Monica is 48 years old and a mother of two children from Malawi. Her husband is a farmer, and she manages a small family shop in their village near the Mozambique border. For one year, Monica has been experiencing persistent abdominal pain and episodes of dizziness accompanied by uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. Over time, her condition has continued to worsen, further affecting her ability to work and care for her family. In search of better care and support, Monica sought treatment at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), where she has continued to receive medical attention. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and surgery has been recommended. Monica remains hopeful that the surgery will restore her health, relieve her pain, and enable her to resume running her family business successfully. She looks forward to regaining her strength and continuing to support her family while enjoying a healthier and more productive life. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Monica's surgery. On October 2nd, she will undergo gynecological surgery, and once recovered, Monica will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Monica shared, "I have been in great pain, and I just need your support for me to receive my healing."

José is a six-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is intelligent, sociable, and an affectionate child with a positive attitude toward interacting with those around him. He expresses interest in becoming a police officer when he grows up. When he was two months old, José developed a swelling near his umbilical area. Over time, he started experiencing discomfort and tenderness, especially during physical activities like playing and jumping, which has limited his full participation. José has been diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Corrective surgery has been recommended to prevent possible future complications and ensure an adequate clinical outcome. Fortunately, on August 21st, José is scheduled to undergo repair surgery. Our medical partner is requesting $1,005 to fund José's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life. José's parents say: "We are very grateful for your support, and look forward to our son finding relief from the discomfort, and being able to fully enjoy his childhood, after treatment."

Cristian is a six-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He lives with his mother, who works selling propane canisters. As a newborn, she noticed he struggled to breathe and breastfeed, and he was later diagnosed with multiple heart conditions. Cristian has three openings in and near his heart — one between the two upper chambers, one between the two lower chambers, and one between two major blood vessels. These cause blood to leak through without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Fortunately, on June 30th, our medical partner, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, will help Cristian undergo cardiac surgery to close the openings in his heart. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Cristian needs your support to fund his surgery and care. Cristian's mother shares, "I hope and pray my sweet boy can have his surgery and be a healthy boy!"

Franklin is a 13-year-old student from Haiti. He lives in a rural agricultural area with his parents, who are both farmers, and six older siblings. He enjoys going to school and playing soccer. Franklin has a heart condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart was severely damaged by an infection he suffered earlier in childhood, and now cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Franklin will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On March 23rd, he will undergo surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if they are unable to do so, they will remove it instead and implant an artificial replacement. While another charity, Mitral Foundation, is funding Franklin's surgery, his family will also need help with the costs associated with his surgical preparations. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It will also support securing travel documents for the family and paying travel costs for the social workers who will accompany Franklin's family overseas. Franklin's mother shared, "We are so thankful to everyone who is making this surgery possible for our son!"

Ashley is a four-year-old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents and one younger sister in an agricultural village in central Haiti. Her parents both work as farmers and raise animals. Ashley likes listening to music on the radio and singing in church. Ashley has 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. Ashley will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole in her heart, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for the surgery. Ashley'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 Ashley's family overseas. Ashley's mother said: "We will be so happy when we can stop worrying so much about our daughter's health!"

