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.”

Agustin is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He worked in a condominium building, painting, repairing, and handling overall maintenance. His pay was modest, but it helped support his family. Agustin retired in August 2024 due to age and health. His wife runs a small peanut business, and their son helps support them. Agustin noticed a mass on his jaw. He was worried it might grow larger and cause problems in the future. Doctors recommend that he undergo a parotidectomy, surgery to remove all or part of the parotid gland. This procedure treats tumors and other conditions that affect your parotid gland. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Agustin undergo surgery on March 11th. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. Agustin shared, "I am truly grateful for this operation. It saves me from the heavy burden of borrowing money and worrying about expenses, like what happened when my brother passed away. With this support from Watsi and the donors, I can focus on healing and look forward to more time with my family, free from financial stress."

Mdoe is a 14-year-old boy from Kenya. Shortly after his birth, Mdoe showed signs that his intestines were not working properly. He was brought to several hospitals, but was not given a clear diagnosis. Mdoe's condition worsened. He was visibly in pain, restless, and crying constantly. Mdoe's mother was determined to find help. She took him to a larger facility, where doctors explained that his intestines were intertwined and that he would need surgery. He would require a colostomy bag to help him pass stool. After a few days of monitoring, they were discharged. But only days later, complications arose, and Kinago underwent surgery at the same hospital. Life after surgery was far from easy. His mother took him for clinic checkups several times, striving to remain consistent with his care. But back at home, reality pressed in. Both parents engage in small-scale farming, stretching each harvest to provide for their eight children. Eventually, the cost of continued clinic visits became impossible to sustain. Now fourteen, Mdoe has never been able to attend school. It breaks his heart to watch children his age walk to class while he remains at home. His condition requires him to change his colostomy bag regularly, yet he has been using the same one since early childhood. Some schools refused to admit him. Over time, discouraged and burdened by school fees, his mother stopped trying. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On February 12th, Mdoe will undergo abdominal surgery that will improve Mdoe's quality of life. His family needs help raising $1,081 to fund his procedure and care. Mdoe's mother shared, “It is painful when your child asks you why he cannot go to school like other children. I see the longing in his eyes, and I wish I could take this condition away from him. I may not have wealth, but I have never stopped fighting for him, even when the journey felt too heavy for my shoulders.”

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."

Eimy is a newborn baby from Bolivia. She lives with her two older brothers, her mother who is a homemaker, and her dad who works as a roofer. When Eimy was born, her mom noticed that her face looked blue, she was breathing fast, and could not breastfeed well. Eimy was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called transposition of the great arteries. The two major arteries connected to the heart are attached to the heart in an anatomically abnormal configuration, meaning that blood cannot flow normally through the heart and body. Doctors explained that she needed urgent surgery. On May 19th, Eimy will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will detach the two arteries and reattach them in their normal positions, so that blood can flow normally. Eimy'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. Eimy's mother says: "I have so many feelings right now, but I trust that my baby will have a successful surgery. I am so grateful to be here."

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."

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."

Glory is a six-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her mother, while her father is rarely present due to unstable family circumstances. Glory is the only surviving child in her family following the tragic loss of her three older siblings, which makes her especially precious to her mother and extended family, who now surround her with care and protection. For the last six years, Glory has experienced an unusual swelling on the ring finger of her left hand. When she was younger, it did not appear to cause pain, and her family hoped it would improve as she grew. Instead, the finger gradually became thicker and darker in color, accompanied by persistent itching, excessive sweating, and increasing pain. Over time, the condition has begun to interfere with Glory's ability to use her hand comfortably for everyday activities such as holding objects, playing, and learning basic tasks at home. Despite these challenges, Glory is a bright and gentle child who enjoys being around other children and is eager to attend school regularly. Her mother shares that Glory often attempts to use her affected hand but quickly pulls back due to discomfort. Simple activities like gripping a pencil or helping with light chores have become increasingly difficult as Glory grows, and her doctors recommend an amputation of her left-hand ring finger to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Glory's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully help improve her health and quality of life. After recovering, Glory is most looking forward to no longer being in pain and using her hand more freely as she continues to grow and learn. Glory’s mother says, “My daughter tries to use her hand, but the pain in her finger stops her from holding things or writing. I just want her to be free from pain and able to learn and play like other children.”