Juan, an 11-month-old boy from Bolivia, lives with his mother and five older siblings in a neighborhood in the mountains above La Paz. Juan was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and making it difficult for him to gain weight. To address Juan's condition, congenital heart surgery is the only viable treatment option. Skilled doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will perform the surgery by closing the hole in his heart using a patch. However, due to Juan's low weight, the surgeons have determined that it is unsafe to proceed with the procedure. As a result, he will be hospitalized for several weeks before the surgery to receive proper nutritional support, enabling him to gain weight and prepare for the operation. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is actively seeking your generous support to raise $1,500 to support Juan's cardiac care. Your contribution will play a vital role in enabling Juan to receive the life-changing congenital heart surgery he urgently requires. By partnering with Haiti Cardiac Alliance and making a financial contribution, you can make a significant difference in Juan's life and overall well-being. Juan's mother shared, "I am very hopeful that after this surgery, my son will gain appetite and start growing and gaining weight more normally!"

Pheaktra is a 31-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and younger sister. Both of Pheaktra's parents work on a vegetable farm. Pheaktra worked with his parents at the farm until he recently took a job in construction. In his free time, Pheaktra likes playing soccer with his friends and looking at social media. Eight years ago, Pheaktra had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his right ear to perforate. Now, Pheaktra experiences ear discharge, tinnitus, pain, and hearing loss. He cannot communicate clearly with others and his hearing has deteriorated rapidly in the last year. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. Pheaktra traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment, and on June 8th CSC's surgeons will perform a myringoplasty procedure in Pheaktra's right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation that is causing his symptoms. Now, CSC is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for Pheaktra. Pheaktra shared that he is hopeful he can improve his hearing and his life by having surgery. He looks forward to feeling healthy again.

Juliet, who is 39 years old, is a small-scale farmer and mother of six living in Uganda. Her husband owns and runs a small bar. The family lives in a three-room mud house. Since 2014, Juliet has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including persistent headaches, airway obstruction, and a sense of heaviness in her shoulders. She uses painkillers for her headaches, but they continue to impact her ability to work as she has difficulty turning her head. She also struggles to breathe. Juliet was diagnosed with a non-toxic goiter, and she needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Juliet receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 15th at Rushoroza Hospital, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and Juliet and her family need your help to raise the necessary funds. Juliet says: “I pray for a successful surgery. I want to look normal again and be able to live a comfortable and pain-free life once again. I will continue with farming after recovery.”