Ebenezer is a seven-month-old baby boy from Burundi. As his mother shared the journey that brought them to the hospital, little Ebenezer slept peacefully on her back, calm and unaware of everything happening around him. Ebenezer is the firstborn child in his family. According to his mother, the first days and weeks of motherhood have been far from what she had hoped. She has spent nights awake beside him, facing hospital stays, uncertainty, and the constant fear that his condition could become more serious. She and Ebenezer's father have remained hopeful despite their son's health challenges. The couple work as small-scale farmers to support their family. Soon after his birth, Ebenezer began to experience troubling symptoms, including an inability to pass stool, and his abdomen began to swell. His mother became deeply worried. She took him to a hospital where he was admitted and received treatment, but despite the efforts of the medical team, his condition did not improve. Eventually, the family was referred to our medical partner's care center, Kibuye Hope Hospital, for specialized care. Ebenezer has been diagnosed with Hirschpung disease, a congenital condition where a baby is born missing specific nerve cells in parts of the large intestine, leading to severe bowel blockages. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $467 to fund Ebenezer's surgery. On September 22nd, he will undergo a laparotomy procedure at Kibuye Hope Hospital, allowing him a healthier life. Ebenezer’s mother shared, "Thank you to everyone who has supported us. We could never afford this treatment on our own, and our child needs care before his condition becomes more serious. May God bless everyone helping us and give us the chance to smile again with a healthy child."

Chanthorn is a 41-year-old chef from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal Province with his brother, who works as a chef for weddings. They support each other, earning money to care for their elderly mother, who is 76 years old. His father passed away 30 years ago. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. In February 2015, Chanthorn sustained an electric shock injury to his left shoulder, causing severe damage to the shoulder joint. He underwent surgery to stabilize the injury with screws, but later developed an infection that required removal of the hardware. He has experienced chronic pain and stiffness in his left shoulder for many years. The condition limits his shoulder movement and makes it difficult for him to use his arm comfortably during daily activities and while working as a chef. When Chanthorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On July 20th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left shoulder joint and to help him to use his arm more comfortably and continue his daily activities and work more easily. Chanthorn is contributing towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising $561 more to fund the surgery. He says, “I have lived with shoulder pain for many years. I hope this surgery will reduce my pain, help me use my arm more comfortably, and allow me to return to my daily activities without constant discomfort.”

Anna is an eight-year-old student from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and two younger brothers. Her father is a store clerk, and her mother is a teacher. She is in the third grade and likes all of her classes. Anna 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. These defects prevent her body from obtaining the oxygen it needs, leaving her weak and short of breath. Anna needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 19th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which time surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart and remove the blockage from her valve. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. Anna'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 Anna's family overseas. Anna's mother says, "Our family is hopeful that after this surgery, our daughter will have normal health for the first time."