Alessandra is a young student from Bolivia. She lives in the western part of Bolivia with her mother, who works as a vendor. Alessandra loves to study math and computer science at school, and she loves to run and play with her friends. Alessandra has a cardiac condition called Coarctation of the aorta. A major blood vessel connected to her heart is too narrow, causing blood to back up into her heart and leading to heart failure. On February 12th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will open her aorta to a more normal size, so that blood can flow through it more freely. Alessandra's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Alessandra's mother shared, "I trust that this surgery will help my daughter so that she can grow up and be healthy!"

Soe is a 38-year-old woman from Burma who lives in Thailand with her husband, daughter, and son. Her children are in first and fourth grade. She is a homemaker, and her husband works as a construction day laborer. However, they shared that their income is insufficient to cover their household expenses, and they must borrow money from an acquaintance in order to afford their basic needs. In her free time, Soe enjoys planting vegetables. Since 2012, Soe began to experience troubling symptoms, including experiencing tightness in her neck, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, and swelling in her neck. She was diagnosed with a nontoxic thyroid nodule. The thyroid is the gland located in the front of the neck that produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for metabolism, growth, and other essential bodily functions. The doctors advised that Soe needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Soe receive treatment. On January 14th, she will undergo a thyroidectomy, in which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,500, and she and her family need help raising money. Soe expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to this organization (BCMF) and the donors for helping with my treatment. I will try to find a job to cover my family’s household expenses after my surgery and once I get better.”

Kevin is a six-year-old boy from Bolivia. Kevin lives in the westernmost part of Bolivia with his mom and two older brothers. Kevin loves to play soccer, but he gets tired easily. He also loves to paint. Kevin has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and unable to grow properly. On December 13th, he 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 in Kevin's heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Kevin's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgery, follow-up care, and medications. Kevin's mother shared, "We have been waiting a long time for this surgery. I am very happy my child will be healthy soon!"

Joyce is an elderly woman from Kenya, born into a family of eight siblings. Three of them have passed away and the remaining five are also elderly and dependent on their children for support. Joyce has no children of her own and relies on small-scale farming to provide food for herself. Early October, Joyce accidentally slipped and fell, injuring her left elbow. Living alone on a small piece of land given to her by relatives, she took some time to get up after the fall, but eventually managed to call her family for help. They took her to a nearby health facility, where she received first aid for her injury. However, her elbow was extremely painful, and she was unable to move her arm. To help with her pain and limit movement, her arm was placed in a cast. Seeing how much pain Joyce was in, her relatives decided to bring her to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment. Scans showed that her fracture was serious, and she would need surgery to properly heal. Unfortunately, without health insurance to cover her medical costs, Joyce is currently in pain and struggling to lift her arm or concentrate on anything else. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On November 13th, Joyce will undergo a fracture repair procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation. Once recovered, Joyce will regain her independence and return to her daily life without pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Joyce says, “I feel like my arm is in two pieces. I am in so much pain.”

Esnath is a 53-year-old farmer from Malawi whose life has been profoundly touched by loss. She is a devoted mother who has tragically lost all her own children but now finds strength in caring for six of her late sister’s children. Despite the challenges of raising these children alongside her husband, who also farms, Esnath struggles to feed her family and often relies on whatever food is available. For the past five months, Esnath has faced a serious decline in her health, marked by significant weight loss, a lack of appetite, and abdominal swelling. Concerned for her well-being, her loved ones noticed her rapid deterioration and urged her to seek help. Esnath made the long journey from Nkhotakota district, accompanied by two friends, to reach our medical partner's care center, Partners In Health (PIH) Medical Center, where she had been told she could find support. At PIH, Esnath was seen by a gynecologist who conducted the necessary tests to uncover the cause of her suffering. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, a condition that requires urgent medical attention. Esnath needs a hysterectomy, a procedure that will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Esnath receive treatment. On October 12th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at PIH Medical Center. Once recovered, Esnath will be able to resume her daily activities free of the symptoms, allowing her to continue caring for her family. Now, Esnath needs help to fund this $1,363 surgery. With tears in her eyes, Esnath shared, “It is hope that brought me from Nkhotakota to this place. I truly believe that God will help me recover so I can return home in good health.”

Diana is a student from Bolivia. She lives with her mother, a law student, in a neighborhood of La Paz. She is at the top of her class in school and is reading at a very high level for her age. She likes to read and play with her friends from school. Diana has a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. A major blood vessel connected to her heart is too narrow; this causes blood to back up into the heart, causing heart failure. On September 18th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will inflate a balloon inside her aorta to stretch it to a more normal size so that blood can flow through it more freely. Diana'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. Diana's mother shared, "Our family is so happy to know that after this procedure, our daughter will be able to be healthy!"

