Ebenezer is a seven-month-old baby boy from Burundi. As his mother shared the journey that brought them to the hospital, little Ebenezer slept peacefully on her back, calm and unaware of everything happening around him. Ebenezer is the firstborn child in his family. According to his mother, the first days and weeks of motherhood have been far from what she had hoped. She has spent nights awake beside him, facing hospital stays, uncertainty, and the constant fear that his condition could become more serious. She and Ebenezer's father have remained hopeful despite their son's health challenges. The couple work as small-scale farmers to support their family. Soon after his birth, Ebenezer began to experience troubling symptoms, including an inability to pass stool, and his abdomen began to swell. His mother became deeply worried. She took him to a hospital where he was admitted and received treatment, but despite the efforts of the medical team, his condition did not improve. Eventually, the family was referred to our medical partner's care center, Kibuye Hope Hospital, for specialized care. Ebenezer has been diagnosed with Hirschpung disease, a congenital condition where a baby is born missing specific nerve cells in parts of the large intestine, leading to severe bowel blockages. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $467 to fund Ebenezer's surgery. On September 22nd, he will undergo a laparotomy procedure at Kibuye Hope Hospital, allowing him a healthier life. Ebenezer’s mother shared, "Thank you to everyone who has supported us. We could never afford this treatment on our own, and our child needs care before his condition becomes more serious. May God bless everyone helping us and give us the chance to smile again with a healthy child."

Sokly is a 49-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal with his widowed mother, who is a retired farmer. He divorced his wife four years ago, and his two children live with their mother. He has 11 siblings, all of whom are married and live in nearby provinces. In his free time, he enjoys looking after his ducks and chickens. One week ago, Sokly was riding his motorcycle in the rain when it slipped, causing him to fall and fracture his left proximal femur. He received first aid, but the hospital did not have the equipment needed for surgery, so he was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. The fracture causes significant pain and prevents him from putting weight on his left leg or walking. He currently needs assistance to move around, making it difficult for him to work as a construction worker and manage his daily activities. On August 11th, Sokly will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will stabilize his fractured femur, relieve his pain, and help him regain the ability to walk so he can return to his normal daily activities and work. His family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $550 more to fund his procedure and care. Sokly said, “I hope the surgery will stabilize my fractured femur, relieve my pain, and help me walk again so I can return to my normal daily activities and work.”

Naf is a second-grader from Ethiopia. This eight-year-old and proud big brother is known for being very smart and loving to learn. For over four years, he has quietly suffered from severe tonsil problems. The symptoms worsened over the past year, interrupting a happy childhood supported by his father, a teacher who helps with his studies, and his mother, who works hard at a hair salon. Every day is a struggle for Naf. He misses a lot of school because of his health. He has trouble sleeping, struggles to breathe, breathes through his mouth during the day, and has speech issues that make it hard to talk to others. His family cares for him deeply, but the mounting medical bills have made it hard to pay for the specialized care he urgently needs. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Naf, which is scheduled to take place on September 26th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Naf of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Naf's parents shared, "We cannot wait to get the surgery done so he can smile and play like the happy, energetic kid he was four years ago."