Alexis is nine years old and a student from Bolivia. His mother cleans houses, while his father works in construction. Alexis has two older siblings. He loves to play and wants to be a goalkeeper. When Alexis was playing at school, his mother noticed his hands turned purple. He also gets tired easily when running and playing with his friends. Alexis has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a muscular blockage of one of the valves and a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart. These defects prevent the heart from delivering enough oxygen to his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. On February 5th, Alexis will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will remove the muscular blockage from his valve and close the hole in his heart with a patch. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Alexis' mother shared, "There is no treatment for my son anywhere near where we live, so we are so glad to be at this hospital so doctors can help my boy! We have traveled a lot, but we are sure he will be a healthy boy after his surgery."

Na Say is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives together with her husband and their daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She fled to the refugee camp with her family in early 2024 due to a military airstrike on her village where her home was burned down. Na Say and her family ran through the forest for three days until they reached the refugee camp where her sister lived. Na Say stays at home to care for her daughter. Her husband sometimes sells traditional medicines to earn a little. But they mostly rely on cash cards from the aid agency in the camp. During her free time, she likes to learn how to make traditional Karen dresses. Na Say receives free basic health care in the refugee camp. But now, she is currently expecting her second child and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Na Say undergo a C-Section on January 7th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Na Say needs your support. Na Say said, “In the future, I will make Karen traditional dress and sell it for extra income to help my family.’’

Dgylanie is a 22-year-old woman from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where she lives with her parents. Before falling ill, she worked as a seamstress, sewing clothes to support herself and her family. She dreams of returning to her profession once she regains her health. Dgylanie has a congenital heart condition called ventricular septal defect, which means she was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart. This condition causes blood to leak through the hole, leading to weakness and eventually heart failure. Dgylanie will be traveling to the United States to receive life-changing treatment. On December 6th, she is scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery at Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, where surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart to stop the blood from leaking. Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital is contributing $28,000 to cover the cost of the surgery. However, her family also needs help funding additional costs related to surgery preparation. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of lab tests, medications, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. The funds will also support securing travel documents for the family and travel expenses for social workers who will accompany Dgylanie and her family overseas. Dgylanie shares, “I am excited to be able to focus on my future instead of worrying about my heart.”

Fanny is a 45-year-old woman living in Malawi. She is married to a soldier, and together, they have one daughter, who is 21 years old. Fanny runs a salon in the area where she lives. For three years, Fanny has been experiencing vaginal bleeding, abdominal distention, backache, loss of appetite, weight loss, and weakness, all of which have affected her daily activities. This became a concern when she noticed that she could not conceive again and no longer had the energy to work. Fanny was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners In Hope Medical Center (PIH), where she was diagnosed with a huge uterine fibroid. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, during which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Fanny's surgery scheduled on November 23rd. Once she has recovered, Fanny will be able to resume her daily activities, free of pain. Fanny shared, “I need my peace of mind, and look forward to living a life without these symptoms. I hope I can go back to work soon.” said Fanny.

Etchna is a four-year-old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her mother in a suburb of Port-au-Prince. Etchna is starting to learn her letters and numbers in school. Etchna has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, where there is a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These prevent her body from getting enough oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. When she was younger, Etchna underwent an emergency surgery to give her body enough oxygen to survive, but it was not yet possible to completely treat her condition. Now that Etchna is older and bigger, surgeons will fully close the hole in her heart and remove the blockage from her valve. Etchna will fly to the Cayman Islands and is scheduled for surgery on October 25th. An anonymous supporter is contributing $18,000.0 to pay for surgery. But Etchna'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 Etchna's family overseas. Etchna's mother says: "I am so happy to know that my daughter can have this chance for surgery so she can start school next year without me worrying so much!"

Ephantus is a 28-year-old security guard from Kenya. He is the sole breadwinner for his wife and their five-year-old child. His modest salary is not enough to cover the cost of a critical surgery. Raised by a single mother who is a farmer, and with an elder sister who works as a street vendor, Ephantus' family is unable to contribute the funds needed for his medical care. In May 2024, shortly after starting his job, Ephantus was involved in a workplace incident while directing cars in a hotel parking lot. When he asked a visitor to reposition a poorly parked car, the driver became enraged, deliberately drove into Ephantus, and ran over his right leg after he fell. The incident resulted in a severe ankle fracture, with bones exposed. Ephantus was rushed to a hospital, where he received immediate care and underwent surgery to have an internal fixation device inserted into his leg. Unfortunately, two days after his discharge, Ephantus’ leg began to swell and showed signs of infection. Ephantus underwent another surgery to remove the internal fixation device and began receiving regular treatment for his wound. Despite this, his leg has continued to suffer from recurring infections, and doctors have now recommended a skin graft surgery to aid in his recovery. Ephantus remains in pain, unable to walk properly or work to support his family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On September 16th, Ephantus will undergo a debridement and skin graft procedure to relieve his pain, restore his mobility, and allow him to return to work. He needs help to fund this $1,185 surgery. Ephantus shared, “I am in so much pain and stressed because I’m away from my family, and no one is providing for them.”