Renato is a 77-year-old man from the Philippines. He was previously married but has been separated from his wife since 1987. Renato is currently unemployed due to physical limitations as a senior citizen. He often uses his mobile phone for leisure and plays billiards in his free time. He relies on his social security pension of about $350 a month for his living expenses. Four years ago, Renato started to experience pain in the abdominal part of his body, especially when he lifted heavy objects. Due to the consistent pain, he decided to visit a private clinic to consult about his condition. It was found that he had an indirect inguinal hernia and was advised to undergo surgery. Fortunately, on August 17th, Renato will undergo hernia repair surgery. A portion of the cost of Renato's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is seeking help to raise $1,103 more to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Renato says, "Thank you very much for this opportunity to get treated. I may have no family but I feel that the Lord continues to send me people and organizations like you to help me so I am very grateful."

Lightness is a four-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother in the remote village of Endakasi, situated in Mbulu district in Tanzania. She is one of two siblings cared for by their grandmother after their mother died and their father abandoned them. The family's daily life revolves around farming. However, due to her age, the grandmother cannot fully participate in farming activities and mostly relies on her children to help with provisions and care. Lightness was born with clubfoot on her left foot, a condition where one's foot is twisted or bent out of shape. Due to their limited knowledge about the condition, her family did not seek treatment for her. One day, a glimmer of hope emerged, when Lightness' grandmother crossed paths with someone familiar with our medical partner's program. After an assessment, it was determined that Lightness is suffering from neglected clubfoot, which will require a series of casting sessions, and surgery to complete her treatment. Lightness' care will take place at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, beginning on July 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,119 to fund Lightness' casting and surgery, which will enable Lightness to live more comfortably. Lightness’s grandmother said: “Please help my granddaughter, because I’m too old to provide and to make sure she gets the treatment she needs.”

Biyana is a toddler from Ethiopia who loves to play with his mom and other children. He loves to play with balls and toy cars. His mom is a daily laborer who washes clothes for a living. She is a single mom who works hard to support her mother and Biyana. Biyana was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His mother knew about his condition at birth and was informed that surgery could be done when the child was seven years old. However, she later heard that kids as young as Biyana were going to Addis Ababa, the capital city, for treatment. After securing support for transportation, Biyana was brought to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. There, doctors confirmed Biyana's condition and scheduled him for surgery. Fortunately, Biyana is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 18th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. The surgery will relieve Biyana of discomfort and pain, and reduce the risk of future health complications. Biyana's mother said, “After the surgery, we hope he will be healthy and grow up like other children.”

Matilida is a businesswoman from Malawi. She is a widow who lost her husband in 2005. Being a dedicated member of the Assemblies of God, the church decided to take over the responsibility of her only son through education. Matilda sells boiled potatoes for a living. Twenty-nine years ago, Matilida began to experience troubling symptoms, including swelling in the neck. She sought help from several traditional doctors without success. In 2023, she started experiencing symptoms like pain when swallowing, neck heaviness, frequent coughs, and increased swelling of the neck. The symptoms continued to get worse, affecting her business. Matilda was referred to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a goiter and was recommended to have a thyroidectomy. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Matilida receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 16th at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015 and she and her family need help raising money. Matilida said, “I am looking forward to my healing as the only parent for my only child.”

Valentino is a preschooler from Bolivia who lives with his mother and four older brothers. He loves to watch cartoons and enjoys his mother's s cooking. However, it is difficult for him to gain weight. Valentino has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 16th, he 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 in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 for this procedure. Valentino's mother says, "Our family will be so much happier and less stressed once we know that our son is normal and healthy."

Ernesto is a widower and father of three from the Philippines. Ernesto enjoys watching TV and using his mobile phone during his free time. He is currently unemployed due to his condition and physical limitations as a senior citizen. He helps his children by taking care of his grandchildren and accompanying them to school every day. He lives with his second child and is dependent on his income as a driver. Six months ago, Ernesto began experiencing numbness in his foot and upper body. He was diagnosed with inguinal bilateral hernia and was advised to undergo surgery. On March 9th, Ernesto will have hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Ernesto's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Ernesto shared, "I hope you can continue to help more people like us. I am very grateful and I will carry your kindness in me until my dying breath. Thank you very much."