Seven-year-old Bontu lives with her parents in Ethiopia. As an only child, she is the light of her parent's life, and they would do anything for her. About two years ago, Bontu began experiencing fevers, pain, difficulty in swallowing and snoring. Since then, she is often unwell, and her mother constantly needs to stay with her, forgoing the chance to work and to earn money. Bontu's father works long hours as a manual laborer, trying to earn enough to sustain his family. Bontu has been diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, and she needs surgery to treat her condition. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Bontu, which is scheduled to take place on February 11th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Bontu of her symptoms, and helping her to live more comfortably. "We are so excited for this opportunity that will have our daughter attend school every single day, and play happily with her friends. Our hearts long to see her run and laugh without that constant, heavy exhaustion that has kept her so lonely and isolated for so long," said Bontu's parents.

Saveoeun is a retired rice farmer from Prey Veng province. She is a 66-year-old woman and has four sons, one daughter, and 13 grandchildren. She lives with her husband and her oldest daughter, who is a farmer. During her free time, she likes to listen to monks pray on the radio. About one year ago, Saveoeun developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her 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 not able to go places on her own. When Saveoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 11th, 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. She can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund her procedure and care. Saveoeun said, "I hope after surgery, my eye can see better so I can easily go out and recognize people. I feel happy, and I want to grow vegetables around my home for selling."

Rafael is an adorable ten-month-old boy who lives with his parents and four older siblings in Ethiopia. As the youngest child, Rafael brings immense joy to his family, and his birth filled their home with happiness. He loves playing with his siblings and watching other children play football. Rafael's mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father is a truck driver and the family's sole provider. Shortly after birth, Rafael's mother noticed something different about Rafael's body. She brought him to a health center, where he was referred to a larger hospital. There, Rafael was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Rafael has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Unfortunately, there is a significant wait for surgery, and Rafael's family left the hospital without a surgery date. Months later, they received a call that Rafael could be seen at our partner's medical care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Rafael's mother shared, "May God bless each of you. Your support for our child will be rewarded, as God watches over those who lend a helping hand. Thank you all very much."