Falesi is 43 years old and a mother of six children from Malawi. She lives with four of her children. As a single mother, she works as a domestic worker, doing all she can to provide for her children and keep them in school. In January 2026, Falesi began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small lump on the right side of her neck. At first, she did not think much of it, but over time it grew larger. As it increased in size, it began to affect her daily life. She started experiencing chest pains and frequent headaches. At times, she struggled to eat and swallow properly, making even simple meals difficult. Worried about her condition, she went to the hospital, where doctors examined her. She was diagnosed with a thyroid cystic mass. The thyroid is the gland located in front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Falesi needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $491 to fund Falesi's treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 16th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland to restore her health. Falesi said, “I believe this surgery will improve my life greatly. I want to be strong again so I can continue caring for my children. This support gives me hope that I will be well again.”

Bintou is a three-year-old girl from Mali. She is the youngest of five children. Bintou has been experiencing pain and swelling in the right knee and left arm. This causes difficulty walking and moving. She was reviewed at our medical partner's care center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kati, and was diagnosed with septic arthritis, a painful joint infection. If left untreated, the condition can cause irreversible joint damage. Fortunately, on June 2nd, Bintou will undergo repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Muso. They are requesting $619 to fund Bintou's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will prevent serious long-term complications and allow her to live a more active, healthier life. Bintou's family shared, "We hope to see Bintou fully healed so that she can walk properly again."

Mengleang is a four-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents. Her father is a farmer, and her mother works in a garment factory. She is the youngest of three children - her older brother works in a beverage factory, and her sister is in Grade 11. She enjoys learning Khmer reading and writing and loves playing dolls with her friends. She dreams of becoming a nurse in the future. For the past four months, Mengleang has been experiencing sore throat, loud snoring, difficulty breathing at night, and trouble swallowing food and drinking water. Mengleang was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Mengleang, which is scheduled to take place on May 21st. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Mengleang of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mother said: “I am very worried to see my daughter struggling to breathe and sleep at night. I hope this treatment will help her breathe easily, sleep peacefully, and grow up healthy without pain or discomfort.”