Douwensky is a 3-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, brother, and sister. Douwensky has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure, resulting in an increased head circumference. Without treatment, Douwensky will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Douwensky at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on November 9th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Douwensky's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Douwensky will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. His family is hopeful that the surgery will allow him to grow up healthy.

John is a 9-month-old infant from Haiti. He is the youngest child in a large family. John has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, John has been experiencing increasing head circumference. Without treatment, John will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for John at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from John's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, John will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. John's family hopes the surgery will allow him to live a more full and happy life.

Nyakek is a beautiful three-month-old baby from Sudan. She was born at home, and her mother immediately noticed a large, open swelling on the lower part of her back. The midwives recommended that Nyakek be brought to a nearby hospital, where she was diagnosed with spina bifida. This is a neural tube defect, where the spine and spinal cord don't fully form, leading to infection, lower limb paralysis, and developmental delays. A missionary doctor at the hospital immediately linked them to our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH), which was able to refer them to our partner hospital in Kenya. Plans were put together for how she would travel to Kenya for treatment. Where their family comes from in Sudan, the area has very poor roads and it would not have been possible for them to travel to Juba to be airlifted to Kenya. Instead, the doctor organized for them to board a helicopter that visits the area once a week to deliver supplies. They were taken to Juba where they boarded another flight to Kenya. Upon arrival at our partner's care center, Nyakek was examined and they have started planning for the urgent surgery she needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,151 to cover the cost of Nyakek's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 9th at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. This procedure will hopefully spare Nyakek from the risks associated with her condition, allowing her to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Nyakek’s mother said: “When I saw the swelling, I was very stressed as I had not seen such a thing before. I immediately got worried about my daughter.”

Sokim is a 39-year-old rice farmer, who lives with her husband and three children in Cambodia. Her husband also works as a rice farmer, and their three children are in school. On September 28th, Sokim was washing the family's motorcycle when she slipped and fell, injuring her left leg. At a clinic X-rays were performed, which showed that she had a previously undiagnosed tumor on her left femur. Since then, she has been in constant pain and cannot walk. Because she was not able to afford any treatment, she was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where a biopsy showed a chondrosarcoma of the distal femur. This is a common type of bone cancer that originates in cartilage cells and primarily affects adults. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. The doctors at the clinic referred Sokim to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for further treatment. After additional evaluation, Sokim has been scheduled to undergo surgery on October 19th, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Center, during which the tumor will be removed and her femur repaired. Now, Sokim and her family are seeking $726 to fund Sokim's surgery and care. Sokim hopes that she will be able to walk without pain and continue with her rice farming after she has recovered.

Eyob is a 21-month-old toddler from Ethiopia. He is a cute baby boy who loves to play with other children. His dad is a security guard in a factory, while his mom is a housewife who occasionally washes clothes for neighbors to supplement the family income which is just enough to meet their basic needs. Eyob's family shared that he was born prematurely at only 1.3 kg. His dad is experiencing a lot of stress because of his child's condition and his inability to pay for his son's treatment. As a result, he left his family for a while but recently reunited with them. His mum suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease. Shortly after his birth, Eyob developed a swelling and couldn’t wear trousers due to it. Eyob has been diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him a bulge that is visible only when he is crying, coughing or straining during a bowel movement. In addition, he can be irritable, have a low appetite, experience burning or aching sensations. His mom took him to a private clinic but couldn’t afford the ultrasound fee, and she returned home crying. After a while, she told her doctor about her baby’s case and the physician called another doctor he knew and asked about the fee for the surgery. The doctor told her that his hospital would perform the surgery but it would cost her more than 40,000.00 birr, about $700. Eyob's mom went back home crying and frustrated. A friend told her to try one more time and go to another health centre. They went there and a doctor and nurse told them it could be corrected; they had interacted with a social worker from Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Cetnre (BKMCM) who informed them that the partner hospital supports treatment of such conditions for families that cannot afford the treatment. Fortunately, on September 25th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $591 to fund Eyob's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow Eyob to live more comfortably and confidently as he grows. Eyob's mom said, “We are highly affected psychologically. I always cry looking at my baby. My husband left the house rather than look at his child in such a condition, even though he loves his family. I hope my child will heal after the surgery. I have faith in God."

Claudy is an 11 month old child from Haiti. He is the youngest child in his family. He lives with his mother, father, brother and sister and is very playful. Claudy has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Claudy has been experiencing Increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Claudy will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Claudy at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on July 4th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Claudy's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Claudy will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. The family is hoping that the surgery will allow him to grow and enjoy a healthy life without further challenges.

Blessing is a beautiful 10-year-old girl. She is very active and helps her parents, a farmer and a pastor, with household chores. She is the second born in a family of three, and a grade 4 pupil in primary school and aspires to become a doctor. One day, while alone in the house, Blessing accidentally fell on a boiling tea kettle and sustained burns on her right elbow. She was taken to the nearest hospital, where first aid was administered, and later discharged home. Currently, her right arm has sustained a contracture from the burn. She cannot raise or stretch her hand. Blessing works at home mostly in doing household chores which she likes, but the condition has greatly affected her ability and her self-esteem. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Blessing receive treatment. On November 28th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will allow Blessing to fully use her hand again. Her self-esteem will also improve, and she can continue with her education and chores without interruption. However, we need help to fund this $840 procedure. “I am looking forward to seeing my daughter's hand fully healed and transformed. May God continue to bless you as you do God's work of helping needy patients,” Blessing's mother told us.

Nicol lives with her mother in a city in central Bolivia. She is in kindergarten and loves to paint and watch cartoons. Her mother bakes and sells desserts for a living. Nicol was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Our partner facility International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund cardiac surgery for Nicol. During surgery, doctors will tie the hole closed so that blood no longer leaks through it. Once recovered, Nicol will have improved strength and breathing. If left untreated, it could leave to heart failure. Nicol's mother shared: "Our family was so afraid that our daughter might never be able to have this surgery. We are very happy to know it will happen soon!"

Naw Bay is a 36-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her husband and five children in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Originally from Karenni State, Burma, she and her family fled to the refugee camp in 2011 due to armed conflict in their area. Naw Bay is a homemaker, while her husband is a laboratory staff at the hospital in the refugee camp. All of her children go to school in the refugee camp. During her free time, Naw Bay enjoys foraging for bamboo shoots near the refugee camp. In 2018, Naw Bay gave birth to twin boys. She gave birth to her first son at the hospital in the refugee camp but had difficulty delivering her second son and had to undergo an emergency C-section at Mae Sariang Hospital. Afterwards, she had postpartum hemorrhage and anemia. In January 2023, Naw Bay became pregnant again and has been receiving regular antenatal care at the hospital in the refugee camp. Doctor told her she would need to have a C-section again so that doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Bay undergo a C-Section on October 4th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Naw Bay and her family need your support. Naw Bay hopes for a better life for her and her family in the future. She said, “I would love to relocate to another country so that my children can have a better future."