Binyam is a seven-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He loves watching animations and listening to songs. He lives with his parents in a small, rented home. Although his family’s income is limited, their love and determination are strong. His father works as a daily laborer and provides for the household. His mother, however, does not have a permanent job. During the holidays, she sells candles around the church to support the family. Before Binyam was born, his mother had a difficult motherhood journey. She suffered two miscarriages, and a third pregnancy that ended tragically when the baby died after one week. At some point, she lost hope that she would ever have a child. When she discovered that she was pregnant again and gave birth to Binyam, the entire family felt immense joy and relief. Since birth, Binyam has had an umbilical hernia, which is a tissue bulge in the belly button area, that occurs due to a weak spot in the abdominal wall. The condition has been causing him discomfort especially when he cries, or plays actively. His mother first noticed the swelling when Binyam’s umbilical cord fell off. At first, she hoped it would resolve naturally, but the swelling continued to grow and increase in size. Worried, she shared with a nurse during a routine vaccine clinic and was referred to a higher-level hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Binyam receive treatment. On July 20th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery to relieve his symptoms, allowing him a healthier life as he grows older. Now, Binyam's family needs help to fund this $512 procedure. Binyam’s mother says, “Thank you very much for the service and support. Finally, my prayers have been answered. I truly wish and pray that my child will be safe and recover well after the surgery.”

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 Since then, Deborah has withdrawn from social interactions, often choosing to remain at home because communicating with others has become extremely difficult.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."

Wadaje is an 18-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a college student who lives with her older sister. Two months ago, Wadaje started to experience an itchy infection on her right finger. The wound developed into a contracture, causing significant difficulty with movement. Following her initial treatment at a local small clinic, she developed a severe hand contracture that has left her hand stiff and difficult to use. This has significantly disrupted her studies and daily life. The resulting loss of independence is deeply distressing, as she now depends on her sister for almost everything, which creates a difficult situation for them both. When Wadaje learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for one week seeking treatment. On June 3rd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to gradually restore movement to the right finger. This will make it easier to handle schoolwork and help with household duties comfortably, while also decreasing the frequency and cost of hospital visits. Now, she needs help to fund this $500 procedure. Wadaje said, "I hope to regain the health and skills required to perform my academic and daily tasks with ease, which is vital for my success as a college student."