Hnin is a 65-year-old woman who lives with her two daughters and two granddaughters in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. The family is originally from Bago Division in Burma. Hnin is retired, while one of her daughters works in a garment factory, and the other is a homemaker; her granddaughters are both students. The family income is not always enough to cover the cost of their daily expenses, so they sometimes need to borrow money from their neighbors, or the working daughter takes an advance on her paycheck from the factory where she works. The family lives with another couple that helps in paying rent, but they do not share any other resources. Due to Hnin’s health condition, they have had to borrow money for treatment and transportation costs. In 2010, Hnin was in a motorbike accident where she injured both knees. She went to a local clinic, but they did not perform an x-ray or examination, they only gave her medication for the pain. After the accident, Hnin’s knees would occasionally cause her pain, which she would treat with pain medication and traditional Burmese medicine. In January 2023, Hnin’s knee pain became worse, and her knees swelled, so she went to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot where she was given pain medication, and referred to physiotherapy. However, the physiotherapy and follow-up appointments at MTC did not help much. The pain in her knees was worsening, so she stopped going but continued treating the pain with medication and traditional medicine. In January 2026, Hnin began having shaky legs when standing, and her knees were increasingly stiff, so she went to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) in Mae Sot on 2nd February 2026. There she underwent an x-ray and was told that she had osteoarthritis in her knees which has progressed to last stage, and only surgery would help. She was given medication, a cane, and a follow-up appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon. When she attended her appointment, she underwent another x-ray, and the doctor explained about her severe osteoarthritis and advised surgery. As she can only undergo surgery one knee at a time, the doctor advised her to have surgery on her right knee, since it was causing her the most pain. Presently, Hnin spends much of her time lying down or sitting and cannot help with most housework. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Hnin receive treatment. On March 12th, she will undergo surgery to relieve pain and improve her mobility. Now, Hnin's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. She says, "After treatment and recovery, I look forward to going to the monastery to meditate again, as I used to do this before my knees caused me so much trouble. Thank you for your support for my treatment”.

Jane is a 45-year-old woman from Kenya. She works as a domestic worker, washing clothes for others to support her family. Her husband is a construction worker, and they have three children together. In 2012, people began to notice that Jane could not hear well. She was diagnosed with hearing loss and advised to use hearing aids, but she could not afford them. Jane has learned to cope with her condition. She avoids public spaces and prefers to stay at home with her family, who understand and support her. In 2023, Jane visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, hoping to receive help, but when she discovered that she still could not afford the hearing aids, she returned home discouraged. Since then, she has largely kept to herself, praying for an opportunity to hear clearly again and live a normal life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. On January 14th, Jane will be fitted with hearing aids, and she needs help to raise $1,171. With this support, she hopes to be able to reconnect with her community and live a better life. Jane says, “I’ve lost so many friends. I always feel like a burden asking people to repeat themselves or speak louder so I can understand.”

Madina is a lively three-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the last-born child in a family of six children and lives with both her parents. From the moment you meet Madina, her joyful spirit is unmistakable. Her mother describes her as an enthusiastic and social child who interacts easily with other children and brings happiness to those around her. Madina loves playing with dolls and often imitates a classroom setting when playing with her dolls at home. Madina was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition that has affected alignment of her legs, causing her to have knocked knees. The condition has made walking increasingly difficult for Madina. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. As Madina becomes more active, her parents have noticed that the condition is limiting her movement and causing her discomfort. They worry about how this will affect her ability to play, attend school and pursue her dreams. Madina requires a bilateral distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) surgery, which will help straighten her legs and allow her to grow and develop normally. However, her parents are unable to afford the cost of the procedure. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Madina, which is scheduled to take place on January 12th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Madina's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Madina’s father says, "We are hopeful that through this treatment, Madina will be able to walk, play and learn without pain, giving her a fair chance to enjoy her childhood."

