Dennis is an 18-year-old boy from Kenya. He is being raised by his single mother, who is a casual laborer who relies on seasonal farm work and domestic jobs to provide for Dennis and his three siblings. From infancy, Dennis was a frail child who was frequently ill and required constant care. He experienced significant developmental delays, taking his first steps when he was nearly three years old. While his physical milestones came late, it was his lack of speech that concerned his mother the most. She longed to hear him speak, but Dennis remained unusually quiet. She would talk to him, and he would simply look back at her without responding. Instead of using words, he learned to communicate by lifting or pointing to objects whenever he needed something, a pattern that has continued throughout his life. When Dennis was three years old, he was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where fluid was drained from his ears. Unfortunately, this did not improve his condition. As he grew older, his mother enrolled him in school, but he consistently lagged behind his peers. Over the years, he adapted by relying on lip reading and sign language to communicate. Because of his hearing loss, he depends on watching his teachers' lips closely to follow lessons and understand what is being taught. Despite these challenges, Dennis performed well during his primary school years. However, the transition to secondary school has been much more difficult, as the academic demands have increased. On July 7th, Dennis will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help raising $1,171. The gift of hearing aids would significantly improve Dennis' ability to communicate, participate in class, and reach his full potential. His mother is appealing for support to make this life-changing intervention possible, giving Dennis the opportunity for a brighter and more independent future. "Sometimes when I read aloud in class or say certain words, the other children laugh at me. I want to hear better so I can read and speak with confidence," Dennis said quietly.

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

Ei is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. Ei lives with her husband, young brother, sister-in-law, and 1-year-old niece. Ei owns a shop and sells dry foods, snacks, and juice with her sister-in-law. Her husband and younger brother work as motorcycle taxi drivers. Ei’s family’s combined monthly income is just enough to meet their basic needs. They have limited access to healthcare and purchase medication from a local shop whenever they are sick. In December 2025, Ei experienced intense pain from a mass on her leg. She has difficulty walking and has noticed her condition is worsening. Ei traveled to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to receive care, and on May 7th, surgeons will remove the mass. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ei's procedure and provide her relief from the impact of the mass and prevent other health complications. Ei said, “I felt really stressed when the cold weather came, and felt uncomfortable because I couldn’t walk as other people do. I’ve changed my mind and gathered the strength for my surgery, and I want to walk normally without the pain. I am happy to receive the support from BCMF and the donors for my surgery.”

Edson is a five-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older sister in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, where his parents work as vendors. Edson is in preschool, likes arts and crafts, and has been learning to read. Edson has a cardiac condition that involves several related congenital conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent blood from circulating normally through the heart and from passing through the lungs to obtain enough oxygen. Edson needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 6th, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart and remove the muscular blockage from the valve. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, has raised $6,500 to assist in paying for surgery. Edson's family needs help funding the costs of surgical preparation. He needs help raising $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 Edson's family overseas. Edson's mother shared, "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery, our son's health will finally be completely normal!"

John is a 52-year-old small-scale retailer from Kenya. He is a father of two and the family’s main breadwinner. Since his accident, his family has faced significant hardship. His wife has had to take on casual jobs to provide for the household, while also caring for him. John lost his father earlier this year, and on the way back from the burial, he was involved in a grisly road accident, narrowly escaping death. The incident occurred along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Naivasha, when the matatu he was traveling in collided head-on with a bus. John sustained multiple injuries to his head, hands, pelvis, and legs. He was rushed to a district hospital, where he received first aid treatment. However, due to the severity of his injuries and multiple fractures, he sought specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Upon arrival, scans confirmed the extent of the fractures he sustained. Although he managed to enroll into the national health insurance scheme, it could not cover all the surgeries he requires. Since the accident, John has been confined to a wheelchair and requires assistance to move around. He continues to live in pain and is now reaching out for support so he can undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, and continue his recovery journey. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 5th, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure to treat his fractures, and help him regain his mobility. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. John says, “I am in constant pain. I can’t walk, sleeping is difficult, and I rely on pain medication just to get through the day.”

