Gift is nine years old and a fifth grader from Kenya. She is the third born in a family of four. She loves playing, singing, and dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Gift was only two years old when her legs first started curving outward. As the severity of her condition became clearer, her father began a desperate search for answers. He took her from one hospital to another, hoping someone would explain what was happening. But every visit ended the same; doctors could not identify the cause or offer a solution. “At that time, I didn’t know how bad it could become,” her father said. Mbithi said. The hospital trips drained not only the family’s hope but also their finances. After many consultations, he was finally told that surgery was needed. Even though he wanted the best for his daughter, the cost of the treatment was far beyond what he could afford. Gift was diagnosed with genu varus, a misalignment of her knees, affecting the position of her legs and feet. As she grew older, her legs worsened, and every step became painful. Walking to school was a struggle, and sometimes her friends would run ahead, leaving her behind in tears. “It was heartbreaking to see Gift walking like that,” her father shared. Hope finally came when a friend told him about our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. There, Gift underwent surgery to correct her right leg, and the results brought great relief to her family. She is now back at the hospital for another surgery to correct her left leg, bringing her one step closer to walking without pain and living the life she dreams of. Gift is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Gift's procedure and care. Gift's father shared, “My prayer is that she gets well and has her legs straightened so she can live a normal life. After treatment, I hope she will continue with school and achieve her dreams in the future.”

Phanny is a 9-year-old third-grader from Cambodia. He lives in Kampot province with his parents and older brother. His parents both work in construction. On weekends, he and his brother stay with their grandmother because their parents often work seven days a week. At school, he enjoys Khmer history and mathematics, and he aspires to become a policeman when he grows up. For the past three years, Phanny has been experiencing sore throats, fever, and difficulty swallowing. He suffers from infections, difficulty breathing, and snoring at night. Frequent illness causes him to miss school. His parent get very worried when they see him sick because he does not eat. Phanny 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 $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Phanny, which is scheduled to take place on June 6th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Phanny of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Phanny's mother shared: "I hope this treatment will help my son have good health and stop his infections."

Natalia is a loving mother of two children aged 21 and 15, who live in Blantyre. Due to financial challenges, she relies on the support of a family member to care for her children. Natalia sells a traditional drink in her neighborhood for income, while her husband works seasonally in tobacco production and does farm work. Natalia has a passion for singing gospel songs and enjoys sharing meals of rice and beef with her family. However, for the past two months, she has been facing serious health issues, including heavy bleeding, abdominal swelling, and overwhelming fatigue. Concerned for her well-being, she sought medical attention at a local hospital, where scans revealed a diagnosis of uterine fibroids. She was then referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners In Health (PIH) Medical Center, for specialized care. At PIH, Natalia was reviewed by a gynecologist who confirmed her diagnosis and recommended a hysterectomy, a surgical procedure to remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Natalia receive treatment. On October 12th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at PIH Medical Center. Once recovered, Natalia will be able to resume her daily activities free of her symptoms. Now, Natalia needs help to fund this $1,363 procedure. Natalia says, “I look forward to regaining my health. I believe that undergoing this procedure will empower me to move forward with positivity and strength.”

Peter is a 46-year-old man from Kenya. He used to work as a laborer on a farm, where he packed and loaded potatoes. However, in 2015, while at work, a sack of potatoes accidentally fell from the truck and landed on his back. He lost consciousness and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was admitted for several days. Despite treatment, Peter experienced persistent back pain, making it difficult to sit, stand, or move comfortably. His condition forced him to stop working and move in with his aunt. Peter was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he was diagnosed with low back pain. As he is not responding to medication, the doctor recommends that he undergo spine fusion surgery. Peter is scheduled to undergo surgery on September 16th and needs help to raise $1,500 for the procedure. After recovery, doctors expect that Peter will be able to go back to work and perform his daily tasks. Peter says, “I can’t sleep well because my back is in pain, and sometimes while walking, I lose balance and fall.”

Jhon is a 13-year-old seventh-grade student who lives with his parents and older sister in a central Bolivian city. His father is a strawberry farmer, while his mother works as a house keeper. Jhon enjoys his math and science classes, finding inspiration in these subjects. However, he faces a significant challenge due to a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, which creates a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. This condition causes blood to leak through the hole, leaving him weak and often short of breath, but Jhon remains determined to pursue his education and dreams. On August 14th, Jhon will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in his heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Jhon's family needs help to fund the $1,500 costs of cardiac care and surgery. Jhon says, "I can't wait to play sports with my friends once my heart is healed."