Michael is 54 years old and a pedicab driver from the Philippines. He transports people and things using a bicycle with a passenger sidecar. Michael lives with his two sons. One of his sons works in construction, while the other is a housekeeper, and together they help Michael cover their household’s regular expenses. Two months ago, Michael began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Michael is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on February 7th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Michael's surgery and care. Michael shared, "I cannot afford surgery, but I also couldn’t wait any longer for treatment because I need to support my family. Once the operation is finished, I look forward to getting back to normal. I can’t express how thankful I am for this opportunity."

Htee is a 51-year-old man from Burma who currently lives in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. He lives with his wife, their three children, and his brother-in-law’s family. The family moved to the camp in September 2024 so that Htee could seek medical treatment in Thailand. His wife and brother-in-law work as agricultural day laborers, while Htee is unable to work due to his health condition. In June 2021, Htee began experiencing troubling symptoms. Doctors diagnosed him with urinary tract stones and prescribed oral medication, which helped improve his condition for a period of time. In August 2024, Htee's symptoms worsened. After several consultations and tests, doctors diagnosed him with a prostate urethral stone and recommended shockwave lithotripsy, a procedure that uses high-energy shock waves directed via X-ray or ultrasound to shatter kidney stones. Htee is scheduled to undergo treatment on February 2nd. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. With treatment, Htee hopes to recover and regain his ability to support his family. “I feel helpless and unable to support my family,” said Htee. “My wife has to be the breadwinner in this family, which makes me very sad. We are struggling financially, and I can’t even send my children to school. I am grateful for the support with my treatment and hope to be free from this suffering.”

Goldstein is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. His parents are both vendors. He is a very curious and outgoing boy who makes friends easily. Goldstein has a cardiac condition called atrioventricular canal defect. A large hole exists between the chambers of Goldstein's heart, causing blood to leak between all four chambers of the heart without circulating through the lungs to obtain oxygen. This leaves him weak and short of breath, and will lead to heart failure if not corrected. Goldstein will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On December 16th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing to pay for his surgery. But Goldstein's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, 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 Goldstein's family overseas. Goldstein's mother shared, "Our family has been praying for this surgery ever since our son was a small baby, and we want to say thank you to everyone!"

Rosemary is five years old and the youngest of three children from Kenya. Her mother works as a domestic helper, while her father earns a living by carrying luggage for travelers. Rosemary has experienced health challenges since she was six months old. She was frequently in and out of hospitals, and she experienced significant developmental delays. Rosemary did not sit on her own until she was two years old and only began walking at the age of four. Her mother was finally relieved to see Rosemary slowly catching up with her peers. However, Rosemary has never been able to speak. Rosemary is now five years old and still cannot talk. Her mother had hoped that, just like her other milestones, speech would eventually come, but it never did. This year, Rosemary was enrolled in school, believing that being around other children might encourage her to open up and begin talking. Unfortunately, there was no improvement. When Rosemary’s teachers raised concerns about her lack of progress in class, her mother started taking her to different hospitals. Due to financial constraints, her parents could not afford the scans and tests needed to determine what was wrong. In November 2025, Rosemary was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where she was finally diagnosed with hearing loss. She needs hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to raise money for hearing aids. Rosemary’s mother says, “I hoped that joining school would help her begin to speak, but she is not progressing. It pains me to watch her peers move forward while she remains behind, unaware of how much the other children are learning.”

Sopheamarany is a four-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives Preah Sihanouk province near the coast with her parents and one-year-old sister. Her father is a taxi driver, while her mother manages the household and cares for the children. At home, Sopheamarany enjoys playing with her aunt and watching cartoons. Her favorite foods are Cambodian sour fish soup and oranges. Sopheamarany was born with a hip dislocation that affects her right hip. When she was a baby, her parents noticed she had difficulty sitting and could not stand properly. She feels pain when she sits for prolonged periods and is unable to stand or walk. Sopheamarany has also been asking her parents if she can start school, but her parents want to make sure she can sit comfortably first. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 15th, Sopheamarany will undergo surgery that will allow her to move more comfortably. It will cost $600, and she needs your help to raise the funds for her procedure and care. The surgery will help her to sit and move without pain. Sopheamarany's father said: "After the surgery, I hope that my daughter will be able to sit without pain, so we can feel happy to put her in school."