Ximena is a 10-year-old student from Colombia. She is a loving, caring, cheerful, and respectful girl who is dedicated to her studies and loves spending time with family and friends. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher because she likes helping others succeed in their studies. Ximena has had an epigastric hernia, or a protrusion of tissue in her upper abdominal area, for many years. This condition causes pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, especially during physical exertion, which limits daily activities and has affected her quality of life. Fortunately, our medical partner Clinica Noel can help. On July 28th, Ximena will undergo hernia repair surgery, and she and her family are asking for help to raise $1,005 to fund Ximena's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Ximena's parents shared, "Thank you so very much for your generous help and for donating these funds for my daughter’s surgery. Your support means so much to us and gives us hope at this very important time. We will always be deeply grateful for your solidarity."

Monny Neak is a two-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and his younger brother, who is eight months old. His parents own an electrical equipment shop. He enjoys playing with toy cars and likes eating chicken and fish. Monny Neak was born with syndactyly of the left foot. This means that he was born with an extra fifth toe, and the fifth and sixth toes of his left foot are joined together. The extra and fused toes may make it difficult for him to wear shoes properly and may affect the normal growth and function of his left foot as he learns to stand and walk. Fortunately, on July 20th, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused digits. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $462 to fund this procedure. After surgery, he will be able to wear shoes more comfortably and develop normal walking ability as he grows. Monny Neak's parents said, “We hope this surgery will help our son walk comfortably, play freely, and grow up with confidence without feeling different from other children.”

Twaibu is a 23-year-old man from Malawi. He works in a factory where he earns approximately USD 66.25 per month, which he uses for his basic upkeep, and to support his parents. In 2019, Twaibu 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. He had first noticed intermittent swelling seven years prior, but because the symptoms were on and off, he did not seek medical attention. Over time, Twaibu has tried to manage the condition using painkillers, until in December last year when his condition deteriorated significantly. He was rushed to hospital where the protruding tissue was manually pushed back in it's position, and Twaibu was advised that he would need to undergo surgery. Twaibu was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH), and was scheduled for surgery on May 6th. He is hopeful that surgical intervention will restore his health, enable him to resume his work, and allow him to continue supporting his parents at home. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Twaibu receive treatment. Twaibu is able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but needs help raising $575 to fund the surgery. He says: "Kindly help me get better. I have been experiencing terrible symptoms; the frequent swelling episodes have brought so much discomfort in my life."