Lydia finished high school last year and has dreams of attending university, but she started experiencing some pain in her abdomen last December. She experienced the pain for one month before going to the hospital for an examination. After an abdomen CT scan, Lydia was diagnosed with Cystic liver disease. She was booked for surgery after the family raised enough money through fundraising. During the surgery, Lydia experienced complications when anesthesia was being administered and the surgery had to be cancelled. She was admitted to the ICU for a few days, recovered, and was discharged, but all the money her family raised was used to pay the hospital bill, and the family had to get a loan to clear the bill. While at home, Lydia recovered well, and during the last clinic review, she was finally ready for liver surgery. Their family has completely exhausted their funds and is appealing for any financial help to facilitate their daughter's treatment, hoping that after her complete healing, she can pursue her dreams. Lydia shared, “I really want to be helpful at home and maybe get a job to help my family but I can’t. This condition is very painful. I hope I will be treated soon enough and recover well.”

Meet Aman, a smart, kind, five year old boy, who lives with his family in Ethiopia. Aman likes to help care for his siblings, and to play football. While his parents are farmers, his mother has been unable to work, of late, due to an issue with her eyes. Aman's mother shared that he developed visible changes to the shape of his abdomen, swelling, pain and bloating. Ultimately, he has been diagnosed with a mass on his abdominal wall. As a result of this mass, Aman experiences a variety of challenging symptoms, while his parents are emotionally distressed from watching their child suffer. With the assistance of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Aman is now scheduled for an abdominal resection - the removal of the mass - on January 5th, at BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. The cost of Aman's procedure and care is $1,500, and their family needs your help to fund this procedure to alleviate Aman's suffering. Aman's mother says: “I want him to recover from this disease and be healthy. After this treatment I wish for him to play like his friends. I hope he will get married one day, and I want to see my grandchildren in the future.”

Desiree is a three-year-old girl from Venezuela. Seven months ago, her family left Venezuela for Colombia seeking better opportunities. After tragically experiencing the loss of Desiree's siblings, Desiree fills her parents' life with joy and happiness. She loves playing with dolls and dancing. One day, her parents hope she will become a ballerina. Desiree was born with amniotic band syndrome. Her condition has affected one of her right toes, which frequently bleeds. Fortunately, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is helping Desiree receive treatment. On December 7th, she will undergo surgery to stop the bleeding and help her live a healthy and active life ahead. After surgery, she will be able to walk, run, and dance without pain. Now, her family needs help raising $1,500 to fund Desiree's procedure and care. Desiree's mother shared, "first of all I would like to thank you all for making this all possible. Thanks to you and the donors my daughter will stop her pain. I would love to invite people to continue making their donations in order to help families that unfortunately can't pay for their kids' treatment."

Chhun Leap is an active 13-year-old boy in grade 6. He's an only child, his mother is a Khmer teacher and his father is a truck driver. When he isn't studying, he likes to play football with his friends, and read books. Since he was young, he has often felt poorly. He doesn't eat sufficiently because it hurts him to eat, Chhun Leap has been experiencing a frequent cough, sore throat, fever, and difficulty swallowing. This frequent illness causes him to miss school and not eat well. Chhun Leap was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $241 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Chhun Leap, which is scheduled to take place on November 25th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Chhun Leap of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. "I hope my throat will feel better, and I can go to school and play with my friends again," he shared.

Alvin is a bright 10-year-old boy. He is a gifted student in grade three and loves playing with his friends. He is the only child of a single mother and is very close to his grandmother. The family shared that they rely on his grandmother’s income for their needs. Last year, Alvin’s family brought him to the local hospital, where a scan showed a right undescended testis. Due to a lack of funds for treatment, Alvin's mother was referred to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for treatment at their care center. He has been diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. Surgeons recommend an orchidopexy procedure to heal his condition and the risk it could lead to a hernia, testicular cancer, or fertility problems in the future. Alvin will be receiving assistance from AMH and is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on November 30th. AMH is requesting $483 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Alvin’s mother shared, “The doctor explained to us about his condition and the dangers of not having surgery. Since we cannot raise that money, we kindly request help. I would love to see my only child mature like other boys.”

Hervensley is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents and older brother in Cap Haitien, a city in northern Haiti. He likes playing with toy cars and listening to the radio. Hervensley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Hervensley will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On February 26th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage. Hervensley's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 costs include labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Hervensley's family overseas. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. His mother said, "Our family will be very relieved and thankful when our son is finally healthy!"

Susan is a young girl from Tanzania. She is the second born child in a family of four children. She is a happy girl and always has a smile on her face. Susan has not had the chance to join school yet due to her feet being wrongly positioned making walking difficult. Her parents are concerned that she will struggle to walk to and from school every day. The school is a long distance from their home and her parents can’t afford to pay for motor bike rides to school. Both her parents depend on small scale farming for their daily life living. Fortunately, Susan traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on November 19th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $890 to fund Susan's clubfoot repair. After treatment, She will be able to walk easily. Susan’s father says, “Please help treat our daughter’s legs we can’t afford the treatment cost.”

Yusuph is a baby from Tanzania. He is the youngest in a family of two children. His parents are livestock keepers and small-scale farmers of maize and beans. When he was one, Yusuph sustained burns on his right hand and face. He has developed contractures that prevent him from chewing. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Yusuph receive treatment. On November 5, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help restore his ability to chew. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Yusuph’s mother says, “I would be forever grateful if my son could get help on his treatment to correct his face and help him grown into a confident man.”

Francis is a one-month-old baby boy from Tanzania, born into a family of three kids. Francis is a warm little boy who was born with spina bifida, a medical condition in which the spine does not close properly before birth. After delivery, the surgeon diagnosed Francis with spina bifida and recommended surgery to close the open part on his back. If not treated, Francis will suffer nerve damage and also be at risk of infections. Francis’s mother sells vegetables in the market, and his father is a farmer. They both do not earn enough to be able to afford Francis's treatment. On August 7, Francis will undergo spina bifida closure surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $966 to fund surgical materials, medication, and five nights of hospital stay. Francis’s mother says, “Please help my son get better, I cannot afford his treatment but I pray that God blesses everyone who is touched to help my son.”

Youbendjy is a four-month-old baby who lives in a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince with his mother, father, and older sister. Neither parent is employed full-time, but both of them work as day laborers when they can. Youbendjy was born with a cardiac condition called total anomalous pulmonary vein return, in which the pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium of the heart. Typically, these veins should connect to the left atrium. This condition deprives his body of oxygen and leads to heart failure. Youbendjy will undergo a surgery in which the veins are disconnected from the heart and reconnected in the appropriate location. First, he will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 9. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Youbendjy also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Youbendjy's surgical care. "I thought from the time my baby was born that we would lose him," says his mother. "It is like a dream for me that we have a chance for surgery."

James was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, which leaves him very fatigued. James lives in a rural area just outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with his mother and grandparents. He likes to play with toys and listen to music. He is his mother's first child. James needs to undergo heart surgery. First, he will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 19. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for James also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with James's surgical care. James's mother "would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping James to become healthy!"

Sok Hak is a 24-year-old farmer with one brother and one sister. He likes to play soccer, go to his farm, and talk with his friends. Sok Hak has developed a cholesteatoma, an abnormal skin growth, in his left ear. It causes ear discharge, hearing loss, and pain. Sok Hak is unhappy and has difficulty working. When Sok Hak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On November 23, CSC surgeons performed a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear to remove the cholesteatoma. After recovery, his hearing will improve. Now, he needs help to fund this $842 procedure. "I hope that I can have good hearing," he says, "and that it will be easy for me to go to work."