Jana is a four-year-old young girl from El Bagre, Colombia. She is an active, cheerful preschooler who loves spending time with her family and enjoys music and dancing. Even at a young age, Jana shows a caring heart and dreams of becoming a doctor one day so she can help people, or animals, in need. Unfortunately, Jana has developed severe dental caries and infections. Because of her young age, she requires extensive dental treatment under general anesthesia to safely address the problem. At times, Jana feels sad because other children tease her about her teeth, and she hopes her teeth can be fixed. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund treatment for her infection and severe tooth decay under general anesthesia on March 20th. Doctors hope this care will allow Jana to grow up healthy, free from pain, and able to smile with confidence. Jana's mother shares, "To anyone who wants to do their bit to help my daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are a low-income family; I am a single mother, I do odd jobs, and unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to cover the treatment she needs, as it is very expensive. God bless every person who can help make this surgery possible. My daughter dreams of the day when she can smile without fear or pain. She always tells me, 'Mom, when I have my pretty teeth, I'm going to laugh all the time, and they won't hurt anymore.' That is her greatest wish, and hopefully we will see it come true very soon. May God reward you for your support, solidarity, and prayers."

Lim is a three-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is an only child from Svay Rieng Province and lives with his grandmother, who is a rice farmer. Due to financial difficulties, his parents work away from home; his mother in a garment factory and his father as an air conditioning repairer. He enjoys playing with toy cars with his cousin and friends in the village, and loves eating fried eggs and caramelized pork. When he was one year old, shortly after he began walking, Lim slipped and fell, causing a fracture of his left shinbone. His grandmother initially took him to a traditional healer, but his condition did not improve. She later took him to a hospital in Phnom Penh, where an X-ray confirmed the fracture. However, the surgery kept being postponed until October. As his condition worsened, his grandmother brought him to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), after hearing about the hospital from a neighbor. The condition has made it difficult for Lim to stand and walk normally, preventing him from playing with other children and reaching normal developmental milestones for his age. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 1st, Lim will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $600. The surgery will stabilize and straighten his left leg, allowing the bone to heal properly. It is expected to improve his ability to walk, support normal growth of his leg, and give him the opportunity to start school and play with other children. His grandmother said, “After the surgery, I hope that my grandson will be able to walk normally, go to school, and play with his friends like other children. Thank you to everyone who will help him.”

Joshua is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania, the youngest of three children in his family. His parents rely on farming and livestock keeping for their livelihood, working hard each day to provide for their children. Joshua has clubfoot on left foot, 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. The condition has affected Joshua's mobility and could limit his future independence if left untreated. Despite the challenges, his parents never lost hope. They believed that their son could be treated and patiently waited until he was old enough to begin care. When Joshua turned one year old, they started seeking treatment and traveled to a hospital where a corrective cast was placed. Fortunately, they met one of the former patients of our medical partner's care center, Kafika Hospital, who referred them for treatment support. Joshua requires multiple castings, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) for five years to ensure lasting correction and prevent recurrence of the condition. Joshua is scheduled to begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Joshua's clubfoot repair. After treatment, his mobility will significantly improve. Joshua’s father said, “We have always believed that Joshua can be treated. Our dream is to see him walk, run, and grow up without limitations.”