Naika is a three-month-old infant from Haiti. She is the only child to her parents. Naika has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain and increases pressure on the skull. As a result of her condition, Naika has been experiencing Increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Naika will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Naika at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat her hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on October 8th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Naika's brain to reduce pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Naika will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Naika's family is looking forward to their child growing up healthy.

Ath is a 56-year-old grocery seller from Cambodia. He and his wife live in Takeo province with one of their daughters, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. His wife, daughter, and son-in-law support the family by working as silk weavers. Ath runs a small grocery stall in his village, selling packaged foods and home products. In his free time, he likes growing vegetables around their home and spending time with his grandchildren. Around two years ago, he developed a painful mass around his knee. He sought treatment at multiple clinics and used a lot of the family's savings to travel to Vietnam for further treatment in early 2024. He underwent procedures to remove the fluid and pus from the mass, but his condition has not improved. He experiences chronic pain and is only able to limp for short distances. When Ath learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On July 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a wound debridement procedure to remove the infected tissue and help him walk more easily. Ath's family was able to contribute $100 towards medical costs but needs help raising the remaining $224 in funds. Ath shared, "I hope I can go back to work without pain and be able to walk and take care of my family again."

Olira is a sweet two-year-old boy from Ethiopia, whose joyful spirit brightens the lives of his parents and younger sister. His name, which means "From above," was chosen by his father in the hope that Olira's healing will come from a higher power. Olira loves to play with his sister and share precious moments with his family. Olira's father had qualified to attend university, but could not afford the tuition. Instead, he chose to enroll into a diploma course in agriculture in his hometown, and now earns a living as a gardener in the city. Unfortunately, his income is not enough to support the family, especially during recent challenging times. Olira’s uncle and other young people in the area find work in the woods burning charcoal for sale, but Olira's father is unable to join them due to a liver problem. When food runs low at home, Olira often visits his uncle's house to find something to eat. The past three years of drought have made farming nearly impossible, leading to severe food shortages in the region. As a result, Olira and many other children are not getting the nutrition they need. Olira's father wakes up early each day to search for work, often skipping meals himself to save money for the family's dinner. Olira was born with a condition called hypospadias, which affects his urinary function. Without treatment, he will continue to experience discomfort and could face future medical complications. His father took Olira to a local referral hospital but was faced with the heartbreaking reality of needing to purchase medicines, gloves, syringes, and other supplies that their family simply cannot afford. Desperate for help, they returned home without the treatment Olira needs. The family had received some support from church members to get to the referral hospital, but they quickly ran out of funds after paying for transport and initial medical expenses. A friend suggested reaching out to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids MyungSung Christian Medical Center (BKMCM), known for its commitment to supporting families in need, and church members provided some assistance with transport. However, the challenge of affording ongoing medical care for Olira remains a significant hurdle. Fortunately, our medical partner Africa Mission Healthcare is helping Olira receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 8th that will restore normal bodily functions, improving his quality of life. Now, Olira's family needs help to fund this $1,293 procedure. Olira's father says: “I hope that my son will heal after the surgery. God is my source of hope. I will praise God if I see my child heal and be able to pass urine normally.”