Three-month-old Janna lives with her parents and older brother in Bolivia. Janna's mother is a homemaker, while her father works as a technician fixing cellphones. When she was born, Janna had very little appetite and was unable to gain weight, so her parents brought her to the hospital, where doctors discovered her heart condition. Janna has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On July 1st, Janna will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During the operation, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Janna's heart so that blood will no longer leak through it. Janna's family needs your help to fund the costs of her cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Janna's mother said, "I pray my little daughter has a healthy heart. She is so brave, and I want to be brave for her as well."

Rabiya is a 19-year-old bright and determined university student from Ethiopia. Rabiya shares that being in university is a truly exciting chapter of her life. Between her university studies and being a rock for her two brothers, she stays incredibly busy. But lately, a cyst on her left wrist has been causing her much discomfort. Five months ago, Rabiya felt a sudden, distracting tingling and itchy sensation in the wrist. What started as minor swelling quickly took a turn for the worse; within just a month, the discomfort transitioned into severe, persistent pain. For a busy college student, the pain is affecting even the simplest tasks. Typing up a paper, scribbling notes during a lecture, or carrying heavy textbooks across campus became difficult, which has affected her studies. Rabiya traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 14th, surgeons will perform an excisional biopsy to remove the mass. Now, Rabiya needs help to raise $750 to fund this procedure. She says: "More than anything, I’m looking forward to the freedom of moving my wrist without a second thought. I can’t wait to dive back into my studies and my role as a sister, fully present and pain-free."

Benjamin is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of three children, and lives with his parents, whose livelihoods depend on small-scale business activities to sustain their household. Benjamin's family describes him as a bright and curious child, who enjoys learning and playing with other children in the community. Benjamin has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus or "bow legs," a condition where the knees curve outward while the feet and ankles touch. 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 potentially causing long-term joint damage. The condition has affected Benjamin's posture and mobility, making prolonged standing and walking increasingly difficult. Without treatment, the condition could continue to worsen as he grows, potentially limiting his movement and participation in school and daily activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Benjamin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 24th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Benjamin's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Benjamin's father said: "I wish for his legs to be strong, so that he can walk independently with his friends to school, without us worrying about his well-being."

Recho is a 26-year-old woman from Kenya. She has a long history of epilepsy, diagnosed when she was much younger. Her condition disrupted her education and ability to work despite early academic promise and later vocational training in tailoring. She lives with her single mother and younger siblings, who are deeply supportive and assist her with daily activities and hospital visits. She enjoys helping with household tasks such as washing utensils and clothes, and she often speaks with humor and optimism about her daily life. In December 2025, Recho suffered a seizure while carrying hot tea to her siblings, resulting in serious burns to her chest and hand and a prolonged hospital stay requiring ongoing wound care and a planned skin graft. The extended treatment has placed a heavy financial burden on her family, prompting a request for assistance with medical expenses. Fortunately, on January 7th, Recho will undergo a skin graft procedure with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. She needs help to raise $1,183 to fund her procedure and care. Recho says, "I have been in the ward for a long time, and my hope is go home and be with my family members. I miss my sisters and my family."

Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Christine is a social and cheerful young girl from Kenya who loves singing and making friends. She is the second-born in her family of three and a Grade 5 pupil with big dreams of becoming a doctor one day, so she can help others who are suffering. Christine was born with a bowed right leg, known as right genu varus. For many years, she lived with the condition, and her family believed it was just a normal way of life. Christine's misaligned right leg causes her pain, especially when she walks long distances. This has made it hard for her to play, take part in school activities, and help at home. One day, Christine and her family were involved in a motorbike accident. She was taken to the hospital for treatment. While treating her injuries, the doctors noticed that her right leg was bowed. They referred her to the CURE mobile clinic for review, where surgery was recommended. Her family realized that Christine's condition was not normal, and there was hope to relieve the pain she experienced day to day. Christine is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 28th to correct this condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Christine's procedure and care. “I pray that I will get healed and be like my friends,” Christine told us.

Efrem is a 30-year-old electrician from Ethiopia. He is a resilient man who has built his life from the ground up. He lives on his own and works hard, earning a living through the steady, careful work of electronics maintenance in small shop - a role he's proud of, and his primary way of being the provider for those he loves. Efrem's heart is always with his family. He cares for his brother and sister, making sure they have everything they need. He is used to being the strong one, but right now, a painful battle with tonsillitis has brought his busy life to a sudden halt. For a man who never stops, being stuck in bed and unable to work is a heavy burden to bear. Six years ago, Efrem began to experience waves of exhaustion and a difficulty breathing and swallowing. Recently, his symptoms got worse, and he sought treatment at our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with enlarged tonsils. If not treated, the condition will cause his symptoms to persist and continue to intensify over time. The pain in his throat makes it hard for him to eat, speak, or rest and his exhaustion has caused him to step back from his job, and his social life. Our medical partner is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Efrem, which is scheduled to take place on December 27th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils in order to relieve Efrem of his symptoms and help him live more comfortably. "I try so hard to save, but it's like trying to move a mountain. My medical bills and family expenses swallow my savings instantly. I just want to be free from this pain so I can enjoy my work and support the people I love," said Efrem.

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."

Berenice is a 16-month-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her mother, who works as a market vendor. Berenice is an extremely friendly baby who smiles at everyone and laughs easily. Berenice has been diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, a cardiac condition in which a hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition stops Bernice's blood from circulating properly, causing weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. Thankfully, Berenice will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 30th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will guide a catheter into the vessels next to her heart and use a special device to seal the hole. Another organization is contributing funds to pay for the surgery, but Berenice's family still needs help with costs related to the surgery. 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 Berenice's family overseas. Berenice's mother says, "I hope my daughter will grow stronger and gain weight once her heart is fixed!"