Jane is 46 years old and a mother of four children from Malawi. She sells traditional drinks and fritters, but had to stop working due to her condition. For seven years, Jane has been experiencing severe bleeding. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Jane was reviewed by a gynecologist at our medical partner's care center, Partners In Hope Medical Center, and was informed of the need for a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH), a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Jane remains hopeful that surgery will restore her health. She believes that being well again is vital so she can continue providing for her four children, who depend on her entirely. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Jane's surgery. On October 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery, which will address her symptoms. Once recovered, Jane will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Jane shared, "I have suffered enough; I now just want to get well after surgery and continue taking care of my children as a single mother."

Oumy is a preschooler from Haiti. She lives in a small village in central Haiti with her parents, who are both farmers, and three siblings. She attends preschool and is starting to learn to read. Oumy has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Oumy will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On September 22nd, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner, the International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to cover the cost of the surgery. Oumy's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to cover laboratory tests, medications, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Oumy's family overseas. Oumy's mother shared, "It has been very scary to know my daughter has a serious heart problem. I am looking forward to not having to worry so much about her!"

Monny Reach and his family are from Takeo Province, Cambodia, about four hours away from the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother who is ten years old and in fourth grade. His father works as a taxi driver, and his mother sells groceries. At home, Monny enjoys playing with toy cars and spending time with his mother. He loves all types of Khmer soups, especially lemongrass sour soup. When Monny Reach was about a year old, his parents noticed weakness in his foot when he was unable to stand after pulling himself up using furniture. They took him to a children's hospital, where a doctor observed that his spine was not straight and suspected a spinal deformity. The doctor recommended that he visit an organization for further evaluation, where he was advised to wear a brace. However, due to a respiratory disease he had as a baby, Monny Reach often struggled to breathe, making it impossible for him to wear the brace. He did not begin walking on his own until he was two and a half years old. Recently, Monny Reach's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. In February, he was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis, which causes his spine to curve or twist. This condition can eventually affect his chest and lungs, making it harder for him to breathe. Although Monny does not feel pain, he experiences difficulty breathing and sitting for long periods. On August 12th, Monny Reach will undergo spinal surgery to correct his scoliosis and stabilize his spine. This surgery is expected to improve his posture and allow him to live a healthier life as he grows. His family hopes that the operation will help him breathe better and prevent future complications, but they need assistance covering the $1,500 cost of the procedure. This amount includes surgery, metal spinal implants, anesthesia, medication, and postoperative care. Monny Reach's parents said, "After the operation, we hope that our son will have a normal spine like the other kids and not have any pain. We want him to grow strong and healthy."

Alezi is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. She is a widow with five married children. Ten years ago, Alezi began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck that caused shortness of breath, frequent coughs, and an inability to work, climb steps, and carry items on her head. The symptoms worsened early this year, forcing her to visit the hospital. She was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is 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 Alezi receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 8th 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. Alezi said, "I can't wait to see myself well again."

Sambo is an 11-year-old boy from Cambodia who lives with his mom and older brother in rural Kampong Speu province. At school, Sambo enjoys Khmer and math. He loves it when his mom makes omelets or fried chicken, and in his free time, he likes to play with the other children in the village. When Sambo was six years old, his mother noticed his spine was curved and one shoulder was higher than the other. They travelled to the capital, Phnom Penh, for medical consultation. Sambo was diagnosed with scoliosis and instructed to wear a back brace. Since that time, he has worn the brace on and off, but struggles with discomfort and difficulty breathing when wearing the brace. Unfortunately, the curve of the spine has worsened, making it difficult for him to sit for long periods in school and play sports with his friends. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Sambo receive treatment. On June 12th, surgeons will perform an orthopedic surgery to improve the alignment of his spine. Surgeons will implant a metal "growing rod" into his spine, which will help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund his surgery, implant, and post-op care, including physiotherapy. Once recovered, his quality of life will significantly improve, and he can live an active life. Sambo shared, "I hope I can feel better from surgery and go back to school."

78-year-old Rolando has always been very active. Due to health issues, he now lives in the Philippines with his sister and brother-in-law, both senior citizens, along with his grandson, who is in school, and his niece, who is the family's sole provider. About thirty years ago, Rolando developed an indirect inguinal hernia, which occurs when a portion of the abdominal contents bulges through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall. The condition has been causing him pain, and making it difficult for him to walk. When he first began to experience symptoms, he dismissed them, thinking that they would go away on their own. He also tried some traditional remedies, but continued to live with his symptoms. After thirty years, and as a result of the onset of severe abdominal pain, he decided to seek medical attention. After being evaluated, hernia repair surgery was recommended. Fortunately, on April 13th, Rolando will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. While a portion of Rolando's treatment will be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation, Philippines, is seeking your help to raise the remaining $1,038 necessary for Ronaldo's surgery and care. Rolando says: "This supported surgery would be a significant help for us. Thank you very much for your kind assistance, and for giving this 78-year-old man hope."

