prolonged and heavy bleeding, often leaving her weak and exhausted. Alongside this, she began to feel a lump in the lower left side of her abdomen. At first, she tried to brave through the discomfort, but in February 2026, the pain became intense and impossible to ignore. An ultrasound scan revealed multiple uterine masses as well as an inguinal mass. Presently, the ongoing bleeding has also left her anaemic. Beatrice was started on treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, to stabilize her condition. After a month of care, her hemoglobin has improved from 8 to 10, giving her strength in preparation for surgery. Doctors have now advised that she urgently needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to address the problem. Beatrice's surgery has been scheduled for May 7th. For her, this is the hope she has been holding on to, a chance to live without constant pain and weakness. But the surgery cost of $651 stands in her way. With no stable income beyond her small harvests and no close family to turn to for financial help, she has not been able to raise any funds for the procedure. Beatrice's hope is for a chance to undergo the surgery and return to a life where she can care for her children and grandchild, without the burden of illness. She said, “I have been weak for a long time, and it has not been easy to look after my family like this. I want to be strong again and live without this pain. I am hoping that I will receive support and get this surgery.”

Maligelita is a 42-year-old mother of six from Malawi who is married to a farmer. Before her illness, she worked as a tailor, using her skills to provide for her family and contribute to their daily needs. Six years ago, Maligelita noticed a small, painless swelling on her neck. Because it did not interfere with her daily life, she did not seek medical care at the time. As time passed, the swelling grew larger, and she began to experience pain when swallowing, tightness in her throat, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms gradually became so severe that she could no longer concentrate on her tailoring, causing her to step back from her business. In 2025, she was diagnosed with a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that support metabolism, growth, and other essential functions in the body. After experiencing episodes of choking at night, Maligelita returned to her local hospital and was recently referred to Partners in Hope Medical Center for urgent treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is facilitating support to help Maligelita receive the care that she needs. Maligelita is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 10, which will cost $1,015. The surgery will hopefully help prevent further medical complications and allow her to return to her daily activities without worry. "I am very afraid. Kindly support me." said Maligelita worriedly.

Hemedi is a 10-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents and one sibling in a hardworking, farming family. Both of his parents cultivate crops to provide for the household and support their children’s education. Hemedi is currently in Standard Four and enjoys attending school. Hemedi was diagnosed with a wind-swept deformity, right varus and left valgus, otherwise known as knock knees. This condition causes his right leg to bend outward and his left leg to bend inward. 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. Walking long distances has become increasingly difficult due to the bowing of both legs. The condition affects Hemedi's balance and limits his participation in school activities and play. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Hemedi. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 13th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Hemedi's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Hemedi says, "I want my legs to be strong so I can go to school and play with my friends without pain."

Mili is a five-month old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, who is a homemaker; her father, who is a truck driver; and two older siblings in a neighborhood of La Paz. When Mili was born prematurely, doctors informed her family that she had Down syndrome and a heart condition. Since then, Mili has had difficulty breathing and gaining weight, and needs this surgery to become healthy. Mili has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition prevents Mili's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness, and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On January 13th, Mili will 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. Mili'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. Her mother says: "I trust my child will have a successful surgery. I'm grateful for the kindness that people at the hospital have shown me; the doctors and nurses and everybody here are very nice to me and my daughter!"

Kristoffer is a 39-year-old man from the Philippines. He used to work overseas, away from his family. When he returned to the Philippines to settle permanently, he started a water refilling business. His work requires him to lift heavy water containers and deliver them to customers regularly. Five years ago, Kristoffer felt sudden discomfort and noticed a mass in a sensitive area of his body. He continued to feel discomfort and pain whenever he sat for long periods or lifted heavy objects. A few weeks ago, more symptoms appeared, greatly worrying him. Kristoffer has two children and continues to support his elderly parents, making his health concerns even more distressing for him. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. Kristoffer was diagnosed with hemorrhoids, and he needs surgery to address his symptoms. On January 29th, Kristoffer will undergo a hemorrhoidectomy. He needs help to raise $978 to fund his procedure and care. Kristoffer said, "Hopefully, I can move more freely after the operation. I do not want to worry about my condition again. Instead, I want to focus my energy on our business and taking care of my children and parents."

Ellen is a 50-year-old nurse from Malawi. She is a single mother of two boys aged 22 and 16. Each month, she earns about $420, which covers household needs and her children’s school fees. For about 21 months now, Ellen has been experiencing abdominal pain accompanied by uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. Since August 2024, she has undergone numerous tests, which were costly and strained her finances. She has been diagnosed with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade III (CIN III), the most severe form of precancerous cervical cell changes. If left untreated, it can progress to invasive cervical cancer. Removing the affected tissue prevents this progression. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Ellen's surgery. On December 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Ellen will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain, and prevent future medical complications. Ellen says, “With your support to undergo surgery, I know I will get better, continue caring for my children as their breadwinner, and keep serving the nation as a health worker.”

Nyi is a 38-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Now he is a general day laborer, while his wife is a homemaker. One of his children is attending kindergarten, and the other one is too young to enroll in school. Their monthly income is just enough to cover their expenses, and sometimes, their wife’s friend, who works in Bangkok, supports them with their household's basic needs. In May 2024, Nyi noticed a swollen mass that caused him pain and discomfort. He visited the local clinic, where he underwent a physical examination, and after that, he had excisional surgery and was treated with oral antibiotics and painkillers. After the surgery, the symptoms initially disappeared, but in April 2025, the symptoms reappeared. His symptoms persisted, so he was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), in October 2025. Doctors advised him that he needs surgery to remove the mass. Currently, Zaw experiences pain, swelling, and discomfort. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Zaw receive treatment. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 6th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nyi expressed his feelings and said, “I feel depressed due to anxiety about my health. As a result of my condition, I have been unable to work properly, further reducing my family’s income. As a migrant, I faced financial difficulties and could not afford my treatment. However, thank you very much to the Burma Children's Medical Fund and the donors for assisting with my treatment costs. After I fully recover, I can go back to work and support my family.”

Ork is a 52-year-old English teacher from Cambodia. He lives in rural Kampong Cham province with his elderly mother and has been divorced for about two years. He has two children, but both live with his ex-wife. He travels to see them whenever he can. During his free time, he enjoys teaching extra classes and watching the news on the internet. Ork developed this condition following an accident in 2022 when someone cut him off while he was riding his motorbike, causing him to tumble to the ground and injure his left shoulder. He received treatment for wound repair at a local hospital, but was still unable to move his left hand. In 2022, he underwent nerve repair surgery for a brachial plexus injury at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), which improved his hand function; however, he still cannot fully lift his hand. Now, he hopes for better use of his arm to improve his capability to ride a motorbike. He needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Ork is scheduled to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure on September 2nd. He is able to contribute $50 to his care, but needs help raising $651 to fund his treatment and care. Ork said: "After the surgery, I hope that I will be able to use my left hand more comfortably again."