Birhanu is 75 years old and a retired soldier from Ethiopia. His wife makes handicrafts to bring in extra money. Together, they work hard to support their four children—three sons and one daughter. For more than two years, however, a growing cloud in his left eye—known as a cataract—has turned his life upside down. Birhanu's vision has become blurry and weak, making it dangerous for him to walk outside, especially after dark. Simple chores around the house have also become exhausting challenges, taking away the independence and quiet daily routines he has relied on for decades. Fortunately, Birhanu 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, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Birhanu shared, "I hope to walk safely at night, go back to doing odd jobs to help my family, handle chores on my own, and get my confidence and active life back in the community."

Srey Moch is an 11-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is in the fifth grade and lives in Ratanakiri Province with her parents, who work as rubber tree tappers, and her younger brother, who is in kindergarten. She enjoys playing outdoor games with her friends, loves studying Khmer, and dreams of becoming a nurse in the future. For the past month, Srey Moch has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, vomiting when eating, loud snoring, trouble breathing during sleep, and frequent throat infections. The condition makes it painful for her to eat and swallow, interrupts her sleep because of difficulty breathing, and causes frequent illness that affects her comfort and attendance at school. Srey Moch 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 Srey Moch, which is scheduled to take place on July 20th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Srey Moch of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Srey Moch's mother said, “I hope this surgery will stop my daughter’s throat pain and help her eat, sleep, and breathe comfortably again. I want her to stay healthy and enjoy going to school without getting sick so often.”

Baraka is a one-year-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the only child in his family and lives with both parents. His father is a farmer who cultivates maize to provide food for the family and sells the surplus to meet their basic needs. Baraka has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscles to the bones are shorter than usual, which makes walking and even wearing shoes difficult. As he began to grow and explore his surroundings, the condition affected his mobility, making it difficult for him to wear shoes and walk longer distances without falling. His parents had not sought treatment elsewhere because they had not found an opportunity to access the specialized care he needed. Hope came when the outreach team of our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, visited Baraka’s village and identified him as a child who could benefit from the program. Baraka is set to undergo a series of gentle manipulations and casting sessions to gradually correct the position of his feet. He will then undergo an Achilles Tendon Lengthening procedure. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on September 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Baraka's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be provided with a night cast to maintain the correction and help prevent relapse. Baraka's mother shared, “We are grateful that Baraka was given this opportunity. We hope this treatment will help him walk comfortably and grow up like other children.”