Kyat is a 40-year-old man who lives with his wife and two children in a village in Karen State, Burma. His son and daughter are both students, and his wife is a teacher in a primary school. Kyat was a farmer, raising chickens and pigs, but he currently cannot work. His wife's salary is not enough to cover their basic needs. In his free time, Kyat likes to play games, listen to stories, and, before his injury, play football. On February 16, 2024, Kyat was offered a job climbing tamarind trees to collect fruit. He fell from the tree while picking the fruit, and his right leg was trapped in a hole. Kyat was unable to stand and was in severe pain. The next day, he was taken to a hospital where an x-ray confirmed Kyat had a right femur bone fracture and needed surgery. Because of the ongoing civil conflict and fighting in Burma, hospitals could not accommodate Kyat. He was asked to go to Thailand to see if he could get surgery there. As fighting continued and roads were flooded, Kyat was unable to travel to Thailand until August 2024, six months after his injury. During this time, he was unable to walk without a walker, was barely able to put any weight on his right leg, and was in a lot of pain. Once he reached Thailand, Kyat was admitted to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, and scheduled for surgery. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Kyat will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bone and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for August 16th and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help Kyat to walk, free from pain. Kyat is asking for help to fund this medical treatment. Kyat said, “I was very disappointed when I could not walk or do anything for my family. I feel very sorry for my wife because she has her own work, too, and still has to look after me. After I receive the successful surgery, I will go back to work as a farmer and support my family."

Hibah is a happy and cheerful two-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the only child in his family and lives in Kwenyange Village in Vihiga County. His mother is a teacher. She is a single mother. Hibah has clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, in both feet. This causes him difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Hibah began treatment when he was just 3 days old with serial casting, followed by a procedure called a tenotomy, and then wearing braces to correct the condition. Despite these interventions, Hibah's condition did not improve. Now, Hibah is in the hospital again, undergoing another serial casting round followed by surgery. Fortunately, Hibah traveled to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 1st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Hibah's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk, and eventually go to school with other children. “I am looking forward to my son being completely healed so that the condition does not recur, hoping to give him a good education. I dream he becomes a medical professional so that he can help other patients heal, too. Thank you in advance for helping us,” Brenda, Hibah’s mother shared.

Samnang is a two-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and his 3-year-old brother. His mother stays home to care for the children and his father is in the army. At home, Samnang likes to play with his toys and enjoys eating fried chicken prepared by his mother. At birth, Samnang was diagnosed with arthrogryposis, a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving multiple joint and muscle contractures or stiffness. As a result of this condition, Samnang has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is rotated. This causes pain and difficulty walking. Samnang traveled for one and a half hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, surgeons will perform a bilateral tendon release and insert a K-wire on March 1st. CSC is requesting $444 to fund Samnang's clubfoot repair. After treatment and therapy, he will be able to walk and be more active. Samnang's mother said, "I hope after surgery, my son will learn to walk, have no pain, and keep up with his older brother."

Ronan is a hardworking father from the Philippines. He lives with his partner and their two children. Ronan works as a kitchen assistant, while also taking on side jobs to better provide for his family. Since he was in third grade, Ronan has dealt with an indirect inguinal hernia. His family consulted with doctors when he was a child, however, he was never able to have surgery. In the meantime, he lives with constant pain and is limited in the activities in which he can engage, which affects his ability to work. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is seeking $1,103 to fund Ronan's hernia repair surgery, which is scheduled to take place on April 26th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Ronan said: "I thank everyone who is willing to help me with my condition. This will definitely be life-changing. I am very excited so thank you very much for your help and generosity."

Ruth is a 6-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She was born with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Ruth has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Ruth will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on May 2nd. Doctors will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Ruth's brain. This critical treatment will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. Ruth's parents are looking forward to their child living a healthy life.

Amina is a 11-year-old girl from Musoma region in Tanzania, the seventh child in a family of ten siblings. Her parents are small-scale farmers who rely solely on their harvest for sustenance and income generation. They often struggle to meet their needs, and climate change has resulted in poor harvests over the past year. About a year ago, Amina developed a swelling on her chin. Initially, it was considered insignificant as it did not bother her, but over time, the swelling grew larger and began to cause her significant discomfort when she was eating. This prompted concerns from her parents, who initially sought advice from a nearby pharmacy. However, the cream provided proved ineffective. Consequently, the family took her to a nearby hospital, where she was diagnosed with a mass requiring surgical removal. Due to financial constraints, her parents could not afford Amina's treatment so they went back home. Sometime later, the outreach team of our medical partner's care center visited their village, and the family was directed to Kafika House for further review and treatment. The team also assisted the family with transportation costs as they could not afford it. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Amina receive treatment. On April 2nd, surgeons will remove the mass and ease Amina's symptoms. Now, Amina's family needs help to fund this $724 procedure. Amina's mother says: “Please help with my daughter’s treatment. I hope she recovers from this condition so that it won’t be a problem as she grows older.”