Kiya is a five-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His parents both work as shop staff members. He is in kindergarten and has two older brothers. Kiya has dealt with chronic tonsillitis since he was one year old. Tonsillitis is a condition where the inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by viral or bacterial infections, causes a sore throat and painful swallowing. Recently, Kiya's tonsils have been enlarged, which will result in these symptoms persisting and potentially worsening over time if not treated. Kiya will undergo a tonsillectomy on April 25th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Kiya of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund this procedure. Kiya's parents shared, "We hope he will finally be able to attend school and play with his brothers without pain. We know this surgery will give him the strong physical foundation he needs to grow."

Ly Hor is a four-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in a rural area of Kampong Cham Province with his parents and two siblings. His father is a rice farmer, and his mother sells vegetables. Ly Hor is the middle child, with an older brother in grade six and a younger sister who is two years old. He enjoys writing and reading Khmer and dreams of becoming a doctor when he grows up. In his free time, he likes playing with toy cars with his sister. Ly Hor's favorite meal is fish sour soup. For the past two years, Ly Hor has been experiencing a sore throat three to four times per month, fever, snoring at night, and difficulty swallowing. The frequent illness is uncomfortable, affects his eating, sleeping, and daily activities, and occasionally prevents him from going to school. Ly Hor was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Ly Hor. On April 3rd, surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Ly Hor of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Ly Hor's father said, “My son has been sick again and again for the past year, and it has been very difficult for him to eat, sleep, and live normally. The doctor has recommended surgery, and although I feel worried, I believe this is the best way to help him recover and have a healthier life. I truly hope this treatment will free him from his pain and allow him to grow strong like other children.”

Serah is a jovial lady from Kenya. When you see Serah laughing or talking, you might think she is youthful. However, Serah is 84 years old according to her ID card, although she says she is actually older than that. Serah’s father advised her to remain at her parents’ home, and that is where she continued living, as she had separated from her husband years ago. As she grew older, one of her brother’s sons took her in so she could live with his family. Sometime in the middle of last month, during the ongoing rains and wet conditions, Serah slipped and fell, injuring her left hand. She was taken to the hospital, where an X-ray revealed that she had sustained a closed fracture of the radius and ulna. A surgery was performed. However, a follow-up control X-ray later showed that the screws were becoming displaced, and Serah now requires a repeat surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 9th, Serah will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This treatment will help alleviate the pain and prevent a deformity. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,048 to fund Serah's procedure. "I live a life of disturbing my siblings' children. I hope I can get someone to help me so that I can be operated on and be able to remain independent," said Serah.

Evidence is a 33-year-old woman and a single mother of two children from Uganda. She completed high school and obtained a qualification in procurement and finance management, but has been unable to find a job in her field. Five years ago, Evidence began to experience troubling symptoms, including unexplainable headaches, neck pains, breathlessness, and heart palpitations when climbing hills as she tended to the gardens. She was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Evidence receive treatment. On February 12th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Evidence says, "I pray that I may be helped by this program to get the surgery that has been recommended. I am praying, and I believe that if all goes well, I will return to normal after complete recovery and will be able to continue taking care of myself and my children."

Beshu is 15 years old and a sixth grader from Ethiopia. Since she was very little, Beshu has lived with her aunt. Now in the 6th grade, she balances her time between helping with housework and focusing on her school lessons. She is a resilient student working hard to overcome a significant physical challenge. When Beshu was a year old, a small, a bump appeared on her right finger. Over time, the bump turned into a painful ulcer that leaked fluid, and as it healed, it began to pull her finger inward, permanently changing its shape. Her limited hand movement turns simple classroom tasks into exhausting challenges. Holding a pen for an entire lesson is a constant struggle. This difficulty affects her spirit, too; she feels a deep lack of confidence and worries about the judgment of others. To avoid unwanted attention and the fear of bullying, she chooses to hide her hand beneath long sleeves. Beshu was referred to our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, for treatment. On January 24th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to release the tight, contracted skin and restore full movement to her hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $500 procedure. Beshu dreams of a future where she can finally feel confident and at ease in the classroom. This surgery would allow her to participate in school activities without the constant fear of feeling different. With hope in her eyes, she shared, "I want to be brave enough to do things without fearing insults. I can’t wait to see my hand and see how beautiful it looks."

