Eyosyas is a cheerful five-year-old boy from Ethiopia who loves playing with his older sister, watching cartoons, and spending time with his family. He lives with his parents and older sister. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother cares for the family. When Eyosiyas was still a baby, his mother noticed that something was different about his body. She was advised by a doctor to wait and observe. Four years later, his mother's concerns returned after a relative sent her a photo of her cousin's son, who was the same age as Eyosiyas. Comparing the two boys' development, she questioned whether Eyosiyas's condition was normal. She took him back to the health center for another examination. Eyosyas was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Eyosyas has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Eyosyas was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, and will undergo surgery on July 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyosiyas's mother shared, "I am so happy to be here and to have this opportunity for my son. As a parent, I never imagined we would receive such high-quality care free of charge. We are deeply grateful to BethanyKids and everyone who made this possible. Thank you so much for your kindness and support. May God bless you all."

Scovia is 58 years old and a mother of nine from Uganda. When she was 10, she lost both of her parents within a short period, leaving her and her siblings to be raised by their grandmother. She and her husband depend on farming as the family’s main source of livelihood. They primarily grow food crops such as beans, maize, and potatoes for household consumption and sell any surplus produce to generate income for her family’s needs. Twenty years ago, Scovia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. Because the swelling grew slowly and was not painful, she did not initially seek medical attention. However, about a month ago, she began experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and increasing breathing difficulties. Concerned about her worsening condition, she sought medical care at a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Scovia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Scovia says, “This has never been painful, but recently, I couldn’t breathe. Am always catching my breath and can’t do anything about it because of limited finances. I kindly appeal to you for support to have my surgery so I can continue farming and keep my children in school.”

Ricarson is a 45-year-old man from Haiti. He lives by himself in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; he has seven siblings. He works primarily as an electrician, but also as a freelance journalist. Ricarson has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not open and close properly as a result of an infection he suffered earlier in his life. This has led to heart failure, leaving him weak and short of breath. Ricarson needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On August 12th, he will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will remove his damaged valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing to the cost of the surgery. But Ricarson's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover laboratory tests, medications, 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 Ricarson's family overseas. Richardson says, "I am looking forward to having the strength and energy I need to live my life, and would like to say thank you to everyone!"