Tasmiya is a bright, curious five-year-old girl from India. Tasmiya's father works in the carpet industry; her mother is a homemaker. Her favourite fruit is mango, and like any child her age, she wants to run, play, and go to school with her friends. She is the second of four daughters, and her father describes her as a girl who loves to study. Her face lit up whenever school was mentioned, but her injury made it difficult for her to continue her education. About a year ago, Tasmiya was playing with a friend when she accidentally fell into hot water, causing severe scald burns. The burns covered a large area of her chest, affecting both sides, including tissue near her breasts and chest wall, as well as her right thigh. As the burns healed, they left thick, raised scarring across her chest and thigh, and most disabling of all, a scar contracture at her right elbow that has pulled the joint out of its normal position. The contracture in the right elbow has left her unable to fully extend or use her arm normally. Simple daily tasks like writing, dressing, and carrying a school bag are difficult for her right now. Tasmiya has not been able to go to school or continue her education, something her father says weighs on her, since she loves learning. As she grows, the scarring on her chest also carries the risk of restricting normal development if left untreated. Tasmiya's family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and sought treatment. On September 2nd, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery. This will release the contracture and help restore use of her arm, allowing her to write and carry a school bag, dress herself, and do everyday things other five-year-olds do without a second thought. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Tasmiya's father shared, "I am happy that she will have her surgery done, and I am confident because my neighbour, who had severe contractures, was treated here and is fully healed. I have full faith in Tasmiya's recovery."

Yesak is a joyful two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is known for his bright smile, active nature, and love for playing with his friends. He enjoys playing football and riding his bicycle. As the first child of his parents, he is curious, intelligent, and quick to remember new things. He loves exploring his surroundings, spending time with other children, and learning through play. Yisak lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works in the insurance sector, while his mother works as a messenger. Yesak was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Yesak's parents first discovered his condition when they took him for circumcision. During the visit, the doctor explained the condition to them. The news left the family worried and frustrated, but the doctor reassured them that the condition was treatable and advised them not to lose hope. The doctor referred Yisak to a higher-level hospital for specialized treatment when he became older. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Yesak is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 26th, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Yisak's father said, "Thank you very much. We were warmly welcomed and treated with kindness by the staff. The services provided were professional and exceeded our expectations. We are grateful for the care and support given to Yisak and hopeful for a positive outcome for his condition."

Shuayib is a cheerful, active, and outgoing six-year-old from Ethiopia. He is in the second level of preschool, where he is doing well in his studies and dreams of a bright future. Shuayib also enjoys playing football, rock-paper-scissors, and spending time with his friends. His mother is a homemaker, and his father works as a daily labourer to support their family. Shuayib was born with hypospadias, a birth condition that affects the urethra and can lead to complications later in life if left untreated. Learning about his condition was emotionally challenging for his family. When they brought him to a hospital, the doctor informed them he would need to undergo three surgeries. He underwent his first procedure, and then a year later, he underwent the second. Unfortunately, after the surgery, he developed an infection that blocked the urinary tube. With proper medical treatment, the infection was completely cured. Six months later, Shuayib was referred to our medical partner's hospital, BethanyKids, for further review and treatment. Shuayib's doctors at BethanyKids explained the procedure to his parents and scheduled his surgery. After many years of worry and hardship, his family was grateful to learn that the surgery would be financially covered and Shuayib would finally receive the help he needed to heal. His parents expressed their appreciation for the kindness of the staff, saying, "We are so happy to be here. The staff treated us with great care, provided us with clear information, and gave us hope. We are truly grateful." On June 5th, Shuayib will undergo corrective surgery to treat hypospadias. This procedure will relieve him of discomfort and the risk of developing future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Shuayib's father said, "We have no words to express our thanks. May God bless all of you and provide for you as you have provided hope for us. We pray that God grants you good health, long life, and continued strength. Thank you to all the staff for your kindness, care, and politeness. We are truly grateful for everything you have done for our child."

