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."

Ly Ching is a 21-year-old university student from Cambodia. She lives in Phnom Penh with her elderly parents and two older brothers. She is the youngest child in the family. Her older brother is a lawyer, and her second brother works as a court clerk. She is studying law at university. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching movies. Ly Ching was born with polydactyly of both hands. This means that she was born with an extra thumb on both hands. The extra thumbs make it difficult for her to grasp objects, write, and perform some daily activities. She also feels self-conscious about the appearance of her hands. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 20th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra fingers so she can use her hands more comfortably and perform daily activities more easily. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $279 to fund her procedure and care. Ly Ching said, “I have lived with this condition my whole life. I hope this surgery will make it easier to use my hand and give me more confidence in my daily life.”

Christina is a farmer from Malawi. She is married and a mother of six. Four of her children have completed high school but are currently unemployed. The other two of her kids are still in high school. Christina's income from farm produce caters to their household upkeep and her children’s education, making it financially impossible for the family to raise funds for surgery. Since 2001, Christina has been experiencing uncomfortable gynecological symptoms. She visited several health facilities over the years. However, no definitive diagnosis was made. A cervical biopsy was performed earlier this year. It was determined that Christina needs a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus, to return to good health. Christina believes that undergoing surgery will restore her health and enable her to continue supporting her family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is able to help fund Christina's surgery. They are requesting $1,363 for her care. On April 10th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Christina will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and reduce her risk of future complications including cancer. "Your support will save my life," shared Christina.