Sophanith is a 17-month-old toddler from Kandal province who lives with her parents and her nine-year-old older brother. Her mother works in a garment factory, and her father repairs broken phones at home. Sophanith enjoys playing with toys with her friends in the village and likes to eat rice with chicken sour soup. Sophanith was born with left torticollis, where the muscles on the left side of the neck are tight or shortened, causing the head to tilt to the left. This condition limits neck movement and makes it difficult to turn her head. Although her mother was advised to try neck massages, her condition has not improved. It has been determined that she needs surgery to release the tight sternocleidomastoid muscle to prevent complications such as facial asymmetry or permanent muscle tightness. Sophanith and her parents traveled one and a half hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for treatment. On December 23rd, Sophanith will undergo torticollis release surgery to improve her neck positioning and range of motion. Sophanith's parents can only afford $100 towards the surgery and need your support to cover the remaining $387, which includes the cost of surgery, medical care, and post-operative support. Sophanith's mother shared, "I hope she can have surgery and grow up healthy and happy."

Venessa is a four-year-old girl from Kamenya village in Homa Bay County, Kenya. She is the youngest of two children and lives with her mother, a single parent. Her mother works as a casual laborer in a salon to support her children and ensure Venessa receives the care she needs. Despite the many challenges, her mother remains determined to improve Venessa’s condition and give her a better future. Venessa was born with multiple conditions, including bilateral clubfoot, hydrocephalus, and spina bifida. Over the years, Venessa's mother has made countless trips to various hospitals seeking the best treatment for her daughter. Venessa has already undergone surgeries for hydrocephalus and spina bifida, which have greatly improved her health. However, her treatment journey is not yet done. Currently, Venessa is undergoing serial casting at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, to prepare for corrective surgery for her clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where one's foot turns inward and downward, making it difficult to walk and wear shoes, She is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery on December 12th. This procedure will correct the position of her feet, allowing her to stand upright and, with time, hopefully, walk and live a more independent life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Venessa’s surgery and follow-up care. This treatment will have a significant impact on Venessa’s quality of life and help her take the next steps toward living like other children her age. “I haven’t given up on my daughter, and I will support her until she walks on her feet and lives an active and healthy life,” shared Venessa’s mother.

Olivia is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She never finished her primary education due to lack of money for school fees. Olivia now practices small-scale farming to sustain her family and sells the surplus produce to earn a living. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver. Olivia and her husband live in a single-room house. Unfortunately, in 2022, Olivia lost her first baby due to severe fetal distress. She also has diabetes, which makes her new pregnancy higher risk. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via a cesarean section. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Olivia undergo a C-section on November 16th. This procedure will cost $252, and Olivia needs your support. Olivia says, "I seek your support to have my baby delivered safely. I look forward to holding my baby in my arms, alive and healthy."

Moe is 42-year-old man from Thailand. He lives with his mother, sister, brother and nephew on the Thai-Burma border. They are all unemployed due to the difficulties of the local situation. In his free time, he enjoys playing badminton and designing t-shirts. On July 3rd, Moe was playing badminton with his friends when he slipped and fell. After he fell he could not move and experienced pain in his right leg. He received an x-ray at Mae Sot Hospital and was diagnosed with fractures in his right tibia and fibula (both bones in the lower leg). He experiences extreme pain in his right leg. He cannot move or lift it, nor can he comfortably sit up. Due to the pain, he cannot sleep well, and he has little appetite. He needs to rely on his brother for all personal care. With the help of our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Moe will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for July 20th and BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund his treatment. This procedure will help Moe walk again and be free of pain. He will no longer have to rely on his brother to help him with personal care. Moe shared, “I feel so upset because I never thought that I would be like this [bed-bound]. I want to have my surgery soon because I feel a lot of pain in my right leg. I am really thankful for the donors who are paying for my treatment."

Rosita is a 71-year-old food vendor from Philippines and lives with her daughters and sister. Despite her diligent efforts to provide income, it is difficult to earn enough for their daily needs and expenses. Things are more difficulty now because her daughter is taking medication due to a recent accident. Four years ago, Rosita began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain and excruciating stomach discomfort. Oftentimes, her pain prevented her from working. Rosita has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms would be expected to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Rosita is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on September 8th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Rosita's surgery and care. Rosita said, "This support for surgery will provide massive assistance to me because it will allow me to get better and save money that we can use to pay for my daughter's medicines so I am very grateful to all the people who made this possible for me."

Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

14-year-old Rosemary lives with her parents in a mining town high in the mountains of central Bolivia. Her father is a farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. Rosemary is in the ninth grade and especially enjoys studying chemistry; she hopes to become a scientist one day. Rosemary was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a large hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without circulating properly through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, can help. On November 8th, Rosemary will undergo heart surgery at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Once she has recovered, Rosemary should be able to live the life of a healthy 14-year-old. Now her family needs your help to raise $1,500 for her procedure. Rosemary said: "I am very excited to go back to my school and my friends after surgery with a normal heart."

Zana is a 6-year-old pre-schooler who lives in Kandal province with her father, a delivery driver, and her mother, an electronics factory worker. She has a four-year-old brother. In school, she likes learning about Khmer history, and at home, she enjoys playing with toy cars with her brother. She loves it when her mother makes her favorite meal, which consists of fried pork and noodles. In January, she became feverish and ill. Her father took her to a government hospital where she was diagnosed with meningitis, but she was also unable to move her right shoulder or use her hand. Her paralysis has continued to get worse. She is unable to lift her arm and suffers shoulder pain, upper extremity weakness, and abnormal sensation that feels like tingling or pricking. On November 1st, she will undergo surgery to heal her condition and restore mobility. After recovery, her family hopes to gain some function in her arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, requests $709 to fund her procedure. Zana's father said: "I hope that she can move her shoulder again with no pain and no difficulty after this operation."