Juley is a 16-month-old baby from Haiti. He lives with his parents who are market vendors, and his grandparents in a small village near the capital. He is a very cheerful and curious child. Juley has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. Two separate holes exist in and near his heart: one between the two lower chambers of his heart, and a second between two major blood vessels next to the heart. Blood leaks through these holes, leaving him weak and short of breath. Juley will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 2nd, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew the holes closed so that blood can no longer leak through them. Another organization is contributing funds to pay for surgery. Juley's family needs help funding the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Juley's family overseas. Juley's mother says: "Our family will be praying for everyone who is helping our son become healthy!"

Ezekiel is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the firstborn in a family of five and comes from Bisri village in Kajiado County. He is currently in second grade and enjoys playing with his classmates all the time. Ezekiel was born with a condition known as Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). This condition affects the left side of his body, making it difficult for him to walk properly. He has to walk on his tiptoes and always feels pain in his legs, making it difficult to travel long distances. He has been undergoing serial casting at the hospital before the surgery to make him feel more comfortable. As a result of this condition, Ezekiel also has clubfoot on his left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Surgeons will perform Ezekiel's clubfoot repair surgery on September 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Ezekiel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and play with other children more comfortably. Ezekiel states, “I am looking forward to a quick healing to join my friends in playing football."

Kreusna is a two-year-old toddler from rural Kampong Thom province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents, older brother, and grandmother. His father works as a rice farmer, while his mother is a home maker. Kreusna has been living with a persistent weakness in his right hand since birth, a result of a nerve injury that occurred during his delivery. This condition has made it difficult for Kreusna to lift or to grasp objects. He was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, a condition that affects the nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Kreusna traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment, the only center in Cambodia where this treatment is available. On July 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery, which will improve his arm function. Kreusna and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $609 more to fund the procedure. Kreusna's father says: "I hope that Kreusna will be able to use his arm and play more freely with his brother and friends.

Nita is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. She is the second child in her family, with two sisters and a younger brother, all of whom are still in school. Her mother works in a shoe factory, and her father is a rice farmer. Nita is currently in 6th grade and enjoys her Mathematics class. She hopes to work on a farm like her father when she grows up. At home, Nita loves eating fried rice and spends her free time doing homework. In May 2019, Nita suffered a severe electric burn while playing at home. The burn affected both her hands and feet. Her left hand has scar contractures in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers, while the first and second fingers on her right hand have scar adhesion and atrophy. It is hard for her to write at school, grip objects, and even feed herself due to the contractures in her hands and fingers. Nita's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On August 21st, our medical partner's staff will perform a burn contracture release surgery to address the contractures in her left hand. This procedure will release the tightness in her fingers, helping her use her hand more easily and improve her overall hand function. Her family is able to contribute $100 but needs help to raise $395 more to fund Nita's medical care. Nita shared, "After the surgery, I hope to recover quickly so I can go back to school."

Olira is a sweet two-year-old boy from Ethiopia, whose joyful spirit brightens the lives of his parents and younger sister. His name, which means "From above," was chosen by his father in the hope that Olira's healing will come from a higher power. Olira loves to play with his sister and share precious moments with his family. Olira's father had qualified to attend university, but could not afford the tuition. Instead, he chose to enroll into a diploma course in agriculture in his hometown, and now earns a living as a gardener in the city. Unfortunately, his income is not enough to support the family, especially during recent challenging times. Olira’s uncle and other young people in the area find work in the woods burning charcoal for sale, but Olira's father is unable to join them due to a liver problem. When food runs low at home, Olira often visits his uncle's house to find something to eat. The past three years of drought have made farming nearly impossible, leading to severe food shortages in the region. As a result, Olira and many other children are not getting the nutrition they need. Olira's father wakes up early each day to search for work, often skipping meals himself to save money for the family's dinner. Olira was born with a condition called hypospadias, which affects his urinary function. Without treatment, he will continue to experience discomfort and could face future medical complications. His father took Olira to a local referral hospital but was faced with the heartbreaking reality of needing to purchase medicines, gloves, syringes, and other supplies that their family simply cannot afford. Desperate for help, they returned home without the treatment Olira needs. The family had received some support from church members to get to the referral hospital, but they quickly ran out of funds after paying for transport and initial medical expenses. A friend suggested reaching out to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids MyungSung Christian Medical Center (BKMCM), known for its commitment to supporting families in need, and church members provided some assistance with transport. However, the challenge of affording ongoing medical care for Olira remains a significant hurdle. Fortunately, our medical partner Africa Mission Healthcare is helping Olira receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 8th that will restore normal bodily functions, improving his quality of life. Now, Olira's family needs help to fund this $1,293 procedure. Olira's father says: “I hope that my son will heal after the surgery. God is my source of hope. I will praise God if I see my child heal and be able to pass urine normally.”

Lydia is a 58-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. She lost her husband in June 2022, leaving her with five children. She had six children in total but lost one. Lydia had to stop her education after completing primary school because her family could not afford the fees. Her oldest child is now 38 and also missed out on schooling for the same reason. Her youngest child, who is 22, is currently attending university and is the only one to reach that level of education. They live in a three-room mud house. Over the past five years, Lydia has faced serious health issues, including trouble breathing and a swelling in her neck that has been growing. At first, she thought it was a temporary problem and tried using herbal remedies, which did not help. After having her six children, her condition worsened, and she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Now, she struggles to carry any weight on her head and occasionally has difficulty breathing. Though surgery has been advised, her family cannot afford it. Lydia needs this surgery to prevent her health from deteriorating further. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lydia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on September 19th at our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. Now, Lydia needs help to fund this $333 procedure. Lydia says, “I am grateful to be considered for this medical treatment opportunity. After recovery, I look forward to living a normal life once again, and continue with my farming work as soon as possible.”