Joel is a young student from Bolivia. He lives with his grandfather, who works in construction. Joel's mom works in Brazil in order to earn some money to send to the family. This year, Joel's grandfather noticed Joel looked very tired when walking, and his lips turned purple. Joel was diagnosed with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Joel does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On September 2nd, Joel will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Joel'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. Joel's grandfather says, "Joel likes to go to school and have friends. I pray his surgery goes well so he can be healthy and return home."

Eyob is a cheerful and playful three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His joyful personality brightens everyone around him. He loves playing with his toy cars, pretending that chairs are cars and that he is the driver, and watching animated movies. Eyob lives with his mother, aunts, and maternal uncle in a supportive family environment. His mother is a single parent who works part-time as a cleaner to support the family. Eyob was born with hypospadias, a condition that may cause urinary dysfunction and infections. When Eyob was two years old, he became seriously ill with a high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. During his evaluation at a private clinic, doctors explained to his mother that surgical treatment was necessary. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, Eyob is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 14th. His family needs help raising $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyob's mother shared, "Thank you so much for giving my son this opportunity. Your kindness has brought hope to our family. May God bless you abundantly and reward you for changing our lives."

Wadley is a seven-year-old boy who lives with his parents and older brother in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His parents are both vendors. Wadley does not currently go to school due to his illness. He likes watching cartoons and listening to music. Wadley was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle. A major artery connects to his heart at an abnormal location, preventing blood from circulating properly through his heart and body. This condition causes weakness and exhaustion and can lead to heart failure if untreated. Wadley needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 26th, he will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will detach the artery from his heart and reconnect it at the appropriate position. Another organization is paying for the surgery. But Wadley’s family also needs help to fund the costs of care before and after surgery. 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 Wadley's family overseas. Wadley’s mother shares, “Our family has been praying for this surgery to be possible for many years, and our prayers are finally being answered!”

Jade is a 17-month-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who used to work as a maid, her dad, who is a driver, and her older brother. Jade was born prematurely at 6 months 2 weeks, and spent four months in NICU; it was during this time that doctors informed her family that she would need heart surgery, but that they preferred to wait for her to grow. Jade has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to her heart. This condition prevents Jade's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition goes untreated. On August 5th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Jade'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. Jade's mother shared, "I just pray my little daughter will have a successful surgery so she can have a happy life."

Kevin is a two-month-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of seven children and lives with his parents, who are both farmers. The family grows crops mainly for food and sells the surplus to meet their daily needs. Kevin was born with clubfoot on both feet, a condition in which both feet are turned inward. Without timely treatment, the condition can make walking difficult and may affect a child’s ability to wear regular shoes as they grow. For Kevin’s parents, finding the right care was not easy, and they had not sought treatment elsewhere before help reached their village. During a community outreach visit, our medical partner's team identified Kevin and assessed him as a child who could benefit from early intervention. On September 1st, Kevin will start clubfoot treatment at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Kevin's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Kevin will have improved mobility, greater independence, and the freedom to participate fully in everyday activities. Kevin's mother says, “Seeing my child receive this opportunity gives us hope. We are grateful that the team came to our village and found him."

Vitou is a five-month-old baby boy from Cambodia. He is the only child in the family and lives in Svay Rieng Province with his parents. His father works as a factory worker, and his mother sells coffee. He enjoys playing with toy cars and dolls and likes drinking milk. Vitou was born with syndactyly of the right foot. This means that his toes are fused. It is difficult for him to wear shoes properly, which affects the movement of his big toe. As he grows, the condition may affect his ability to stand, walk, and use his foot normally. Fortunately, on July 20th, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused toes. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $462 to fund this procedure. After surgery, he will feel more comfortable and will be able to use his right foot more normally. The surgery will improve the shape and function of his foot, helping him wear shoes, stand, and walk more easily as he grows. Vitou's mother said, “We hope this surgery will help our son have a normal-looking foot so he can walk, play, and grow up confidently without feeling different from other children.”

Hadassa is a seven-year-old girl from Haiti. She is the middle child in her family, with an older sister and a younger brother. She does not currently attend school but enjoys helping her parents around the house and watching cartoons. Hadassa has a cardiac condition called a partial atrioventricular canal defect. A hole exists between the chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak between them instead of properly circulating through the lungs to receive oxygen. This leaves her weak and short of breath. Hadassa also has Down syndrome. Hadassa needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 24th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will repair the hole in her heart. Another organization is paying for the surgery, but her family also needs help with travel and 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 Hadassa's family overseas. Hadessa’s mother shares, “Our family is so happy to know that there is a way to fix our daughter’s heart, and we hope everything will go well!”

