Sovannary is a 7-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in a small community in Kandal province with her parents and two siblings. She is the middle child in the family. Her older sister is studying in Grade 7, and her younger brother is 4 years old. Her father works as a truck driver, often spending long hours away from home to earn income for the family, while her mother stays at home to care for the children and manage household chores. Sovannary is currently studying in Grade 2, enjoys learning mathematics, and dreams of becoming a police officer when she grows up. In her free time, she enjoys playing with toys with her brother. Her favorite foods are Tom Yum soup and grilled pork. For the past two years, Sovannary has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and loud snoring at night. These symptoms make it hard for her to eat comfortably and sleep peacefully. Because she does not rest well at night, she often feels tired during the day and has difficulty concentrating at school. Sovannary 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 Sovannary, which is scheduled to take place on March 2nd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sovannary of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mother said, “When I hear her struggling to breathe and snoring loudly at night, I cannot sleep because I worry about her. I truly hope this treatment will help her breathe easily, sleep well, and live happily like other children her age.”

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."

Lively little Aminen is four years old. He lives with his parents and his younger sister in Ethiopia, where his mother works in government administration, while his father assists with fieldwork and operates heavy vehicles. Aminen’s mother first discovered his condition during a hospital visit for allergies and fever. While examining him, the doctor diagnosed Aminen with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If he is left untreated, Aminen has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. The doctor explained that Aminen's condition could be treated through surgery. Initially, Aminen's mother believed the surgery could only be performed at a private hospital, which was beyond the family's financial means. Aminen was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 3rd, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of Aminen's procedure and care. Aminen's mother said: "We have a wonderful opportunity, and I never thought my child would receive treatment at such a hospital, but due to God's plan, I hope the surgical treatment will be successful."