Tamiru is a brave and bright five-year-old boy from Ethiopia who loves playing with friends and exploring new ideas. Tamiru comes from a large family with nine children—four daughters and five sons. His father is a farmer, but as the parents have aged, they can no longer work the land. Two of Tamiru's married sisters and their husbands support their parents by farming a portion of the family land. Three of his brothers work as daily laborers, while two younger brothers continue their education. Amidst these challenges, the family has faced immense hardship. One sister, who moved to Addis Ababa four years ago for domestic work, went missing after just one year. Despite their desperate search for her, the family has been left in distress, and the emotional toll has been heavy. Tamiru's mother carries the burden of daily life, managing the home and caring for the family. She struggles with her health, suffering from the effects of smoke from cooking fires and the relentless demands of their difficult living conditions. Their home, made of mud, was damaged during the war, and they now live in a makeshift tent against a crumbling wall, constantly fearing for their safety. With limited access to food, they often go hungry, surviving on just one meal a day or sometimes none at all. Tamiru has faced his own health challenges since birth, suffering from a painful left inguinal hernia, a condition that results from a weakness in the abdominal wall. This condition requires urgent surgery to prevent serious complications, and it has taken a toll on both him and his family, weighing heavily on their spirits. Tamiru's mother expresses the family's struggles, saying, “We never had the chance to go to school. We can’t read or write. I fear for my child’s health, and it has been incredibly difficult. We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the social worker to get here - to the city and to the hospital, but we need your help.” Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tamiru receive treatment. On October 7th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate Tamiru's pain and discomfort and prevent future medical complications. Now, Tamiru's family needs help to fund this $512 procedure. Tamiru's father says, “I hope that this surgery will treat his condition and allow him to live normally, free of any complications. I place my trust in God's hands and in the skills of the doctors.”

51-year-old Sideth lives in Svay Rieng Province in Cambodia - near the Vietnam border - with his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. His son-in-law and daughter help support the family by working as rice farmers. In 2021, Sideth fell from a palm tree while collecting palm juice, resulting in severe injuries to his right leg and spine. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors performed surgery on his right ankle, and treated his spinal fracture. Unfortunately, Sideth now suffers from a chronic ulcer wound on his ankle, and experiences fevers related to the infected tissue. In addition, Sideth now walks with crutches, has lost sensation in part of his foot, and experiences chronic pain in his leg. Although surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), hoped to save his leg, it was determined that an amputation below the knee is necessary, due to the chronic wound and large area of dead tissue. On August 29th, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform an amputation, along with lymph node excision on the right side of Sideth's groin. These procedures will help relieve Sideth's pain once he fully recovers, and prevent future complications and infection. Sideth and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $379 more to fund the procedure. Sideth says, "I hope to have surgery soon so that I can be free of pain, and not have to worry about my wound getting worse in the future."

Mary is a seven-year-old girl from Kenya who will soon celebrate her 8th birthday. She is the oldest of two children. Mary's mother is a single parent who is a farmer. Mary has clubfoot on both feet. Mary's sibling was also born with clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Mary was also born with a condition called right hemiplegic cerebral palsy - a type of unilateral cerebral palsy that causes paralysis on only one side of the body, this condition affects her ability to walk, stand, and keep her balance. For almost 8 years, she has struggled with the condition without any help. She is currently at the hospital receiving treatment, which includes a series of casts on both legs. These casts are meant to slowly improve the movement in her ankles and knees, reduce stiffness, and help her legs be more flexible and properly aligned. After the casting, she will have foot surgery. Fortunately, Mary's family visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mary's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to play without restrictions and enjoy school with her friends. “I long to see my daughter walk and join school and bring my other child for treatment, too” Mary’s mother told us.