Cynthia is a 26-year-old single mother of two young children from Kenya. She has a life of persistent hardship, being the firstborn in her family. This forced her to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees, cutting short her education and limiting her employment opportunities. Currently, she stays with her family, and they largely depend on her for the provision of basic needs. Determined to contribute to her children’s upbringing, she takes on small tailoring jobs, paid on commission. Though the income is minimal and inconsistent, it is the only means Cynthia has to provide essentials for her children. Three weeks ago, tragedy struck while Cynthia was returning home from her daily activities. She was involved in a road traffic accident after her motorcycle's front tire burst, causing her to fall forward and hit the ground forcefully with her chin. The impact left her severely injured and in pain. She was rushed to a nearby health facility, where she received a tetanus injection and pain medication before being referred for further medical care. Upon examination at AIC Kapsowar Hospital, Cynthia was found to have a deep left-sided facial laceration, loose teeth accompanied by bleeding, and significant jaw pain. An X-ray confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the mandible. Due to the nature of the injury, she was taken to the operating room and underwent an emergent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with arch bars to stabilise the fractured jaw. Unfortunately, after surgery, her jaw was not properly aligned. Surgical review has determined that she urgently requires a revision ORIF surgery to correct the alignment and restore proper jaw function. Cynthia initially received approval for her first surgery through SHA. However, she has been informed that a repeat ORIF procedure is not covered. Given her financial situation, she is unable to raise the funds required for this revision surgery. As a young mother already struggling to meet daily needs, the burden of medical expenses is beyond her capacity. Cynthia is therefore humbly appealing for support in undergoing the necessary revision surgery. Your assistance will not only restore her health but also enable her to continue caring for her two children, who depend entirely on her. The malalignment has caused her ongoing pain, difficulty chewing, and discomfort while speaking. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 3rd, Cynthia will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation revision. Without this corrective procedure, she risks long-term complications, including chronic pain, impaired nutrition due to difficulty eating, infection, and possible permanent deformity. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,014 to fund this procedure. Cynthia says, "I am still in pain. I feel poorly, am not able to even smile, and I pray for a successful recovery to be able to go home and help my family. Please help me."

Noosokon is a 34-year-old mother of four from Kenya. She and her husband own two cows, relying on livestock farming for their family's livelihood. A few days ago, Noosokon was milking one of the cows, as was her daily routine, when the cow suddenly struck her on the right side of her jaw, pushing her against a sharp object that severely injured her face. She began bleeding and was in severe pain. She was rushed to a nearby health center before being referred to a hospital for further management. At the hospital, she received first aid treatment, including stitches to the open wound, and was given pain medication before being referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for specialized care. Scans at the hospital revealed that her jaw had been fractured during the incident. Unfortunately, she has not been able to undergo treatment because her family is not able to raise the amount required for surgery. Her jaw remains swollen, and she has been unable to eat due to the pain and swelling; she can only take milk. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 3rd, Noosokon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help relieve her pain, help her heal and go back to her daily life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Noosokon says, “I am in pain. I am unable to sleep due to the swelling.”

Samen is a 59-year-old woman from Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. She lives with her second child, a grocery seller. Her husband passed away six years ago. Her other children are married and live in nearby villages. In her free time, Samen enjoys listening to monks' sermons and planting vegetables around her home. For the past ten years, Samen has been suffering from left hip avascular necrosis, a condition in which the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted, leading to bone damage. Over the years, she has undergone several surgeries, including a left hip replacement. Unfortunately, she continues to experience a chronic infection of the hip prosthesis, which causes persistent pain and increasing difficulty with sitting and walking for long periods. Over the past week, her condition has worsened, making daily activities even more challenging. After first seeking care locally, Samen learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, through friends in her village and traveled three hours to reach the hospital. On February 3rd, she will undergo an uncemented hip replacement surgery on her left hip. Samen can contribute $100 and needs support to cover the remaining $1,400 for her procedure and care. Samen said, “After the surgery, I hope that I will no longer have pain and be able to walk properly, so I can go to the pagoda by myself easily.”

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.”

Valentina is a 14-month-old girl from Bolivia. She has five older siblings and loves to laugh and play with her family. Her father works as a driver, and her mother sells food. When she was a young baby, Valentina's parents noticed she was always agitated and couldn't breathe normally, so they took her to the doctor who diagnosed a heart condition called ventricular septal defect. This means there is a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart and blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Valentina also has Down syndrome. On December 3rd, Valentina will undergo heart 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 her heart so that blood will no longer leak through it. Valentina'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. Valentina's father said, "Valentina is a sweet little girl, we hope everything goes well, so she can have a healthy heart!"

Kanjibora is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in a large family of 11 children. His father has two wives, and both parents are hardworking farmers who grow maize and cotton to support their families. Kanjibora studied up to Standard 4 but had to drop out due to the pain and long walking distances to school. Despite this, he remains cheerful and spends his time helping his parents on the farm. Kanjibora was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, causing his legs to bow. 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. His condition became more noticeable as he grew older, making walking and standing for long periods painful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Kanjibora. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 7th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Kanjibora's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Kanjibora says, "I hope I will one day be able to go to school again."