Pili is a 12-year-old girl and the second of four siblings in her family. She attends school daily and loves playing with her friends, even though walking to school often causes her pain. Her father, a farmer in Sapa village, Meatu, works hard to provide for the family. Pili was born with clubfoot on her right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than they should be and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Pili's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on December 13th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Pili's clubfoot treatment. Afterward, she will be able to walk easily and not experience pain. Pili says, "Thank you for making treatment possible, I want to be able to help my mother when I go back home."

Daw Khin is a 60-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband in Tak Province, Thailand. They moved to Thailand in search of better job opportunities. Currently, she is a street vendor selling onions and her husband is a homemaker. Her monthly income is just enough for their monthly expenses. In the future, she wants to open a shop selling Mohinga, a type of Burmese soup. Since 2021, Daw Khin has been experiencing a sensation of her uterus bulging, lower back pain, and discomfort when sitting, standing or passing urine. She has been diagnosed with uterine prolapse, and advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Daw Khin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Daw Khin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on November 26th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, She will no longer experience any discomfort or pain. Daw Khin said, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to BCMF and the generous donors. Your support means the world to me, and thanks to you, I am receiving treatment that I could never afford on my own. You are truly saving my life.”

Titus is a joyful and playful six-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the only child in his family and lives with his single mother who works in a hair salon. Titus is in grade 2 and enjoys reading. At home, he loves to play. Titus was born with a clubfoot on his left foot, where his foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. At just seven days old, Titus began serial casting to correct his foot. Each cast was changed weekly, and after the casting phase, he was given a brace to maintain the correction. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, his mother could not afford the transport to take him to his regular follow-up appointments. As a result, his condition worsened and Titus began to limp when walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on October 28th and Titus needs $1,286 to fund the procedure and care. After treatment, he will be able to walk, run, and play more comfortably. It will allow him to continue his studies and boost his self-esteem. “I am looking forward to seeing him walking just like other children,” Titus’s mother shared.

Caleb is a happy and smart ten-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the fourth born in a family of 10 and is in grade 2. He enjoys playing football both at home and at school, and he dreams of becoming a doctor so he can help people in need in his village. His mother stays home to take care of his younger siblings, and his father is a security officer. Caleb was born with a clubfoot in both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. He has already had surgery on his left foot and it has healed well. Caleb traveled to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery for Caleb's right foot on September 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Caleb's surgery. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily, play football, and focus on his studies without any problems. “I am looking forward to a quick recovery so that I can be able to walk well, run jump and play football with my friends,” Caleb told us.

Meet Jayden, a six-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He is the only child of a single mother. Jayden was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain, and increases intracranial pressure. He was able to undergo one surgery but now needs a follow-up procedure to ensure the fluids are properly draining and not putting pressure on his developing brain. The circumference of Jayden's head has been increasing in size, and if he doesn't receive proper treatment, he will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Jayden. The procedure, scheduled for August 16th at Hospital Bernard Mevs, will drain the excess fluid from Jayden's brain, and reduce intracranial pressure. After his surgery, Jayden's quality of life should improve greatly. With proper support and care, he may grow up strong and healthy. Jayden's mother shared, "I hope for a successful surgery for my son."

Rivaldo is a four-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother and grandmother in a neighborhood of the capital, where he goes to pre-school. He loves to read and play games with his classmates and neighbors. Rivaldo has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect where 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. Rivaldo will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 24th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, where surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to help pay for the surgery. Rivaldo's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 will cover labs, medicines, check up and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and enable social workers from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, to accompany Rivaldo's family overseas. Rivaldo's mother says, "Our family is all very thankful to everyone who is helping to save our son's life."

Wal is a 23-month-old boy who lives in Ethiopia with his siblings and parents. Wal's family is from South Sudan and living in the Jewi refugee camp in Gambela, Ethiopia. Both parents do not work and maintain their lives through donations from the UNHCR. They have planted some vegetables in their backyard for their consumption and own five chickens. Wal was born with a congenital anomaly called bladder exstrophy, where the bladder is abnormally open from the front. The bladder is exposed to air and urine leaks onto his abdomen. As a result, he suffers from pain due to irritation of the bladder, infections, and discomfort from the leak. Wal requires a Mainz Pouch procedure, which involves diverting his urination to the anal opening and creating a pouch bladder from the bowel. Wal's mother knew about his condition at birth but he was too young for surgery at that time. Later, they were told they needed to go to the capital city, Addis Ababa for the surgery, but they couldn't afford the transportation cost. Because of the conflict in the region, there are no buses in the area. Planes are available but the cost to fly is prohibitive. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. Through their care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, they were able to support their flights and find a place where the family can stay. Wal is scheduled for this bladder surgery on June 25th. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,500 to fund his medical care. His family needs your help. Wal's mother said, “I hope that he will get the surgery and heal. I want to see him go to school.”

