Yemariam is a social and active 3-year-old from Ethiopia who loves playing with her friends and toys. Her mother works as a secretary at a government institution, and her father works as a driver for a private company. Since birth, Yemariam has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which tissue pushes through a weakened area around the belly button. Her mother first noticed the swelling shortly after Yemariam was born. The doctors examined her condition and advised the family that she might need surgery in the future if the condition did not resolve on its own. As Yemariam grew older and started attending school, her parents became increasingly concerned about her condition and its impact on her physical and emotional well-being. Her parents searched for a way to get her the surgery she needed. They first took Yemariam to a private hospital. The cost of the procedure was too high, so they visited a nearby health center, where Yemariam was referred to a higher-level government hospital and was placed on a surgery waitlist for the next month. During this time, the hospital referred Yemariam to our medical partner's care center. When Yemariam and her mother arrived, her mother was concerned that her condition was too complicated and she would not be able to receive the treatment she needed. After an assessment, the medical team explained Yemariam's condition and informed her mother that she could undergo surgery. Fortunately, on September 30th, Yemariam will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $512 to fund Yemariam's procedure. Once completed, this surgery will allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Yemariam's mother said, "Thank you so much to everyone who helped my daughter. I still can't believe it. I thank God for blessing you all. We had been waiting for four to five months, and now my daughter can receive the care she needed. Thank you so much to everyone and to all the Bethany Kids staff for your support and kindness."

Deborah is a 27-year-old mother of two from Kenya. Her husband is a small-scale farmer, while she stays home to manage their household and care for their children. When Deborah was two years old, she lost her hearing. She had an ear infection, underwent treatment and surgeries, but her hearing was never restored. When she was seven years old, she received hearing aids donated by missionaries. Unfortunately, she misplaced one of the hearing aids and was never able to recover it. She relied on the remaining hearing aid throughout her primary school education. Over time, her only hearing aid stopped working, leaving her with profound hearing loss. Since then, Deborah has withdrawn from social interactions, often choosing to remain at home because communicating with others has become extremely difficult. She is unable to help her children as they begin learning and growing, something that deeply saddens her. On July 8th, Deborah will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking assistance in raising $1,171. This will allow her to reconnect with her family, regain her independence, and improve her quality of life. Deborah says, "I can't help my son with his homework, and it breaks my heart to feel left out of my children's lives."

Zewditu is a 42-year-old mother of six from Ethiopia, who is a devoted wife and home maker. Her husband works as a day laborer, earning just enough money to provide food and shelter for the family. About four years ago, Zewditu developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her reduced eye sight and cloudy vision. The condition has made daily tasks like cooking and caring for her children much more difficult. Zewditu needs to undergo surgery to restore her sight, and be able to perform her daily activities with ease. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is helping Zewditu receive treatment. On July 12th, she will undergo cataract surgery where surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, Zewditu needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. She says: "I hope to be able to handle my household tasks with ease again, and embrace my role as a mother with newfound energy."