Rosalinda is a 14-year-old student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a suburb of Port-au-Prince; she is in the eighth grade and likes her math and science classes. Rosalinda has a cardiac condition called severe mitral insufficiency. One of the four valves of her heart was severely damaged by a fever she suffered earlier in childhood, and as a result, it cannot pump blood properly through her body. This leads to heart failure and leaves her weak and short of breath. Rosalinda needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 19th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will repair the damaged valve so that it opens and closes more normally. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing $10,000 to pay for surgery. Rosalinda's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Rosalinda's family overseas. Rosalinda says, "I am excited to have this surgery so I can feel better and have more energy."

Lida is a 12-year-old Grade 7 student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and two younger sisters. Her father works as an electrician, while her mother takes care of the household. Her favorite subject is mathematics, and she enjoys reading books and listening to music in her free time. She also likes sour fish soup and fried vegetables. For the past year, Lida has been experiencing daily headaches and a runny nose. Her frequent headaches and runny nose make her uncomfortable and make it difficult for her to concentrate on her studies. She hopes to feel better so she can focus on school and continue working toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Lida was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Lida, which is scheduled to take place on October 28th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Lida of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Lida's mother said, “I hope that my daughter will feel better after surgery and no longer suffer from frequent headaches. I want her to feel comfortable, focus on her studies, and enjoy her childhood.”

Mohammed is a playful and intelligent seven-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football, running, and spending time with his friends. He is a first-grade student and the second child in his family. Mohammed has one older brother and two younger sisters. His father works as a daily laborer, while his mother is a housewife. The family lives in a rented house and faces financial challenges. Mohammed 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. When Mohammed was about one year old, they took him to a nearby health center. After examining him, the doctor advised the family to return when he was older, explaining that surgery could be performed at a later age. The family returned home, but as Mohammed grew older, they became increasingly concerned that the condition could affect his future. Fortunately, Mohammed is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. After surgery, he should be able to live more comfortably. Mohammed's father shared, "Thank you so much to everyone for listening to our concerns and responding to our needs. We are deeply grateful to all the staff for your kindness, care, and support. My prayer is that Mohammed will recover well, continue his education, enjoy good health, and have a stable and successful future. May God bless you all."