Kwangu is a farmer and a single mother of three adult children. She enjoys taking care of her grandchild and eating maize porridge with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Kwangu was diagnosed with a goiter, which was affecting her movement, daily activities, and health. She was referred to Partners in Hope Medical Center where she was told she needed a thyroidectomy, a procedure where surgeons remove a part or all of the thyroid glands. She is scheduled for surgery on February 27th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,015 for the procedure. Kwangu believes that the surgical operation will help her get back home and be with her children. She looks forward to getting better after surgery so she can continue her farm work and support her family as a single parent.

Carlos is a two-year-old boy from Bolivia. His father works in construction and his mother sells decorative balloons. Carlos has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. This condition involves a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood passes through this hole without obtaining oxygen from the lungs, making him weak and unable to gain weight properly. On April 24th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch. Another donor is helping support a part of the cost of the surgery, but our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance still needs $1,500 to fund medical tests, their hospital stay, and medications. Carlos' mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after surgery, our son will recover his appetite and start growing!"

Luz is a three-year-old girl from a mining town in central Bolivia. Her mother is a farmer and her father sadly passed away from a heart attack soon after she was born. Luz has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and dependent on an external oxygen tank. Fortunately, our medical partner, The International Cardiac Alliance can help. Luz is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on March 21st. Our medical partners are requesting $1,500 to fund her procedure. Luz's mother says, "I am looking forward to my daughter being able to play normally and start preschool after her surgery!"

John is a quiet 11-year-old boy from Kenya. John's story is a journey of compassion and the unwavering support of a dedicated well-wisher. His origin is drawn back in Tanzania, where he faced the disturbing reality of being disowned by his real parents due to his disability on his feet. John was left helpless in the unfamiliar surroundings of central Kenya. For the past seven years his guardian has stood by his side, offering not just a shelter but also a sense of belonging. John’s chapter started to change when a team of AIC Cure International doctors visited his neighborhood for a mobile clinic. He was reviewed and scheduled for surgery and underwent a successful surgery on his left foot and his left foot has healed well. John still has clubfoot of right foot. He is currently in the hospital to undergo right foot treatment, which involves serial casting to adjust the position of his foot to achieve the desired correction. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Surgeons from our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital are scheduled to now perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund John's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Once he heals, John aspires to go back to school and study and one day achieve his dream of becoming a doctor in future. John told us: “I am looking forward to seeing my foot corrected, walking properly, playing football with my friends and continuing with my studies like other children, and achieving my dream of becoming a doctor in future to also impact lives of children born like me."

Enita comes from Ntcheu District and is a widow who lost her husband in 2011. She has 6 children of which the first four are married while the last two are aged 18 and 16 respectively. She is a farmer who is also supported by her last two children. Enita is grateful when she has time to rest and enjoys eating anything available. Enita was well until 10 years ago when she noted a small lump on the right side of her neck that was not painful. She did not bother visiting the hospital since this problem did not affect her daily activities. As time passed, the lump kept on growing bigger and bigger though without pain up until December 2023 when she shared that things got out of hand with her condition. She noted a blister that was very painful and affected her daily activities. She decided to visit her son who lives in the city of Lilongwe where different tests were done, and a diagnosis of goiter was made at Kamuzu Central Hospital. She was then referred to our medical partner's care center Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) for further management. Currently, she is experiencing pains from the scratched wound on her neck, neck heaviness, and frequent coughs that have affected her daily activities. On January 19th, Enita met the surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis of right goiter and the need for surgical intervention called thyroidectomy, which is the removal of part of the thyroid gland. Enita was referred to the Watsi program for assessment due to her financial instability. After a thorough assessment, she was eligible and thanks everyone for their consideration. Her daughter-in-law is helping commit some funds for her treatment support and their family needs help raising $1,015. Enita believes that the surgery will help her get better and continue to live a normal life. She shared, “Kindly help me. I need my peace of mind.”