Boika is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents and four siblings in a small rural village where his parents are both farmers. Boika has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. 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. Boika also has Down syndrome. Boika will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On July 15, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which Surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing funds to help pay for surgery, but Boika's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transportation. These funds will covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment as well as the social workers from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Boika's family overseas. Boika's mom said, "I hope that after this surgery, my son will get the strength to start walking and playing on his own."

Michael Anthony is a single father who lives with his sister who supports him and his child. He used to work as a host for events but had to stop because of his symptoms. Michael Anthony needs to undergo a hernia repair procedure to relieve him of the discomfort and pain he currently experiences. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, has scheduled his surgery for June 14th and needs help to raise $1,265 to fund this procedure. Michael Anthony shares, "I want to help his sister in our household expenses and fully support my child. I am grateful to everyone behind this initiative. Once completed, this will greatly affect my life and my family's life so I am very grateful to all of you."

Medjine is a 17-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and younger sister in a neighborhood of the capital city. Medjine is in the eleventh grade and would like to study medicine or nursing. Medjine has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of her heart was severely damaged due to a rheumatic fever she suffered earlier in childhood; as a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body. Medjine will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 14th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, where surgeons will remove Medjine's damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $9,000 to pay for surgery. Medjine's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery preparation. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing passport and travel requirements for the social workers who will accompany Medjine's family overseas. Medjine shared: "I am looking forward to getting this surgery behind me so I can focus on my studies and my family."

Su is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her older brother and parents in Karen State, Burma. Su is a student who aspires to become a doctor in the future. Su’s father is a store night security guard and her mother sells watermelons. Four years ago, Su's skin started looking pale and yellowish. She also began experiencing abdominal swelling. Su was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder that affects the oxygen carried by red blood cells. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined that Su should undergo a splenectomy, a procedure that helps manage thalassemia. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on April 15th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Su's quality of life. Su's mother said, "We are under stress that we are in debt as we have to travel and pay for Su's consultations. I hope that Su will get treatment and recover. I want her to become a doctor one day."

Kyaw is a 5-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents, grandmother, and older sister. Kyaw’s father supports the family as a Wi-Fi technician, while his mother and grandmother take care of the household. Recently, Kyaw started nursery school. During his free time, he likes to play football with his friends and ride his bicycle. In June 2023, while playing outside with his friends, Kyaw was accidentally hit by a friend and injured his left eye. Since then, Kyaw began to experience blurring and watering in his left eye, sensitivity to light, accompanied by pain, itching, and redness around the eye. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for him to see clearly. Kyaw was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, he could lose his vision completely. Kyaw is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach his retina on March 11th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. After his surgery, Kyaw's vision will hopefully be restored and he can resume his daily activities comfortably. Kyaw’s mother said, “I am very thankful to BCMF and their donors. It was very difficult to find an organization that would help with the cost of treatment. It is good to know I can depend on others for support like this, without you, it would be very difficult for me to help my son.”

Poe is a 28-year-old loving mother from Burma. She lives with her husband, her daughter and her son in Karen State, Burma. Poe is the primary caregiver of the children and runs the household, and her husband is a farmer. Their family also raise chickens and pigs to feed their family. During her free time, she enjoys going out to forage vegetables in the forest and going fishing in the stream. Poe and her family are unable to pay for healthcare. Poe is eight months pregnant with her third child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver her baby via a caesarean section because of her labor pain and severe bleeding. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both Poe and her child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Poe undergo a C-Section on February 9th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Poe needs your support. Her brother says, "Thank you to the donors and everyone who helps my sister during our difficult time."

Kennedy is a teenager from Kenya. He has an older sibling who lives with his parents, and Kennedy lives with his grandparents and some of his cousins. Kennedy's father was a security guard but had to stop working due to a chronic disease that has kept him in and out of the hospital for many years now. As a result, Kennedy's mother is the family's sole provider. She has a small kiosk she uses as a hotel at a local garage. Kennedy's family has national health insurance coverage, but have not been able to get coverage for his needed treatment. Kennedy was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Because of this condition, Kennedy has been experiencing severe headaches and convulsions with loss of mobility from the left arm. Kennedy underwent two shunt insertion surgeries, but the shunt failed. He has been admitted to the High Dependency Unit at our medical partner's hospital for a few days now. Kennedy now needs to undergo a different surgery to help drain the excess cerebral spinal fluid in order for him to recover and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Kennedy will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Kennedy to treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 16th. Kennedy's grandmother says, "It is very depressing for me as I have to bring him to the hospital every now and then. I want him to be treated and go back to his better condition."