Michelsa is a young student from Haiti. She is in the first grade and likes art and music. Michelsa lives with her mother, grandmother, and two siblings in a city on the west coast of Haiti. Her mother sews school uniforms for a living. Michelsa has a cardiac condition called pulmonary stenosis. One of the four valves in Michelsa's heart is too narrow, making it difficult for blood to flow through it and leading to heart failure. Michelsa will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 11th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a balloon on the end of a catheter to stretch the valve open to a more normal size. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Michelsa's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Michelsa's family overseas. Michelsa's mother shares, "Our family is very hopeful that after this surgery, we can let my daughter run and play without worrying about her health."

Sothea is a ten-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in the Takeo Province with his grandmother, who is a rice farmer, and his younger brother. His parents work in the city to support the family; his mother is employed in a garment factory, and his father works in construction. Sothea is currently in third grade, and his favorite subject is math. He hopes to become a teacher when he grows up. In his free time, he enjoys playing games outside with his friends in the village. For the past year, Sothea has been experiencing difficulty swallowing and breathing while sleeping. He snores at night and frequently experiences a sore throat. His condition affects his sleep and causes discomfort throughout the day, making it difficult for him to rest well and affecting his overall health and school activities. Sothea was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his 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 Sothea, which is scheduled to take place on May 12. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sothea of his symptoms and helping him breathe and sleep much more comfortably. His mother said, “I hope this treatment will help my child breathe and sleep better so he can grow up healthy and strong.”

Mark is a 32-year-old man from the Philippines. He is the oldest of seven siblings and helps support his family. His father works as a construction laborer, while his mother stays at home. Mark recently started work assisting with solar insulation, but his job is not yet stable. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and playing basketball. Three months ago, Mark began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. He has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Mark is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 10th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is requesting the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Mark’s surgery and care. Mark shared, “I am truly grateful for the chance to receive this operation, as it will ease my financial burden and allow me to focus on recovery. My heartfelt thanks to those who will give their support and kindness.”