Liam is a one-month-old baby boy from Bolivia. He and his mother live they live at the home of his grandmother. Their entire extended family is working to support Liam and his mother during this time. Liam has a cardiac condition called coarctation of the aorta. A narrowing of the aorta that causes blood to back up and places strain on the heart. On August 11th, Liam will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will surgically repair the affected section of the aorta so that it is a more normal size. Liam'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. Liam's grandmother shared, "We are just praying that doctors can help sweet Liam, and he can have a successful surgery. We are so grateful to all the wonderful people who are helping us; we have no words."

Kidus is a cheerful, active, and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with other children, and enjoys toy cars. As the first child in his family, he brings immense joy to his parents. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as an assistant to transport drivers. Their income is limited, and the family lives in a house owned by a relative. Kidus was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition was discovered shortly after birth while he was still in the hospital. The doctors informed his parents that he should not undergo circumcision, because corrective surgery would be required in the future. They advised the family to seek further medical review at a higher-level hospital. The news was very difficult for Kidus's parents. His mother became deeply distressed, and often cried because she worried about her son's future. His father was also greatly affected by the situation. Determined to find help, they took Kidus to a public referral hospital, where doctors assessed his condition and informed the family that Kidus would likely require two surgical procedures. However, because he was still young, he was put on a surgical waiting list. The family patiently waited for two years before receiving a call from the hospital. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for surgical treatment. Fortunately, Kidus is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of Kidus' procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms, and he will be at risk of future complications. Kidus' mother expressed her gratitude, saying: "I pray that Kidus will recover well, and have a healthy future. Thank you very much for this opportunity and support. May God richly bless you, reward your kindness, and bless the work of your hands. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our family."

Pyae is a 16-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, her sister, and her brother in Mandalay. Her father works as a day labor and her mother sells fruits pickle at home. Pyae and her siblings are students. Pyae was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Pyae has chest pain, gets tired easily, and is unable to eat and sleep well. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Pyae. The treatment is scheduled to take place on May 15th at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital in Thailand, and once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Pyae said, "If it is not BCMF and its donors, I will not have the right to receive the surgery.” Pyae’s mother said, “I would like to say thank you so much for your support and your cares to us. This kind of opportunity and support, we can not find and receive it inside Burma. I would like to contribute back to BCMF someday in the future.”

Nellie, who is 41 years old, lives in Malawi. She and her husband have six children, ranging in age from 5 to 24 years old. Nellie relies on tomato selling as her main source of income. In 2018, Nellie began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small lump on her neck. At that time, the lump did not interfere with her daily activities, and she did not seek medical attention. In 2022, the swelling increased in size, and was accompanied by neck pain, frequent coughing, and persistent tiredness. She sought medical care at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, where she was diagnosed with a goiter. Over time, her condition progressively worsened. She began experiencing breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, persistent neck pain, and reduced physical capacity, including difficulty carrying heavy items and climbing steps. These symptoms severely limited her ability to work and to function normally. On March 29th, while at the market in Lilongwe, Nellie was advised to seek care at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), for possible surgical assistance. At the hospital, the initial diagnosis of goiter was confirmed, which is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. 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. Nellie needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Nellie receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 14th at Partners in Hope Medical Center, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Nellie is contributing towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help in raising $1,015 more to fund the procedure. Full of hope, Nellie says: "I count it a blessing to have found at PIH. I am hopeful that my health issues will soon come to an end after surgery. This is my year of favor, and I am patiently looking forward to your generous support."

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

Nwet is 41 years old and a mother of three from Burma. She and her husband live in a refugee village in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. They moved from Burma to Thailand in 2020 in search of better job opportunities. Nwet's daughter and two sons are studying in Burma and live with her mother-in-law. She and her husband are agricultural workers. Since January 2023, Nwet has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including swelling on her left neck. She was diagnosed with thyroid goiter. 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, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nwet receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 17th. 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. Nwet said, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for helping me with my treatment cost.” Her husband added, “I am really grateful that my wife will receive support for her surgery costs. By ourselves, we cannot afford this. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”