Roy is a baby boy from Bolivia. He lives with his mother, who works on a farm, two older brothers, and an older sister. His mom noticed he used to cry a lot, and he was tired when breastfeeding, so she took him to a doctor who discovered his heart problem. Roy has a cardiac condition called the Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. This prevents Roy's body from getting enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On October 15th, Roy 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 his heart and remove the muscular blockage from the valve. Roy'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. Roy's mother shared, "I just want the best for my child. Thankfully, his surgery will be soon and then we can go back home with him!"

Lorna is 34 years old and a teacher from the Philippines. Her husband works as an assistant at a dental clinic. Fifteen years ago, when Lorna was in High School, she noticed a lump on her leg. As it did not bother her, she ignored it. However, with time, it grew bigger and started to cause discomfort, affecting her ability to perform her duties as a teacher. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On September 12th, she will undergo a mass excision, which will help address her discomfort and regain her mobility. A portion of the cost of the procedure will be covered by the government health insurance, but she needs help to raise $1,385 more for her procedure and care. Lorna shared, "I am very grateful for programs like this that help us, especially in this time of need. It brings comfort and hope to me and my family now that I can avail a free surgery for my condition so I can go back to work."

Monny Reach and his family are from Takeo Province, Cambodia, about four hours away from the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother who is ten years old and in fourth grade. His father works as a taxi driver, and his mother sells groceries. At home, Monny enjoys playing with toy cars and spending time with his mother. He loves all types of Khmer soups, especially lemongrass sour soup. When Monny Reach was about a year old, his parents noticed weakness in his foot when he was unable to stand after pulling himself up using furniture. They took him to a children's hospital, where a doctor observed that his spine was not straight and suspected a spinal deformity. The doctor recommended that he visit an organization for further evaluation, where he was advised to wear a brace. However, due to a respiratory disease he had as a baby, Monny Reach often struggled to breathe, making it impossible for him to wear the brace. He did not begin walking on his own until he was two and a half years old. Recently, Monny Reach's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. In February, he was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis, which causes his spine to curve or twist. This condition can eventually affect his chest and lungs, making it harder for him to breathe. Although Monny does not feel pain, he experiences difficulty breathing and sitting for long periods. On August 12th, Monny Reach will undergo spinal surgery to correct his scoliosis and stabilize his spine. This surgery is expected to improve his posture and allow him to live a healthier life as he grows. His family hopes that the operation will help him breathe better and prevent future complications, but they need assistance covering the $1,500 cost of the procedure. This amount includes surgery, metal spinal implants, anesthesia, medication, and postoperative care. Monny Reach's parents said, "After the operation, we hope that our son will have a normal spine like the other kids and not have any pain. We want him to grow strong and healthy."

Fernanda is a 12-year-old student from Bolivia, who lives with her parents and an older sister. Her favorite subject in high school is music, and she also loves to socialize with her school friends. Her dad is a sports trainer, and her mom is a homemaker. Several months ago, Fernanda was taken to hospital when she started experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Fernanda was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On July 21st, Fernanda 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. Fernanda'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. Fernanda's mother says: "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the people who are working so hard to help so many children like my daughter!"

Vincent is a 13-year-old boy from the Philippines. His mother works as a cashier at a pawnshop, and his father is a factory worker. At the age of 10, during a consultation for circumcision, Vincent was found to have hypospadias, a congenital condition that affects the urethra. Initially, his parents thought that his condition would resolve naturally, as their son did not experience any pain. However, the attending physician explained that Vincent could not undergo a regular circumcision and required corrective surgery instead. Following the diagnosis, the family sought medical evaluation at various hospitals, looking for an option they could afford. Fortunately, they were referred to our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Vincent will undergo corrective surgery on May 3rd. A portion of the cost of his procedure will be supported by the government health insurance program, but Vincent needs help to raise $1,184 more to completely fund his procedure and care. Vincent's parents shared, "It is our dream to provide Vincent the necessary surgical intervention. As his parents, we want him to live normally. I believe this is crucial as untreated hypospadias could affect his ability to have children in the future. So we couldn't thank you enough for making this dream come true."

Naw Cho is a 34-year-old woman from Burma. She lives in Karen State, Burma. She stays with her three-year-old daughter while her husband works elsewhere and supports her and her daughter monthly. Naw Cho shares this income with her parents-in-law, who live in a separate house. This money is enough to cover their general household expenses and basic healthcare. In her free time, Naw Cho loves playing with her daughter. She hopes to open a small shop to earn money and send her daughter to school. In 2018, while eating breakfast, Naw Cho opened her mouth and suddenly heard a loud sound in her jaw. She was unable to speak, and her jaw swelled up. After three days, she went to a local clinic that gave her an injection, which helped reduce the swelling. Three years later, her gums began to swell once again, and she sought treatment again. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to receive treatment. Without the financial means to visit a private hospital, she relied on herbal medicine, which provided no relief. Uncertain of where else to seek help, she stopped pursuing medical treatment. Naw Cho's condition slowly worsened, causing much pain and discomfort. She has difficulty eating and speaking. Naw Cho sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on May 22nd. She is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Naw Cho said, “I feel happy now that I know there are people who can help me."

