Eight-month-old Bereket is a joyful child from Ethiopia. He loves to play with his toys and to explore the world around him. Bereket's birth was marked by significant challenges. On the day that he was born, he was injured by the umbilical cord being twisted around his neck, and it was also determined that he had an umbilical hernia. Bereket's father had been conscripted into the army shortly before his birth, leaving his mother alone and unable to continue her work as a daily laborer after the birth of her son. Bereket and his mother are alone and unable to communicate with Bereket's father. Bereket’s mother first noticed the hernia shortly after his birth. Initially, the doctor reassured her that it might resolve on its own. However, as time went on, the hernia sometimes appeared larger, and at other times it seemed to shrink. Children with this condition may experience discomfort, irritability, and a reduced appetite. Surgical intervention is crucial to prevent complications, such as incarceration, and to address any psychological effects on the child. Fortunately, on October 7th, Bereket will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Bereket needs help to raise $512 to fund his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Bereket's mother said: "Thank you, God, for blessing my child with this opportunity. I pray for his health and recovery after the surgery."

Sroen is an elderly rice farmer from Kandal province. He is 70 years old, has one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren. Ten years ago, his wife passed away due to a lung problem. Now, he lives with his older sister. Because of his vision disability, he rarely goes outside alone, but likes to go to the pagoda or listen to monk prayers on the radio. Three years ago, Sroen developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, and fading colors. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Sroen learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 13th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. His family can contribute $50 to his care, but needs your help to raise $213 more for this procedure. Sroen said: "I will be happy to see well so I can help my family on the farm. I want to go outside by myself and take care of my sister."

Tin is a 49-year-old father and husband from Burma. He lives with his wife and daughter in Thailand. His wife is a homemaker, and his daughter is a student. Tin used to work as a construction worker until recently, when his symptoms worsened. In his free time, he enjoys watching boxing on his phone. In March 2024, Tin first experienced a sore throat, which developed into severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and a persistent cough. By April 2025, his throat pain had become so severe that it blocked his airway, making it difficult for him to swallow food and sleep at night. Doctors want Tin to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Tin's CT scan and care, scheduled for June 9th. Tin said, “Thank you very much for your support. Without this, I wouldn’t know what to do. I am always worried about my family's future as I now have no work.”

Paw is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her younger sister, niece, and nephew in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. She and her sister’s family fled to the refugee camp in 2023 due to the military situation in their area in Burma. In the refugee camp, they receive cash support from an international aid agency. Paw's sister helps out at their church with cleaning, special events, and weekly decorations. In exchange, she sometimes receives pay for her work or donations from the church. Paw helps with household chores, while her niece and nephew are students. They receive free basic health care in the refugee camp provided by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). In her free time, Paw loves to read the Bible and also listen to gospel songs or her pastor preaching online. In the future, she plans to open a small shop at home to make different snacks and sell them. Paw has a heart condition that requires replacement of two heart valves, the aortic and mitral valves, and repair of the tricuspid valve. These valves control the blood flow between the chambers of the heart and are necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Paw feels tired when she walks or climbs the stairs. She still helps her sister with household chores, but she often feels tired and needs to rest before finishing her chores. She cannot sleep well at night and has a poor appetite. Aside from her symptoms, she feels stressed about her condition. Her sister also feels worried for her and sad seeing her suffer. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this complex surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on July 9th. Once completed, she will hopefully live more comfortably and have a more active and healthy life ahead. Paw said, “I used to make different snacks when I was in Burma for sale, but now due to my condition and often feeling tired, I can no longer make it.”

Nasibu is a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Nasibu's parents are seasonal farmers who make a living selling crops and doing casual day labor. Nasibu was diagnosed with left genu valgus, where his left leg is bowed inward. Several factors could cause this condition, including 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. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $695 to fund treatment for Nasibu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 23rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Nasibu's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Nasibu's mother says: "I hope my son gets better so that his future won't be affected by this condition."

Barak is a 2-month-old baby from Tanzania. He has five older siblings, and his parents work as farmers, cultivating seasonal maize and peas. They sell their crop for income and use some of it for food. Barak was born with bilateral postural clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Barak's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on December 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $341 to fund Barak's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily when he grows. Barak's family shared, "We had never had a child with this kind of condition, so seeing Barak's feet came as a shock. But the doctor at the hospital where he was delivered assured us if we brought him here, he will surely have his feet corrected successfully."