Mu is a 75-year-old retired woman from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her son, daughter-in-law, three grandsons and two granddaughters. They moved to the refugee camp in April 2023 from their home in Bango Division, Burma, in order to escape the fighting and airstrikes in their village. Mu’s son, two older grandsons and older granddaughter work as agricultural day laborers in the camp. Her younger grandson and granddaughter are students in the camp. Mu is experiencing severe lower right back pain, nausea, and cannot eat. Her urine is cloudy, and she cannot stand or even sit up fully due to her pain. Her family is worried about the financial burden of treatment and their lack of access to care. Mu was diagnosed with kidney stones and physicians at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, determined that Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) could resolve her symptoms. ESWL is a procedure that can break up the stones in the urinary system and the fragments will exit in the urine. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 6th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Mu's son expressed, “I see her in pain, but I cannot find the money to get her treatment.” Mu’s daughter-in-law said, “We are sad for her but happy that she will receive support. Thank you for helping her and finding a way for her to receive treatment. She has suffered for a long time.”

Tafach is active and cheerful six-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and his older brother. His mother works as a daily laborer, washing clothes and fetching water for neighbors, while his father farms on other people’s land. Despite their hard work, they often struggle to provide for their family, facing frequent food shortages and relying on the kindness of neighbors for support. Tafach's mother first noticed something was wrong when Tafach was only four days old. He began vomiting and was unable to pass stool, prompting his concerned parents to take him to a nearby hospital. Tafach was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. Tafach’s mother was devastated and broke down in tears, as the family had never encountered such a condition before. However, the doctor reassured them that Tafach’s condition could be corrected through a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction and promptly referred them to a larger public hospital. At the referral hospital, Tafach underwent a colostomy to help create a temporary route for his bowel movements, and the family was given a follow-up appointment. They returned home feeling hopeful yet anxious. A few days later, a neighbor informed them about our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Tafach’s parents reached out and took him to BKMCM for further evaluation. Tafach is now scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Tafach's procedure and care. After his recovery, Tafach will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Tafach's mother expressed hope, saying, "I pray for my child's surgery to be safe and successful, envisioning him thriving like his older brother. I aspire for him to become a dedicated student and a remarkable individual."

Zahiret is an eight-year-old girl who lives in Antioquia, Colombia with her mother and her brother. The family lives in a modest home located in a squatter settlement. Zahiret is a very tidy, quiet, and reserved girl. She enjoys combing her hair, spending time with her little cousins, and playing with her little brother, whom she also enthusiastically accompanies to soccer games. At school, Zahiret stands out for her good behavior and discipline. Zahiret recently attended a routine medical appointment with her mother, where her teeth were found to have deteriorated due to cavities. Upon the recommendation of the doctor, she was referred to a pediatric dentist, who advised that treatment under general anesthesia was necessary in order to facilitate the treatment procedure, given its complexity. To help Zahiret, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is raising the funds for the surgery. The surgery treatment costs $868 and has been scheduled for October 20th. Once completed, it will hopefully allow Zahiret to live more comfortably and confidently. Zahiret's mother says: "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people who will make this process possible for my daughter. Your generous gesture will prevent the treatment from being prolonged, and that means a lot to us. Thanks to your help, Zahiret will be able to regain her smile and the quality of life that every child deserves."

Kefasi is a 25-year-old man from Malawi, and a single father to his three-year-old son. Before his tragic accident, he supported his son through bicycle work, and also contributed to his parents household. A few months ago, Kefasi was hit by a motorbike and sustained severe injuries to his abdomen. He was taken to a private clinic for first aid, and then rushed to the hospital when he was experiencing severe pain and could not breathe normally. At the hospital, Kefasi underwent surgery for a bowel perforation, and a stoma was created. A stoma is a surgically created opening on the body’s surface that connects an internal organ to the outside to divert the flow of bodily waste when the normal passage is compromised due to injury. This allows the damaged part of the digestive system to heal before reversal. Kefasi now needs his stoma reversed so that he can return to work. He was referred to our partner's medical care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, and his parents brought him in for an evaluation. Doctors plan to reverse the stoma with laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat a condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Kefasi's surgery. On November 30th, he will undergo surgery, which, once completed, will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Kefasi believes that this operation will restore his peace and joy, enabling him to once again be a responsible son to his parents, who have always supported him. Kefasi says, "Being alive today is by the grace of God; the same God has brought me this far, and I believe through the donor program all shall be well at the end."