José is a six-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is intelligent, sociable, and an affectionate child with a positive attitude toward interacting with those around him. He expresses interest in becoming a police officer when he grows up. When he was two months old, José developed a swelling near his umbilical area. Over time, he started experiencing discomfort and tenderness, especially during physical activities like playing and jumping, which has limited his full participation. José has been diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Corrective surgery has been recommended to prevent possible future complications and ensure an adequate clinical outcome. Fortunately, on August 21st, José is scheduled to undergo repair surgery. Our medical partner is requesting $1,005 to fund José's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life. José's parents say: "We are very grateful for your support, and look forward to our son finding relief from the discomfort, and being able to fully enjoy his childhood, after treatment."

Muluwerk is a 28-year-old woman from Ethiopia. She and her husband have three young children—two sons and a daughter. Muluwerk has been facing a quiet, painful battle with a bone infection known as osteomyelitis. As a young mother caring for her children and home, she spends her days taking on physically demanding tasks. Muluwerk experiences pain, swelling, and other worrisome symptoms, making each day a showcase of her resilience. Muluwerk visited our medical partner's care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital (SWGH), for help. After review, her doctors have recommended that she undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected, dead bone or tissue. If not treated, her condition can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on April 8th, Muluwerk will undergo repair surgery at SWGH's care center. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate her symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. SWGH is requesting $900 to fund her procedure. Muluwerk said, "I am hoping to end this four-year cycle of suffering once and for all. By getting my mobility back, I can finally put all my energy into building a bright future for my family, free from the shadow of this recurring illness."

Toma is a 54-year-old elderly man, who lives with his wife, son and grandchildren in rural Takeo Province in Cambodia. His wife stays at home caring for the grandchildren, while his son works as a rice farmer. The family has a simple rural lifestyle with low income and relies mainly on farming and family support. In his free time, Takeo takes care of his hens, grows vegetables around the house, and lives a quiet village life. In 2024, Takeo was shot in the right hand during an attempted robbery. This resulted in a fracture of his right arm. He went to a government hospital where doctors fixed surgical hardware to help with the healing his fracture. Since the injury and surgery, he has continued to experience pain and discomfort in his right hand. The condition makes it difficult for him to use his hand properly, affecting his ability to perform daily activities and reducing his independence. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 21st, Toma will undergo a surgical hardware removal procedure to help reduce his pain and improve hand function, so he can return to his daily activities. Toma and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $353 more to fund the procedure. Toma says, “I hope my hand will heal well so I can use it without pain, and return to my normal daily life.”