Vorn is a 18-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. He is the youngest of four siblings, with one sister and three brothers. Vorn lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, and two of his siblings, who work in factories. Vorn dropped out of school in grade 8 and has been working in a belt factory ever since to help support his family. In his free time, Vorn enjoys going out with his friends. On May 25, 2024, Vorn was in a motorbike accident, falling hard on the concrete and losing consciousness, ultimately suffering paralysis of his left arm. Vorn has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Since the accident, Vorn has been unable to lift his left arm, and his wrist and elbow movements are severely limited. The atrophy of his muscles has prevented him from returning to his job at the belt factory. Now, he stays at home, reliant on his mother for care, and struggles with feelings of deep depression. Vorn traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to seek help, the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On October 21st, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Vorn and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $609 more to fund the procedure. Vorn says: "I hope that after recovery, I will be able to use my hand again for work and not have to worry about supporting myself in the future."

Lucia is a two-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives in a rural village in northeast Bolivia with her parents and three siblings. Her parents are both farmers. Lucia has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and unable to gain weight. On August 22nd, she will undergo cardiac 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 so that blood no longer leaks. Lucia's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Lucia's father says, "Our family is very excited for this surgery so that our daughter can start to gain strength."

Su is a 16-year-old teenage girl from Burma. Her father is a chef at a restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand who contributes monthly to his family in Burma. The monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses. They need to borrow money to meet monthly expenses. In her free time, Su likes to watch drama series on her phone and listen to music. In August 2023, Su started to experience discomfort in her left neck. There was a swelling that gradually became bigger. Su was seen at a local hospital but her condition did not improve. Unfortunately, the civil war prevented her from seeking further treatment. Three months ago, Su, her mother, and her younger sister came to stay with her uncle's family in Tak Province, Thailand to seek treatment for her condition. They borrowed money for transportation to come to her uncle’s house. Su was brought to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), where doctors performed several scans and tests. Su was diagnosed with a mass on the left side of her neck and is scheduled to undergo a mass excision on November 18th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Su's procedure. Su said, “I feel sad about my condition and my mother worries about me a lot.” Su added, “Thank you to BCMF and the donors for helping me.”

Anita is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She lost her mother at a young age and had to drop out of school at Primary Class 4 to help her father take care of her three brothers. She and her husband have three children. Anita had lost two pregnancies and is now pregnant again. Her 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, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Anita undergo a C-Section on December 4th. This procedure will cost $252, and Anita needs your support. Anita says, “Every time I was delivered by surgery, it cost us a part of our land to pay off the hospital bill. I will appreciate your support as I see nowhere else to get money for my surgery.”

Faith is a 12-year-old girl from a village in Nyandarua County, Kenya. She is the second born in a family of two children. Faith's mother works as a vendor, selling fresh vegetables in the village, while her father does casual carpentry work to support their household. Faith was born with cerebral palsy and a misalignment in her right foot. Although she can sit on her own, she has been unable to stand or walk without support. After tirelessly seeking help at various hospitals, Faith's mother finally brought her to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. On October 22nd, Faith is scheduled to undergo a crucial surgery that will help correct her condition and dramatically improve her quality of life. With the ability to stand and walk, she will finally have the chance to enroll in school, unlocking a world of opportunity for her future. It will also bring immense joy to her mother, allowing her the opportunity to hopefully expand her business. Now, Faith's family needs help to fund this $1,224 procedure. With a hopeful heart, Faith's mother shares, “My deepest wish is to see Faith walking like other girls and living a joyful, fulfilling life, just like any other child.”

Florence is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She has seven children. Florence takes care of her children’s school fees by selling agricultural produce and acquiring small, manageable loans from financial institutions. She likes singing during church functions. For two years, Florence has had an umbilical hernia. Currently, she experiences severe pain above her umbilicus, especially when the weather conditions become extremely cold or hot, and also when she eats a lot of food. She complained to her husband, who thought her condition would normalize with time, but it did not. Later, she started visiting health centers that would only give her medication that would help for a short while. Florence visited our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, where doctors recommended surgery. If not treated, the hernia sac could enlarge and become strangulated, where blood flow becomes restricted. Fortunately, on November 8th, Florence will undergo hernia repair surgery and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $170 to fund this procedure. Once completed, Florence should be able to live more comfortably and confidently. Florence says, “I hope to finally live a pain-free life again through surgery. I will continue with farming to be able to take good care of my family.”