Abby is a 10-year-old Grade 4 student from Kisumu County in Kenya. “I want to be a professional footballer like Messi,” says Abby with a big smile. He loves football so much that he plays every chance he gets, even though his foot hurts. His mother sometimes gets worried when she sees him running and playing, but Abby never gives up. Abby is the youngest in a family of four. His mother is a vegetable seller who works hard to care for her children. In 2018, Abby fell and injured his right knee. He was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had an infection called septic arthritis. He underwent an arthrotomy washout procedure to treat it. After the surgery, his foot became weak and later developed a deformity. Now, Abby walks on his toes. He feels pain when walking and is unable to do so for long distances. One day, Abby and his mother met a kind stranger who noticed his limp and told them about our medical partner care center, AIC Cure Hospital, where children with foot and bone problems are treated. Abby’s mother decided to take him there. At the hospital, Abby was reviewed and was diagnosed with acquired clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, making it hard to even wear shoes and causing walking difficulties. Abby will need corrective surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Abby receive treatment. On April 23rd, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery to relieve his pain, improve his leg's function and help him work towards his dream of becoming a great footballer—just like Messi. Now, Abby's family needs help to fund this $1,286 procedure. "I can’t wait for my foot to be corrected so I can walk normally and play football without pain," Abby shared with a smile.

Staller is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and four-year-old grandson in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. Staller and her husband previously ran a laundromat but had to shut it down due to her health issues. During her free time, she enjoys watching the news, Tiktok videos on her phone, and spending time with her grandson. Staller and her husband depend financially on their daughter, a housekeeper in Shan State. In May 2024, Staller began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe lower back pain and hematuria, or blood in the urine. Doctors want to perform a ureteroscopy to treat her condition. During this procedure, doctors will insert a scope through the urethra and bladder to locate the stone and remove it. Depending on the size of the stone, it may need to be broken down into smaller pieces so they can remove it more easily. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on March 9th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Staller expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for the assistance of my treatment costs. Without your help, my surgery would not be possible, and I cannot express enough words for my thankfulness to each of you.”

Say is a 27-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her father, four siblings, and her daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Say is originally from Karen State, Burma, and arrived in the camp with her family in 2000 after the military attacked their village. She got married in 2019 after finishing junior college in the camp. Her father is a motorboat driver and her husband is an agricultural and vegetable farmer. Say is a homemaker and sometimes goes to her husband’s vegetable farms to help him. Say is currently expecting her second child and her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. Say had diabetes mellitus, anemia, fetal LGA (large gestational age), and polyhydramnios during her first pregnancy. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Say undergo a C-Section on February 21st. This procedure will cost $1500, and Say needs your support. Say said, “I wish to have a healthy baby, and I am happy with either girl or boy, as long as my baby is healthy. In the future I plan to go the vegetable farms more often and stay there when my children grow up to help my husband.”

Doricas is a 29-year-old single mother of four young children in Kenya. Coming from a family that struggles to make ends meet through casual domestic jobs, Doricas was on her way to a new job in Nairobi when her life changed drastically. She was involved in a severe car accident that left her with injuries on her forehead and a fractured leg. She underwent emergency surgery where an external fixator was placed to stabilize her leg. She now needs a fracture repair surgery, and is in significant pain, unable to raise the necessary funds for the procedure. Presently, she is in the hospital, while her children, aged between 2 and 8, are under the care of her mother. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, they haven't been able to attend school or receive the support they desperately need. Doricas is worried about their well-being and future. Despite the help of friends and relatives, the mounting hospital bills and the costs of her essential surgeries, including the upcoming procedure for her leg, are more than they can cover. Doricas is in significant pain and needs your help to get back on her feet—not just for herself but for her children who depend on her. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 22nd, Doricas will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Now, Doricas needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Doricas says, “My leg aches, especially at night when it’s cold, and it’s so painful I cannot sleep.”

Zaw is a 46-year-old man living in Thailand. He fled to Thailand from his village in Karen State, Burma in April 2024 due to fighting in the area. In his free time, Zaw used to enjoy exercising a lot but nowadays, he prefers to take long walks since he cannot lift anymore. Zaw can move normally and do most chores himself, but he is unable to work. Early in May 2024, Zaw experienced severe pain in his abdomen for the first time. He visited a clinic and the doctor treated him with an intravenous injection after diagnosing him with gastritis. The pain went away but came back as soon as he left the hospital. He feels pain in his abdomen that comes and goes and worsens when he lies down, making it impossible for him to sleep well. After several visits to clinics and hospitals, Zaw was diagnosed with a pancreatic pseudocyst and needs surgery to remove it. Zaw is now at a clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, as he awaits further treatment. The clinic also helps provide shelter, food, and financial aid for health care. Zaw traveled to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to receive care, and on November 21st, surgeons will remove the cyst. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Zaw's procedure and provide him relief from the impact of the cyst. Zaw expresses his worries saying, “Right now, I do not even want to think about my future. I hope I will be able to find a good job after I am healthy again, where no heavy lifting is needed. Thank you to BCMF and the donors for your help.”

Wilbin is a one-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother and three older siblings. His mother is a market vendor. He loves playing with his siblings and listening to music with his family. Wilbin has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. Wilbin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 17th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, where surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. Wilbin'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 Wilbin's family overseas. Wilbin's mother shared, "Our family has been praying for this surgery. We are so happy our prayers are being answered!"