Habtamu is an 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia who lives with his mother in the city and shares a close bond with his brother and sister. Habtamu experienced an accidental puncture wound to his left leg. Unfortunately, the injury never healed properly. For over a year, he dealt with continuous pain, daily swelling, and persistent fluid discharge from the wound. Because of the constant discomfort, he was forced to stop attending his fifth-grade classes. He is unable to run, play, or move around. Following a review at our medical partner's care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors recommended that Habtamu undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on September 30th, Habtamu will undergo surgery that will help his leg heal, alleviate his symptoms, and prevent future health complications. He needs help raising $900 to fund his procedure and care. Habtamu's mother shared, "I hope to see him walking confidently, as seeing him suffer at his young age breaks my heart."

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.”

Prudence is a 34-year-old mother of three children from Uganda. She and her husband are farmers. Twelve years ago, Prudence began to experience troubling symptoms, including persistent lower abdominal pain and pain around the sides of her ribs. She frequently feels weak and has become increasingly unable to bend comfortably or carry out her daily activities and farming responsibilities as she used to. Due to financial constraints, she has been relying on traditional herbal remedies to manage the pain. Prudence was referred to our medical partner's care center, Rwibaale Hospital, where an ultrasound revealed a massive splenomegaly associated with hypersplenism, an enlargement of the spleen. Physicians recommend abdominal surgery to address her symptoms and prevent other complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Prudence's surgery. On October 31st, she will undergo surgery, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Prudence shared, "I hope to get rid of the pain and resume my duties as a farmer and take good care of my children."