Martin is a three-year-old boy from Colombia. At his young age, Martin is exploring the world and dreams of being many things; he loves backhoes and often says he wants to drive a dump truck like his uncle. Currently, Martin's teeth are severely compromised; he has a broken tooth and experiences constant pain, which causes him to cry and feel uncomfortable. On January 19th, Martin will undergo dental surgery under anesthesia. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund his procedure and care. Martin's mother says, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful work you do and for your noble desire to help children and parents who, due to our financial limitations, would not be able to afford a procedure like this. May God bless you and keep you always, both you and your families. Thank you very much again."

Sisay is a healthcare worker from Ethiopia. At just 26 years old, this young man is a vital heartbeat for the healthcare center where he works. As a key member of the staff, he serves as the bridge between the clinic and the community. At home, he is the pillar for his two siblings, balancing the roles of breadwinner and protector. However, a grueling battle with chronic tonsillitis is slowly silencing the very voice he needs to build his career, and has made it challenging to do his work. Sisay shares how heartbreaking it is when the illness breaks his focus, keeping him from the job he loves. About one and a half years ago, Sisay began experiencing a difficulty in breathing, fever, pain, and exhaustion. Every day is a grueling battle against a searing sore throat, transforming his essential duties, from warmly greeting patients to managing a relentless stream of phone calls, into a profound and painful struggle. Sisay was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Despite the constant pain, he continued to serve at his local health station. He knew a tonsillectomy was necessary, but a lack of specialized doctors and medical equipment in his area kept that relief out of reach. The moment he heard about a new opportunity for care at our medical partner's care center, he was filled with hope. He arrived at Saglan Waje General Hospital, clutching his referral papers, ready for a second chance. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Sisay, which is scheduled to take place on March 7th. During the procedure, surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Sisay of his symptoms, and allowing him to go back to work with ease. Sisay says: "I am so excited for the opportunity to interact freely with my siblings again, instead of just collapsing into bed exhausted every night. I feel ready to truly show up for my patients as well as my siblings, and build the stable, happy future we all deserve together."

Charles is a 36-year-old father of four from Kenya. Before his illness, Charles operated a small shop selling sausages. Since his injury, he has been unable to run the business effectively, and his wife has taken over the running of the shop to support the family. The income from the business barely meets their basic needs, making it difficult to raise funds for the required surgery. Charles was at his shop in July 2025 when demonstrations broke out, and a crowd raided the building where his shop was located. In an attempt to escape, he was forced to jump from the first floor, landing badly, and severely injuring his right leg. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent a fracture repair surgery. Unfortunately, the wound failed to heal properly. When Charles went to AIC Kijabe Hospital in September 2025, an examination revealed that the wound was severely infected. The metal nail that had been inserted during the initial surgery had to be removed to allow the infection to clear. Since then, Charles has been attending regular follow-up visits for wound cleaning and dressing. During a clinic visit in February 2026, he was finally cleared to undergo another ORIF surgery to stabilize his leg and allow proper healing. Unfortunately, his insurance coverage had already been exhausted and could not cover the required procedure. Charles continues to live in pain. He moves with the help of crutches, and at times the pain becomes unbearable, forcing him to rely on pain medication for relief. He is now reaching out for support so he can undergo surgery and finally heal. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 5th, Charles will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again and go back to being a provider for his family Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Charles says, “Sometimes my leg swells so much, that it becomes difficult to move, even with crutches.”

