Fenet is eight-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She lives in a loving home with her parents and two brothers. She is supported by her father, who works for the government, and her mother, who was once a teacher but now devotes all her time to caring for their children. For the past seven years, Fenet has been fighting a difficult battle with chronic tonsillitis. This ongoing health struggle has made it very hard for her to enjoy her daily life and feel like a happy, active child. During an episode, Fenet experiences severe throat pain, low appetite, and exhausting fevers, leaving her without the energy she needs to play with friends or focus in school. She often misses class and is stressed about falling behind her classmates. Fenet was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Fenet, which is scheduled to take place on June 6th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Fenet of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Fenet’s parents shared, “We hope to provide her with a healthy and completely uninterrupted childhood, where she can finally leave behind these years of chronic throat pain and sudden fevers.”

Rafael is a 22-month-old boy from Ethiopia. His mother works in the finance department of a government institution, while his father works in the utilities sector. He is joyful and active child, who loves playing with toys and cars. Rafael has a condition called cryptorchidism, meaning that one of his testicles has not descended. This condition is often not obvious to parents and may not be diagnosed for some time. Fortunately for Rafael, an extended family member was familiar with a related condition and encouraged Rafael’s mother to have him checked. Rafael then had an ultrasound evaluation in which his condition was confirmed, and surgery was recommended. When Rafael’s mother learned about the condition, she became worried and anxious for his future. Without treatment, Rafael has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and future fertility problems. Fortunately, the doctors referred Rafael for surgery at our medical partner’s care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). After about a month, the family was warmly welcomed at BKMCM. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), has scheduled Rafael’s surgery for August 17th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Rafael’s mother shared, “Thank you so much to everyone at BethanyKids. I hope Rafael will be healthy and that he will have a successful and peaceful surgery.”

Mao is a 70-year-old rice farmer from Preah Vihear province in Cambodia. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio. Mao is married and has two sons and four grandchildren. Her husband and youngest son are in the military, and her oldest son is a rice farmer. About one year ago, Mao developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is unable to go places on her own. When Mao learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC), she traveled for 8 hours seeking treatment. On April 6th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Mao can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund her procedure and care. Mao said, "I hope, after surgery, my eye can see clearly, I can come back to growing rice and doing housework well, and I won't worry about my eye anymore."