Yohannes is a cheerful and active young boy from Ethiopia. He loves visiting new places, playing with other children, and asking his mother many questions. He also enjoys watching cartoons and spending time with his friends. His father works as a taxi driver, while his mother is a homemaker who cares for the family. Yohannes's mother first noticed something unusual shortly after his birth. Doctors diagnosed him with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Yohannes is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 25th at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Yohannes’ mother: “I am very happy to come to BKMCM. I received good service, and I hope my baby will be in good condition after the surgery.”

Tennyson is a playful 11-year-old boy from Kenya. He is currently in grade 3 and loves drawing and playing with friends. His father is a construction worker, while his mother is a home maker. Tennyson has clubfoot of right foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. Tennyson was also born with a hearing impairment. His mother first noticed that his right foot was bending when he was three years old. “He struggled to walk and would often complain of pain, and as he grew, it only got worse,” she recalls. They sought help at a nearby hospital but were informed that the condition could not be treated there. With no clear solution, they returned home. As time passed, the condition worsened. The pain increased, Tennyson's foot began to swell, and walking became more difficult. Eventually, Tennyson had to stop going to school because he could no longer walk. One of his teachers grew concerned and reached out to the family. After learning about Tennyson’s condition, the teacher informed his mother about a mobile clinic by AIC CURE Hospital, where Tennyson could undergo a review. At the clinic, Tennyson was assessed and scheduled for serial casting and a clubfoot surgery. He has been undergoing the casting and is now ready for the repair surgery, which has been scheduled for May 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Tennyson's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his foot will gradually straighten and restore his ability to walk. Tennyson's mother says: “I am praying that his foot will be straightened, so that he can walk without pain, go back to school, and live like other children.”

Teresu is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. Growing up in a farming community, Teresu spends much of his time helping with crop cultivation, an important source of livelihood for his family. He has never attended school but actively contributes to family work in the fields. Teresu has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, is a condition where the knees angle inward and touch while the ankles remain apart. His right leg is however more severely affected than the left. 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. The condition has caused Teresu discomfort during long hours of standing and walking, limiting his ability to work and participate in daily activities. Despite the challenges, he remains hardworking and hopeful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Teresu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Teresu's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Teresu says, “I want to walk and work without pain, so I can help my family better.”

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

Rahel is a 17-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her family, who depend on small-scale farming and seasonal labor for their livelihood. Those close to her describe her as patient, respectful, and determined, someone who rarely complains even when things are difficult. Despite these challenges, Rahel has remained motivated about her future. Rahel has grown up carrying a heavy physical burden caused by burn scar contractures affecting her hand. She values education and practical skills and wants to be able to work and support herself. However, the functional limitation in her hand has made schoolwork, vocational tasks, and daily chores slower and more difficult, affecting both her confidence and productivity With limited and unpredictable income, accessing specialized reconstructive care was never financially possible. As a result, Rahel adapted as best as she could, learning to use her hand in alternative ways, avoiding tasks that required strength and flexibility, and quietly pushing through discomfort. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rahel receive treatment. On February 17th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to give her a strong chance to regain grip strength and finger mobility, improvements that will directly impact her independence, learning ability, and future employability. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Rahel says, “Because my fingers are tight and cannot open well, I struggle to hold things firmly or write for long. I hope this treatment will help me use my hand normally and work independently.”

Patrocenio is a 63-year-old man from the Philippines. Two years ago, Patrocenio consulted a doctor about persistent abdominal pain. At times, the pain was so severe that he could not walk or perform simple daily chores. The attacks came without warning, leaving him uncertain about when the next episode would occur. After examination, the doctor explained that Patrocenio had gallstones and advised that they be removed through surgery. Patrocenio tried to seek help from different hospitals, but has not been able to undergo the surgery he needed. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On January 29th, Patrocenio will undergo gallbladder removal surgery to address his symptoms and allow him to live more comfortably. He needs help to raise $1,325 to fund his procedure and care. Patrocenio shared, "Work had always been on my mind ever since my condition became worse. I want to move normally as I did before - working, doing house chores, and going out more to enjoy even the simplest of things."

Melany is an intelligent, affectionate, and kind girl. She is known for being active and generous, always willing to share. She loves to play and explore the world around her. However, due to a condition in her teeth that appeared when she was just three years old, she has stopped smiling freely for fear of being teased by other children. Despite this, she remains cheerful and has dreams for the future: when she grows up, she wants to become a soccer player. Melany is scheduled for dental surgery on December 17th. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund her treatment and care. The dental treatment under general anesthesia will help eliminate deep cavities. It will be performed under general anesthesia, which guarantees pain relief, anxiety control, and safety during the procedure. Before the procedure, a complete medical evaluation will be performed, and after the procedure, Melany will undergo a period of supervised recovery. Melany's parents say, "We are overjoyed to know that our daughter will be able to receive the treatment we have been waiting for. This step will not only help her regain the confidence to smile comfortably, but also improve her physical and emotional health. We cannot find the words to express our gratitude; we are convinced that Melany will be very happy to know that, thanks to your generosity and commitment, we will be able to overcome this condition together that has accompanied her since she was so young."

Henry is 41 years old and a father of two from Malawi. Before his illness, he worked full-time as a security guard at a local church near his home in rural Lilongwe. Since the operation, he has been unable to resume work and now depends largely on his wife, who has also been unable to engage in farming because they spend most of their time in and out of hospitals. As a result, their children have also suffered the impact of this financial and emotional strain. One year ago, Henry began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, difficulty standing upright, blurred vision, and blood in his urine due to intestinal perforation following a motorbike accident. He underwent surgery where a stoma was created to divert intestinal waste while his intestines healed. Henry has lived with this stoma for over a year, enduring both physical and emotional challenges. Fortunately, his wound has now healed, and he is ready for a reversal procedure to restore normal intestinal function, but he needs financial support. Physicians need to perform a laparotomy to open up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Henry's surgery. On November 11th, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. “My condition is unbearable; I truly need God’s intervention. I have experienced firsthand how real stigma can be,” said Henry during the assessment.