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."

Emmah is a two-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents in Port-au-Prince. Her father is a mechanic, while her mother is a vendor. She likes listening to music and helping her mother in the kitchen. Emmah has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and unable to gain weight properly. Emmah needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 20th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. While another organization is contributing money to pay for surgery, Emmah'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 Emmah's family overseas. Emmah's mother says, "I will be praying for everyone who is helping to heal my daughter's heart!"

Brighton is 20 years old and the fifth-born in a family of six children from Malawi. He lives with his parents, who run a small-scale potato-selling business. He works as a part-time cleaner and uses his income to fund his college education. Six months ago, Brighton noticed a swelling in a sensitive area of his body. The swelling often came and started to cause pain, discomfort, and nausea, affecting his ability to work and focus on school. He was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition in which soft tissue protrudes through a weak point in the abdominal wall, causing pain, especially during strenuous activities. He needs surgery to address his symptoms and prevent future health complications. Fortunately, on June 9th, Brighton will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Brighton's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Brighton shared, "Your support will enable me to continue doing my part-time job that supports my education; I look forward to making my parents happy after my education."