Eyosyas is a cheerful five-year-old boy from Ethiopia who loves playing with his older sister, watching cartoons, and spending time with his family. He lives with his parents and older sister. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother cares for the family. When Eyosiyas was still a baby, his mother noticed that something was different about his body. She was advised by a doctor to wait and observe. Four years later, his mother's concerns returned after a relative sent her a photo of her cousin's son, who was the same age as Eyosiyas. Comparing the two boys' development, she questioned whether Eyosiyas's condition was normal. She took him back to the health center for another examination. Eyosyas was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Eyosyas has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Eyosyas was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, and will undergo surgery on July 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyosiyas's mother shared, "I am so happy to be here and to have this opportunity for my son. As a parent, I never imagined we would receive such high-quality care free of charge. We are deeply grateful to BethanyKids and everyone who made this possible. Thank you so much for your kindness and support. May God bless you all."

Sousin is a seven-month-old baby girl from Cambodia. She is the only child in the family and lives in Phnom Penh with her parents. Her father is an architect, and her mother runs a grocery shop. She enjoys playing with dolls and toys and likes drinking milk. Sousin was born with syndactyly of the left foot. This means that her first, second, and third toes are fused. The joined toes may affect the normal growth and development of her left foot as she grows. It may make it difficult for her to wear shoes comfortably and could affect her ability to stand and walk normally in the future. Fortunately, on July 20th, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused toes. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $462 to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will have a more normally shaped foot and will be able to use her left foot more comfortably. The procedure will help her foot develop properly and support her ability to stand, walk, and wear shoes more easily as she grows. Sousin's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help my daughter’s foot develop normally so she can walk comfortably, play happily, and grow up with confidence like other children.”

Deborah is a two-year-old baby girl from Haiti. Deborah is very cheerful and outgoing. She likes to play with her neighbors and sing. She lives in a city in northern Haiti with her parents and older brother. Deborah has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart; blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and short of breath. Deborah will fly to United States to receive treatment. On July 23rd, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, HeartGift Foundation, is contributing $18,000 to pay for surgery. Deborah'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 Deborah's family overseas. Deborah's mother says: "It's a miracle that our family has this chance for our daughter to have surgery. We are very thankful to everyone!"

Patrick is a cheerful and energetic three-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the firstborn of two children. Following his parents' separation, Patrick lives with his father, who has since remarried and now cares for Patrick, his younger half-sister, and the family by working as a bajaji (tuk-tuk) driver. Patrick has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Patrick's condition causes his feet to turn inward. As a result, he struggles to wear shoes and often falls when walking longer distances. Despite these challenges, Patrick remains active, playful, and full of joy. Determined to help his son, Patrick's father sought medical care at Morogoro Hospital, where a nurse assessed him and referred the family to our medical partner's center, Kafika House, for specialized treatment. Patrick will begin clubfoot treatment at Kafika House on July 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Patrick's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his feet will straighten, allowing him to walk confidently, wear shoes, and enjoy a more active childhood. Patrick's father said, "As a father, my greatest wish is to see Patrick walk confidently without falling. I am grateful that hope has found us, and your support will give my son the chance to enjoy the healthy future every child deserves."

Tamirat is a cheerful four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents, his older brother, and his older sister in a rented house. He loves playing football with his brother and sister. He also enjoys watching movies and cartoons, and one of his favorite activities is praying. His name, Tamirat, means "miracle." His grandmother chose the name because his mother became seriously ill during her pregnancy as a result of heavy physical work. After Tamirat was born, his mother recovered, and the family considered his birth a miracle from God. One day, Tamirat's uncle was helping him get dressed when he noticed that one of his testicles was not in it's place. Concerned, he advised Tamirat's mother to have him examined. At the health center, a doctor examined Tamirat and he also underwent an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Tamirat would have an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Tamirat and his mother were referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation and treatment, where he was placed on a surgery wait list. Three months later, they were referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). While Tamirat's mother was relieved that this meant her son would receive treatment soon, it also got her anxious as she knew her family could not afford the cost of surgery. She manually cleans other people's clothes to earn an income, while Tamira's father works as a daily laborer. Despite their hard work, they struggle to provide for their family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tamirat receive treatment. On July 20th, he will undergo corrective surgery to treat his condition, and reduce medical risks in the future. Now, Tamirat's family needs help to fund this $754 procedure. Tamirat's mother shared, "I am so happy to have come here to BethanyKids. The welcome we received was wonderful, and all the staff were kind and respectful. Thank you so much. May God bless every one of you. May He continue to bless the work of your hands and reward you for the kindness you show to children like my son."