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."

50-year-old Snollah is a small-scale businesswoman who sells tomatoes in her neighborhood in Malawi. Together, she and her husband have three children, the youngest of whom is still in school. Snollah's husband is a quantity surveyor who is currently unable to work, due to a diagnosis of prostate cancer, for which he is receiving treatment. For about three years now, Snollah has been experiencing backaches, lower abdominal pains and a lack of appetite. At first, she was treated for epigastric pain, but when that didn't work, she returned to the hospital, where scans revealed several large, uterine fibroids. Because of the size of these tumors, they are considered to be potentially dangerous, as they can cause pressure on other organs. She was informed that she would need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,363 to fund Snollah's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on June 8th, at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Snollah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain, and to continue to support her husband. She says, "I experience fullness in my belly which is very uncomfortable. Your support will provide comfort and help me be a supportive mother."

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!"