Malika is six years old and the youngest in a family of five from Cambodia. Her mother is a housewife, and her father works as a construction worker. At home, Malika loves eating soup with rice and playing with her four older brothers. Malika has been diagnosed with a combination of Klinefelter Syndrome (KS), Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), and a spinal deformity. KS is a genetic condition that can cause delays in development and physical problems, making Malika have a tall, thin body and flexible joints. This condition also contributes to her spinal deformity, which her mother noticed when she was just five months old. Additionally, Malika was born with VSD, a heart condition where there was a hole in her heart, which required surgery when she was a baby. These health issues have affected her growth and development, but her parents hope that she can start school soon. Malika and her family traveled for two and a half hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for treatment. On April 8th, she will undergo a spinal surgery where a growing rod will be placed along her spine to help correct the curvature while allowing her spine to continue growing. This procedure aims to support her spine's growth and alignment, improving her posture and mobility. Our medical partner is seeking help with $1500, which will cover the cost of the surgery, medical supplies, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Malika's mother said, “I want to see her grow up healthy like other children and be able to start school so she can have a good future.”

Dolika is 53 years old and a mother of five from Malawi. She and her husband are farmers. She likes singing in church and enjoys eating nsima, a rice porridge, served with fresh fish. Since 2000, Dolika has been experiencing bleeding, abdominal pains, and weakness. In December 2024, her condition worsened affecting her ability to perform her daily tasks and interact with others in her community. She was diagnosed with multiple fibroids and recommended for surgery. Dolika needs a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Dolika's surgery scheduled for March 7th. Once recovered, Dolika will be able to resume her daily activities without pain and discomfort. Dolika said, "I believe I have come to the right place. I have traveled all the way from Ntcheu to receive help. I have tried and failed to pay for my surgery, kindly help me to have my peace of mind back."

Charles is 56 years old and a father from the Philippines. He is an active person who enjoys playing basketball, lifting heavy objects, and painting. He also enjoys caring for animals, but despite these hobbies, his health issues have greatly impacted his ability to work and earn a living. Thirty years ago, he began experiencing pain in his abdomen and difficulty walking, symptoms that he initially dismissed, thinking that the pain would subside on its own. Two years ago, he finally sought medical advice and was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a swelling of tissue in the abdomen resulting in pressure on the inguinal canal. His condition causes him frequent abdominal pain and an inability to move freely. Fortunately, on February 18th, Charles will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Charles's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Charles shared, "I am grateful to the people and organizations that offer help to individuals like me who are struggling financially. This opportunity for free surgery would allow me to recover and contribute again to my family."

Na Say is a 29-year-old woman from Burma. She lives together with her husband and their daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She fled to the refugee camp with her family in early 2024 due to a military airstrike on her village where her home was burned down. Na Say and her family ran through the forest for three days until they reached the refugee camp where her sister lived. Na Say stays at home to care for her daughter. Her husband sometimes sells traditional medicines to earn a little. But they mostly rely on cash cards from the aid agency in the camp. During her free time, she likes to learn how to make traditional Karen dresses. Na Say receives free basic health care in the refugee camp. But now, she is currently expecting her second child and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Na Say undergo a C-Section on January 7th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Na Say needs your support. Na Say said, “In the future, I will make Karen traditional dress and sell it for extra income to help my family.’’

Sein is a 39-year-old man from Burma who lives with his parents in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. He and his parents fled from their village in Burma due to the ongoing fighting in the country. Like others in the camp, their family relies on donations from a relief agency. Sometimes his mother tries to go outside the camp to work as an agricultural day laborer to earn extra money to have enough food in the camp. In 2023, after carrying cement bags over his back, Sein started to experience back pain. The pain worsened, especially when he tried to lift heavy objects. A few months later, he could no longer walk. With help from another relief agency, Sein underwent an MRI scan and doctors diagnosed him with a herniated nucleus pulposus and explained to him that the spinal disc between two of his ribs was not in the right place. It was compressing the nerve’s root causing him back pain and making it difficult for him to walk properly. The doctor recommended he receive internal fixation surgery to fix the spine disc. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Sein will undergo surgery to reset his fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for December 25th and will cost $1,500. This surgery will help Sein walk and work again so he can support his family. Sein said, “I feel very stressed since I cannot walk properly and have to depend on my parents who are now getting old. My mother sometimes has to work as a day laborer to find extra money to help buy more food as we do not have enough. I hope that I can walk and work again soon so that I can look after my parents and buy them enough food like I did before.” He added, “I would like to say thank you from the bottle of my heart to all the donors and BCMF for your support.”

Kha is a seven-year-old boy from Burma who lives with his parents, grandparents, and siblings at an internally displaced person camp in Karen State. He is currently in grade three at the camp school. In his free time, he enjoys watching cartoons and playing games on his mother's phone. Since March 2024, Kha has been experiencing a sore throat with painful and swollen tonsils. This condition has caused him significant pain and difficulty in swallowing food and water, and he occasionally has fevers. Kha was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Burma Children's Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to fund a tonsillectomy for Kha. Surgeons removed his tonsils on November 12th, relieving Kha of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Kha's mother stated, "The frequent trips across the Thai-Burma border for appointments are challenging and costly. The surgery is expensive, and we cannot afford it. My son, Kha, has also missed a lot of school, and we are deeply grateful to BCMF and Watsi for assisting with his surgery. We hope to support others in the future as well." Kha said, "I want to become a doctor someday and help others that are suffering."