Robinas is an intelligent 11-year-old boy who lives in Ethiopia with his parents and cousin. His father is a teacher who works hard to provide for the family, while his mother has been living with a chronic illness that has kept her at home for several years. Despite these challenges, his parents have remained committed to supporting both his education and his health. Robinas is on a full scholarship at a private school, where he consistently ranks among the top students in his class. His dedication and hard work have earned him several medals in recognition of his outstanding academic performance. Outside the classroom, he enjoys playing football, reading books, and spending time with his cousin. Robinas was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Although his parents noticed the condition at birth, they were advised to delay surgery until he was older, as the procedure would be safer once he had developed further. Over the years, the family visited several hospitals but were consistently told to wait. Eventually, doctors at a private hospital confirmed that Robinas was eligible for surgery; however, the cost was beyond the family’s financial means. They were then referred to a public hospital, where they faced a long waiting list. This prolonged waiting period has been emotionally difficult for the family, especially as Robinas has begun asking his father why he is different from other boys. After six months, the family finally received wonderful news. They were informed that Robinas had been referred for surgery at our partner’s medical care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Robinas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 29th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Robinas’s father shared, “Thank you so much for BethanyKids’s help with the children and for supporting my son. I feel terrible when I’m unable to afford that surgery, but the support means so much to us. Thank you again, God bless you all.”

Kuon is a 68-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She lives in Battambang with her elderly husband and grandchildren. She has three children: her oldest child works as a car repairer, her second child works for a private company, and her youngest child is a taxi driver. She spends much of her time caring for her grandchildren. She also enjoys visiting the pagoda. Kuon developed a non-healing ulcer on her right cheek after suffering a burn while cooking. The wound remained open for about one year and was later diagnosed as invasive basal cell carcinoma. The ulcer has not healed and has a small area of dead tissue along its edge. Although it is not painful when touched, having a persistent lesion on her cheek affects her comfort and confidence in daily life. When Kuon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a removal of the basal cell carcinoma from her right cheek, followed by reconstruction with a rhomboid flap to remove the cancerous lesion and reconstruct the affected area, helping the wound heal and restoring the appearance and function of her cheek. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $616 more to fund her procedure and care. Kuon said, “I hope the surgery will remove the ulcer on my cheek and help the area heal properly. I am looking forward to recovering and returning to my usual daily activities with more confidence.”

Rosalinda is a 14-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a suburb of Port-au-Prince; she is in the eighth grade and likes her math and science classes. Rosalinda has a cardiac condition called severe mitral insufficiency. One of the four valves of her heart was severely damaged by a fever she suffered earlier in childhood, and as a result, it cannot pump blood properly through her body. This leads to heart failure and leaves her weak and short of breath. Rosalinda needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 19th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will repair the damaged valve so that it opens and closes more normally. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing $10,000 to pay for surgery. Rosalinda'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 Rosalinda's family overseas. Rosalinda says, "I am excited to have this surgery so I can feel better and have more energy."