11-year-old Allan lives in Kenya with his mother and older brother. His mother, who is a single parent, works as a tailor to support her family. Two years ago, Allan was playing with friends at school, when he tripped. By the next day, his leg was swollen and painful, and he was unable to walk. His mother quickly took him to the nearest dispensary, where he received an injection, but the pain didn't go away. The swelling continued to get worse. Allan was then taken to a district hospital, where an X-ray showed damage to the soft tissue in his leg. He was given medication, but the swelling and pain got even worse, and he began having trouble breathing. Allan was then admitted in another hospital for a week, where he was put on oxygen. He still couldn’t walk, and further scans revealed that he had broken bones. Allan was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he had a fracture repair surgery in April 2023, to repair the damage. This was followed by another surgery in February 2024 to remove the plates from the first surgery, and to replace them with new ones that would better hold his bones together. Allan was to undergo a bone transport surgery towards the end of 2024, but his wound was severely infected, so he had to undergo several procedures in 2025 to clean and close up his wound, before he could proceed with the bone transport. His wound has been healing well, and he is now set to undergo bone transport surgery. Unfortunately, Allan's national health insurance is now depleted, due to the multiple surgeries. The income that Allan's mother earns barely covers the basic needs for her elder son, who is in high school, and Allan, who has required frequent medical care after his injury. She has been relying on the kindness of others to help with hospital bills, but has not been able to raise enough money for Allan’s upcoming surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,500 to cover the cost of Allan's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on February 4th, at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Allan is looking forward to a time when he will be fully recovered, and can return to school. He said: “My friends go to school, but I stay at home because of my leg injury. I am supposed to be in Grade 7, but for now, I stay at home.”

Peter is a hardworking 33-year-old young man from Kenya. He works as a casual farm laborer to meet his basic needs. On December 2nd 2025, Peter was in a tragic road traffic accident. He was riding on a motorcycle when it was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry, and he sustained severe injuries from head to toe. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received first aid, including stitching of head and facial wounds and bandaging of his right leg. Due to excessive bleeding and the severity of his injuries, he was later referred to our medical partner facility, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for advanced care. Since admission, Peter has undergone an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, as well as a surgical debridement, exhausting the number of procedures covered under his national health insurance cover for the year. Unfortunately, Peter now requires a skin graft, as the wound on his foot has become infected and is deteriorating. Since the accident, Peter is confined to a hospital bed and has suffered memory loss; he does not recall his name or family members and frequently experiences confusion and forgetfulness. As his hospital bill continues to rise daily, the family is overwhelmed and unsure where to turn for help - his siblings also rely on irregular casual work for a living. They are appealing for financial and medical support to enable Peter to undergo the needed surgery. The family remains hopeful that, with proper treatment and recovery, Peter’s memory and overall health will improve gradually. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Peter receive treatment. On January 5th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help his wound heal. Now, Peter needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Peter says: "I've been in so much pain since the accident. I'm praying that this surgery will bring some relief."

Valentina is a 14-month-old girl from Bolivia. She has five older siblings and loves to laugh and play with her family. Her father works as a driver, and her mother sells food. When she was a young baby, Valentina's parents noticed she was always agitated and couldn't breathe normally, so they took her to the doctor who diagnosed a heart condition called ventricular septal defect. This means there is a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart and blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Valentina also has Down syndrome. On December 3rd, Valentina will undergo heart surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood will no longer leak through it. Valentina'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. Valentina's father said, "Valentina is a sweet little girl, we hope everything goes well, so she can have a healthy heart!"

In is a 24-year-old furniture factory worker from Cambodia. In lives in rural Kampong Chhnang province with his parents and two siblings. In and his older brother have been working in a furniture factory to support the family, and his younger sister is still in high school. Both of his parents earn a small income by working as rice farmers. At home, In enjoys checking his social media and playing volleyball in the village. In late 2023, he was in a motorbike accident, which caused a nerve injury in his right arm and shoulder. He underwent an operation, which has improved his arm function. However, he is unable to move his fingers, which makes it difficult for him to use his hand. He also experiences pain in his wrist. He has reduced his working hours and finds it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. When In learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On August 7th, surgeons at CSC will perform a wrist fusion procedure. This procedure will alleviate the pain in his wrist and enhance his everyday function. In can contribute $100 but needs help to raise the additional $559 needed for his surgery. In shared, "I hope I can use my hand without pain and work more in the factory to support my family."