Alson is an eight-year-old student from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and two brothers. His father works tirelessly for the government, staying at his job both day and night. His mother stays home to give all her love and care to her three boys. Six years ago, Alson started to experience snoring, high fever, and difficulty eating. Being sick all the time means he misses many days of school. He is falling behind in his classes and feels lonely because he can't be with his friends. Alson was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Alson, which is scheduled to take place on January 10th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Alson of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Alson's family says, "We are all so excited for him to finally get healthy and feel like himself again. Our greatest wish is to see him happy and strong, running back to school and playing with his friends. We can’t wait for the day he can just be a kid again, without that constant, heavy throat pain holding him back."

Chanden is a 21-year-old motorbike mechanic from Cambodia. He is the youngest of seven siblings, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, in rural Otdar Mean Chey province. In his free time, he enjoys getting together with his friends and checking social media. In July of this year, Chanden was displaced to a neighboring town following conflict-related evacuations near the Thai border. A few weeks later, he had a motorbike accident on an unfamiliar village road when he lost control of his bike. He has an open wound and fracture of his right leg, and underwent a fracture repair surgery on his right leg, and an amputation procedure of his left leg at a provincial hospital. The injury on his right leg causes ongoing pain and stiffness, limiting his ability to move forward with a prosthesis for his left leg and physical therapy. Chanden learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. On December 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure that will heal his leg wound, reduce pain, and improve mobility. Now, Chanden needs help to fund this $583 procedure. Chanden said, “I hope my leg won't be in pain and I can start recovery."

Kanika is a 24-year-old single mom from Cambodia. She lives in the capital, Phnom Penh with her mother and 2 year-old daughter. Kanika works at a coffee shop in the day, and as a server at a restaurant in the evenings. Her mother stays home to care for Kanika's toddler. In her free time, Kanika enjoys listening to music and spending time with her daughter. Four months ago, Kanika was in a traffic accident, causing forearm fracture and nerve injury. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her 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. She is unable to lift her arm and feels pain in her fingers and shoulder. This make it difficult for her to do daily tasks, and she had to quit her jobs. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Kanika traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On December 18th, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will be able to use her arm again. Kanika can contribute $75, but needs help to raise $662 more to fund her surgery and care. Kanika said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will be able to return to work and earn money to support my family."

Henry is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the first-born in a family of two children. His parents described him as an active, playful, and healthy child. Henry was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs bow outward, making it hard for his to walk. 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. Without surgery, his condition could worsen and interfere with his mobility and development. His parents are seeking early intervention to ensure Henry can walk, play, and grow without long-term physical challenges. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Henry. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Henry's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Henry's father says, “Kindly assist my son in getting finances for his surgery. He gets tired and struggles when walking far, even though he wants to play and move like other children.”

Beka is a shy two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and older sister in a single room provided by their relatives. Beka is very attached to his mother, and he finds joy in playing with bicycles and toy cars, as well as spending time with his sister. His mother cares for their home, while his father works as a daily laborer in construction. After years of anticipation, Beka’s parents were overjoyed to finally welcome their baby boy, who brought immense happiness to their family. Shortly after birth, Beka was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His parents were initially worried and anxious when they received the news, but the doctor explained that treatment options would be available when he got a bit older. At three months old, his parents diligently followed up at a referral hospital. However, due to a long waiting list, they faced delays, with appointments scheduled every three to six months, leaving them anxious about when surgery treatment would happen. Eventually, they were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). At the hospital, Beka was reviewed and the doctor explained that he would need three surgical procedures. Without treatment, Beka would continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and would be at risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Beka receive treatment. On November 18th, he will undergo corrective surgery at BKMCM. Now, Beka's family need help to raise $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Beka's mother said: "Our wish is for good health for our son, and we hope that God will support him during the surgical process."