Rafael is an adorable ten-month-old boy who lives with his parents and four older siblings in Ethiopia. As the youngest child, Rafael brings immense joy to his family, and his birth filled their home with happiness. He loves playing with his siblings and watching other children play football. Rafael's mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father is a truck driver and the family's sole provider. Shortly after birth, Rafael's mother noticed something different about Rafael's body. She brought him to a health center, where he was referred to a larger hospital. There, Rafael was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Rafael has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Unfortunately, there is a significant wait for surgery, and Rafael's family left the hospital without a surgery date. Months later, they received a call that Rafael could be seen at our partner's medical care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Rafael's mother shared, "May God bless each of you. Your support for our child will be rewarded, as God watches over those who lend a helping hand. Thank you all very much."

Bright is a 43-year-old father of three children, all aged below 10 years. He works as a bricklayer and also serves as a foreman to support his family. Due to his current condition, Bright has frequently been absent from work, leading to a substantial reduction in his income. In 2018, Bright 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. Initially, the swelling would intermittently disappear and was not painful, but over time, his condition worsened; the swelling persisted and was accompanied by abdominal pain and discomfort. Bright was taken to hospital and was scheduled for surgery, but the procedure kept being delayed due to surgical workload at the public hospital. He was then referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH). Bright's surgery has been scheduled for April 6th at PIH. He believes that undergoing surgical repair will restore his health, allow him to fully concentrate on his work, and enable him to resume his responsibilities as the sole provider for his young family. Bright is contributing to the cost of his surgery, but needs help raising $575 to fund the procedure. He says: "Your support will transform my life. The energy I had for my job is no longer there due to the pain and discomfort. I am unable to concentrate at all."

Catherine is a 62-year-old farmer from Malawi, and a mother of two. She lives alone in a village in rural Lilongwe, with her two children having grown up and now living independently. Life has not been easy this year. With little money to buy fertilizer, her harvest was poor. The crops she managed to grow are only enough to feed her, with nothing left to sell for income. Still, she continued working because she has no one else to depend on for her daily needs. Since January this year, Catherine has been experiencing severe abdominal pain which has made it difficult for her to work, rest, or move comfortably. At first, she thought he condition was gastritis. Even when she sought medical help, she was only given paracetamol to ease the pain, but the relief never lasted. Eventually, she was diagnosed with an epigastric hernia, which is a bulge that occurs in the upper abdomen, caused by tissue pushing through weak abdominal muscle. Presently, the pain has slowed her down, taking away the strength she needs to take care of herself. Full of hope, she went to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where surgery has been recommended to treat her condition. While hearing this gave her hope, the cost of the procedure was far beyond what she could afford. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. For Catherine, this surgery means more than relief from pain. It means being able to continue caring for herself, tending to her land, and living with independence. Catherine is able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but needs help raising $421 to fund the procedure. Catherine says, “If I become too sick to work, there is no one else to help with my daily activities. I have to remain strong so I can continue living and taking care of myself. I am hoping for help because this surgery will give me a chance to live without this pain.”