La Min is a 12-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and three brothers in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. His father is a day laborer, and his mother takes in laundry. He and his two older brothers are students, but his younger brother is too young to go to school yet. The family’s monthly income is not enough to cover the family’s daily expenses, so they often borrow money from a neighbor to get by. Since 2023, La Min has been experiencing swollen tonsils which make it difficult for him to breathe. He coughs and snores at night and has difficulty sleeping, so he sometimes has to sleep sitting upright. Because of his difficulty breathing, he gets tired easily, so his parents sometimes do not allow him to play football or cane ball with his friends. La Min was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a tonsillectomy for La Min, which is scheduled to take place on March 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving La Min of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. La Min said, “I look forward to eating anything I can again. Right now, my mother just cooks plain food, so I want to eat something delicious again.”

Jiann is a charming baby from Kenya who just turned one year old. He has an older sibling, and his parents sell fruits at the roadside to provide for their family. Jiann has an umbilical hernia. Following his birth, his mother noticed his umbilicus was enlarged and slightly protruding. She was advised to monitor the area, as the concern might resolve on its own. However, by six months of age, there was no noticeable change, and the condition persisted. Now that Jiann has reached one year of age, his mother has been advised that hernia repair surgery is the best option for treatment. His family is requesting financial assistance in order to be able to afford the surgery. If left untreated, Jiann may develop complications, which could also interfere with his growth and development. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Jiann receive treatment. On March 2nd, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at AMH's care center. AMH is requesting $517 to fund Jiann's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jiann's mother said, "I would like to see my son grow up in a normal way. This condition may complicate, and that is why I seek help to have him operated on."

Mosongo is a 13-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of eight children and lives in a pastoral household where grazing livestock is his primary responsibility. Mosongo completed his primary school but was unable to progress to secondary education because of the discomfort he experienced when walking long distances to school. His parents depend on animal keeping for their livelihood and face financial constraints in accessing specialized care. Mosongo was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. This condition began approximately two years ago and has caused both his legs to bow inward, making his knees touch. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. Mosongo has progressively experienced pain in his legs, particularly during cold seasons. Despite this discomfort, he continues to assist his family with daily herding activities. If left untreated, the condition could lead to worsening pain and further limitation of mobility. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Mosongo. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Mosongo's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Mosongo says, "I have always enjoyed going out with my friends for long walks and taking our cattle for grazing, but recently it has been hard because my legs hurt when I walk for a while."