Huzeyefa is a playful and cheerful 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys reading religious books with his brother and sisters, and helping his parents in their farming work. Huzeyefa and his family live in the Central Region of Ethiopia. He is the third child in a family of six children, and is currently in Grade 3. Huzeyefa condition was first noticed by his aunt when he visted her in Addis Ababa. While bathing him, she noticed that something was quite not right. Concerned, she took him to the nearest health centre, where he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation. “I was very anxious. My heart was broken, and I couldn’t sleep well. I was very worried when I heard that Huzeyfa needed surgery," his aunt shared. Huzeyefa was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. The doctors placed Huzeyefa on a long surgery wait list, and informed the family that he might have to wait for up to a year to undergo surgery. This news worried his aunt because Huzeyfa needed to return home to continue his education. In addition, his family could not afford the cost of surgery at a private hospital. Three weeks later, Huzeyfa’s aunt received encouraging news. The higher-level hospital had referred Huzeyfa to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). At BKMCM, Huzeyfa was scheduled for surgery on August 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Huzeyfa receive treatment, and is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Huzeyfa's aunt shared: "Thank you so much for all your support, kindness, and care. May God bless you with good health, long life, and abundant blessings. I am truly grateful to each one of you. My prayer is that Huzeyfa will recover well, continue his education, and grow into a successful person with a bright future. Thank you all so much."

Medekse is a mother of five from Ethiopia. She is a widow and lives in a busy home with her five grown children—her two sons and three daughters. They all live together so they can take turns looking after her, cooking her meals, and making sure she is safe. Four years ago, Medekse developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her reduced vision and cloudy vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. Because she cannot see well, simple tasks and moving around her own home have become very difficult. For a woman who spent her life being independent, it is hard to accept that she now must rely on her children for daily help. She is currently trying her best to adapt, searching for a balance between her desire to do things on her own and her need for her family's support. Fortunately, on July 15th, Medekse is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Medekse shared, "I hope to spend my later years moving around easily, seeing clearly, and living comfortably." After a lifetime of leading and caring for her family, she has earned the right to keep her independence and live on her own terms.

Koemsing is a cheerful two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives in Preah Sihanouk Province with her parents and older sister. Her father works as a construction worker, while her mother stays at home to care for the children and manage the household. She enjoys playing with toys with her older sister, and her favorite foods are sour fish soup and strawberries. When she was 10 months old, Koemsing accidentally sustained burns to both hands after coming into contact with fire while playing with her siblings. As her burns healed, severe scar contractures developed in both hands, causing stiffness and deformity. She has difficulty opening her hands, grasping objects, and performing everyday activities appropriate for her age. When Koemsing learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On August 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve the movement and function of her right hand. This surgery will help her grasp objects more easily, play more independently, and perform everyday activities with greater ease. Now, she needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Koemsing's parents shared, “We hope this surgery will give our daughter the chance to use her hands more freely, become more independent, and enjoy the childhood every child deserves.”