Yohana is a five-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is in kindergarten and is an active member of her household, supported by her mother and her father, an electrician and electronics maintenance staff member. Having dealt with chronic tonsillitis since she was a toddler, Yohana has spent over half of her life navigating the difficult challenges of this condition. For three years now, Yohana has been experiencing snoring, fevers, and a painful throat. These recurring infections, filled with frequent fevers and intense pain, have often pulled her away from her first years of school. They have also disrupted the energetic play she should be enjoying with her brother. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yohana, which is scheduled to take place on April 25th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Yohana of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Yohana's parents shared, "We hope the surgery will allow her to grow up to be active and energetic."

Thou is a 57-year-old man from Cambodia. He is single and lives with his elderly mother and his brother, who is a rice farmer. He has six siblings, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. Although they live separately, the family remains close and supports one another when needed. Because of his medical condition, he has been unable to work for about six years, and he and his elderly mother depend on family support. Thou has had a persistent wound on his left foot since 2001 after his foot was cut by a small stone. The wound gradually worsened due to nerve damage from Hansen’s disease, leading to recurrent non-healing ulcers and infection. The condition has made it difficult for him to stand, walk, or work. It limits his mobility, prevents him from working, and affects his independence in daily life. His doctors recommend an amputation of his left foot to prevent symptoms from getting worse. On March 4th, Tnhou will undergo an amputation with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. His family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $488 to fund Thou's surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Thou said, “After the surgery, I hope this treatment will help my wound heal, reduce the pain, and allow me to walk more comfortably again.”

Christie is a four-year-old girl from Haiti, who lives with her parents and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in preschool, and is learning to read. She loves dressing up and playing with her friends. Christie has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Christie will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Christie'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 Christie's family overseas. Christie's mother says: "Our family is so thankful that our daughter has this chance to travel and to get her heart healed!"