Rayvan is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania and the middle child in his family of three. His parents practice small-scale farming, growing primarily maize and cassava, to meet their family's needs. Rayvan was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. Shortly after he started walking, his legs began bowing. Several factors can 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. For Rayvan, this condition has made him less active and affected his confidence. On January 16th, Rayvan will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. This treatment will restore his mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund Rayvan's treatment. Rayan's mother said, "I hope that one day Rayvan won't even remember that he had this conditon making it hard for him to walk properly."

15-month-old Ayani lives with his parents and one brother in Ethiopia. His father works as an electrician, while his mother takes care of the home. When he was six months old, Ayani's parents took him to a local health center due to a skin rash. The doctor who examined him discovered that Ayani had an undescended testicle. He assured Ayani's parents that the condition could be resolved surgically, and referred them to a larger public hospital for treatment. After waiting for nine months, the family was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), where he will undergo corrective surgery on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $754 to cover the costs of Ayani's procedure and care, which will prevent him from developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Ayani&'s mother said: "Your kindness and humility remind me of how someone gets service when they pay a significant amount, and we are treated like that. We sincerely hope for our child's successful surgery, and pray for that outcome."

Moses is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest of two children. His mother is single and unemployed, but she runs a small salon to earn income. According to his mother, life has not been easy for her as a single parent. Her firstborn had a baby while still in school, and the child has had ongoing health challenges due to congenital abnormalities, resulting in frequent hospital visits. Moses, on the other hand, has generally been healthy and is currently in Grade Five. He is described as a well-behaved and bright student who performs well in school. About two months ago, while bathing him, his mother noticed a small swelling in the left inguinal region. She decided to bring him to our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital, where an ultrasound scan was performed. Moses was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Moses has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Moses will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 19th. AMHF is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. "I hope I am not too late to bring my son for treatment, but I hope to get help and have him operated on so that he may not have problems when he grows up. I appreciate your support," said Moses' mother.

Divyana is a cheerful eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and spending time with his friends and younger brother. He lives in Sekota, and they travelled approximately 870 kilometers to seek treatment, a journey that took three days. His mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father works as an agricultural officer in a government institution. Together, his parents work hard to support their family and meet their children’s needs. Divyana's mother discovered his condition at birth and was immediately overwhelmed with frustration and panic. Questions raced through her mind, she says, “What is wrong with him? Is it my fault? How can I help my child?” Fear and stress consumed her, but her instinct to protect him never wavered. She began seeking information about his condition, choosing not to share too much with him to safeguard his emotional well-being. To prevent potential teasing or stigma, she instructed him to isolate himself whenever he went to the bathroom, warning him that other children might ridicule him if they saw him. She repeated this often, worried about how his condition might affect his social life and learning, especially since hypospadias is uncommon in their community. Divyana frequently compared himself to his younger brother and asked his mother why he was different. These moments left her feeling helpless, with no answers, only tears. One day, while visiting a relative in Addis Ababa who was undergoing orthopedic treatment, Divyana ’s mother heard about several successful cases being treated at the facility. Curious and hopeful, she began asking questions, but without revealing her son’s condition. Eventually, she received the contact information for the field patient coordinator at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. Doctors confirmed that Divyana was born 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, Divyana is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Divyana's mother said, "I wish my child were very healthy, and I am thrilled to get this opportunity."

Neema is a six-month-old baby girl from Kenya. Her life has already been marked by significant medical challenges. At birth, she was diagnosed with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Neema's mother brought her to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, to treat Neema's hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Neema has been experiencing discomfort, frequent crying, and occasional vomiting. Without treatment, Neema will experience severe physical and developmental delays. The initial surgery was not successful. Neema needs to undergo a shunt insertion surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $719 to cover the cost of Neema's hydrocephalus surgery. The procedure, which will drain excess fluid from Neema's brain, reducing intracranial pressure, is scheduled to take place on November 25th. With proper treatment and care, Neema will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. “Seeing my daughter get better is my greatest joy. I pray that this surgery will be successful and free from complications. I want to take my baby home in her healthiest state,” shares Neema’s mother.

Joshua, who is 49 years old, lives with his wife and two children in Kenya. He works as a farmhand for a neighbor, while his wife stays home to care for their children. On November 18th, while he was working on the farm, the vehicle he was driving lost its brakes, went out of control, and overturned. Unfortunately, it landed on Joshua’s left leg, causing a fracture-dislocation of his ankle. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 25th, Joshua will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation, at our medical partner's care center, Nazareth Hospital. This treatment will alleviate pain and enable him to heal properly. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,048 to fund this procedure. "My wish is to get help to have this surgery so that my leg can heal well so that I will be able to go back to my job to continue supporting my family," said Joshua.

Peter is a 10-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third born among seven children, raised by loving parents who survive through small-scale farming. From the day Peter was born, something was different about his feet. His parents noticed that both of his feet bent inward, making it difficult for him to balance and walk normally. As the years passed, the condition worsened. Walking long distances—something every child in his village must do daily—became painful and exhausting for him. Despite this, He is a joyful boy with a bright smile, loved by his family and admired by his friends. He enjoys going to school, playing with other children, and dreaming big, just like any other child. But his condition has started to limit him more each year. He can no longer walk comfortably to school, and running or playing with his friends is now too painful to bear. Peter’s family tried their best to seek help, but with limited financial resources and no specialized services nearby, they were left with few options. Peter has clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Peter's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Peter's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Peter has a chance to receive the life-changing treatment that will not only relieve his daily pain but also give him a chance to walk, run, and go to school without limitations. Peter says, "I wish that I wouldn't feel any pain walking to school and playing with my friends."

Sr. Consolata is a 46-year-old Sister under the Congregation of Our Lady of Fatima in Uganda. She is a qualified records assistant who currently works in the office of the parish priest, but does not receive payment for her work. About a year ago, Sr. Consolata began experiencing a swelling on her right toe. At first, she ignored it since it was small and not very painful. However, as weeks and months passed, the pain intensified, and the swelling gradually increased in size. Over time, the pain became severe, making it difficult for her to walk or carry out her daily duties. Her ability to perform routine activities became almost impossible. Sr. Consolata sought medical attention from our partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital. After investigations and examinations, the doctors diagnosed her with a right toe cystic mass. If left untreated, the condition will continue to worsen, causing persistent pain and limiting her mobility. The doctors recommended a mass excision surgery to relieve the pain and restore her ability to function normally. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On December 9th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Sr. Consolata needs help to fund this $145 procedure. She says, "I pray that I am able to receive support and treatment through the recommended surgery. I look forward to be free of pain and have a better quality of life."

Menas is a five-year-old boy from Tanzania. He loves football and is known in his village as the cheerful boy who is always ready to laugh. He is the firstborn in a family of five children, and his parents rely on farming and goat keeping to support the family. Menas was diagnosed with severe bilateral genu valgus. a condition that causes his knees 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. The condition started gradually and worsened as he grew older. He has experienced frequent falls trying to catch up with his peers. Because of this, his daily walk to school and helping the family with chores have become increasingly difficult. He hopes to walk more comfortably and to return to school without pain or fear of falling. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Menas. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 17th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Menas's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Menas says, “When my legs get better, I will enjoy playing football with my friends.”