José is a six-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is intelligent, sociable, and an affectionate child with a positive attitude toward interacting with those around him. He expresses interest in becoming a police officer when he grows up. When he was two months old, José developed a swelling near his umbilical area. Over time, he started experiencing discomfort and tenderness, especially during physical activities like playing and jumping, which has limited his full participation. José has been diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Corrective surgery has been recommended to prevent possible future complications and ensure an adequate clinical outcome. Fortunately, on August 21st, José is scheduled to undergo repair surgery. Our medical partner is requesting $1,005 to fund José's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life. José's parents say: "We are very grateful for your support, and look forward to our son finding relief from the discomfort, and being able to fully enjoy his childhood, after treatment."

65-year-old Masitala is has spent most of his life working the land in Dedza District in Malawi. A husband and father of seven children, six of whom now have families of their own, he has always relied on farming maize and soya beans to provide for his household. Eight months ago, the simple life he values began to change. Masitala started experiencing difficulty passing urine. As the condition worsened, he found himself making repeated visits to health facilities, where he received medication and catheterisation to manage the symptoms. While these measures brought temporary relief, they did not solve the underlying problem. Month after month, he continued living with discomfort, uncertainty, and the inconvenience of relying on a catheter. The condition made it harder for him to focus on farming and the daily responsibilities that help sustain his family. After several hospital visits, clinicians advised him to seek treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he could access surgical care. Determined to find a lasting solution, Masitala made the journey despite having very little money. Unable to afford transportation, he walked for nearly three hours to reach the hospital. At Nkhoma Hospital, doctors diagnosed him with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and advised that he requires an open prostatectomy to restore normal urinary function and improve his quality of life. For Masitala, the diagnosis brought hope but also worry. The surgery he needs is beyond what he can afford. Like many small-scale farmers, his income depends on the harvest, and the resources available to him are barely enough to meet his family's basic needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the procedure for Masitala. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on June 3rd and, once completed, it will hopefully improve his quality of life. Masitala hopes that surgery will free him from months of discomfort and allow him to return to the fields, care for his family, and enjoy life without the burden of illness. He says, “I have endured this condition for many months because I had no other choice. I walked all the way to the hospital because I believed there would be help for me here. My wish is to get treated, and return to my family healthy and able to work again.”

Devi is a 19-year-old young man from Malawi, the firstborn child in a family of four children. Davi dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees and lives with his uncle in Lilongwe, while working as salesman in a shop. In March 2025, Devi was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Over time, the frequency of swelling episodes have increased, resulting in worsening abdominal pain, discomfort, and difficulty concentrating at work. Devi was scheduled for surgery, but it got postponed for months due to surgical workload in the public hospital. A doctor recently advised him to seek care at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH). At PIH, Devi was reviewed and his diagnosis confirmed. He's now scheduled for surgery on May 6th. Devi is very hopeful that undergoing surgery will significantly improve his quality of life and enable him to continue working and supporting his mother back home. His uncle is contributing to the cost of his surgery, but Devi needs help raising $575 more to fund the procedure. He says: "Kindly help me get better and concentrate on my job. As the firstborn child, I wish to support my mother at home, and not lose my job."