Eh Sha is an 8-year-old living in a refugee camp in Thailand with her parents and other relatives. Eh Sha's mother is a midwife and her father is a medic at the camp hospital. Eh Sha is a primary school student. During her free time, she enjoys drawing, singing, and learning to play piano. When she was four, Eh Sha had a high fever and a sore throat. Although the fever subsided, her tonsils remained inflamed, causing her to experience occasional bouts of tonsillitis every three or four months. On September 17th, Eh began experiencing fever and sore throat. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) diagnosed her with chronic bilateral tonsilitis and tonsil enlargement. The doctor wants to perform a tonsillectomy, a procedure to remove her tonsils, and scheduled the surgery for October 30th. Currently, Eh Sha has a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, accompanied by fever and joint pain. The surgery will help relieve her pain and discomfort. Eh Sha's mother has big dreams for her future, saying, "I want her to become a healthcare worker who can not only take care of her own health but that of her family and others too."

Mon is a 55-year-old vegetable seller from Phnom Penh province. She is a widow and has three sons, three daughters, and five grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her third son who is a barber in the local village. She picks lotus flowers and morning glory (water spinach) every morning in the small lake near her house. At home, she likes to watch Khmer drama on the TV. Five years ago, Mon developed a pterygium in her right eye,, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision from long-term exposure to hot, dry weather and dust. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. When Mon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. Mon needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 16th. Mon said, "I hope after surgery my eye can feel better and I won’t worry about it anymore. I can go back to selling and doing housework well."

Bunaidie is an 18-year-old student living with her parents and younger sister outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Bunaidie would like to become a doctor or nurse one day and was a junior in high school last year, but is taking this year off of school because of her health. Bunaidie has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of her four heart valves was severely damaged by a fever she suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. The surgery that Bunaidie needs is not available in her country, so Bunaidie will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 5th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove the damaged heart valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Haitian Hearts, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery; however, Bunaidie's family also needs $1,500 to help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow up, including labs expenses, medicines, and checkup and follow-up appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social worker from our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Bunaidie's family overseas. Bunaidie says, "I am hopeful that after my surgery my heart will be normal. I want to be able to focus on my school and be ready for the rest of my life."

Mekides is a 2-year-old toddler and the youngest of four who lives with her family in Ethiopia. Her father is a traditional farmer, while her mother is a homemaker. She loves milk, playing ball, and laughing with her mom and dad. She feels so happy when her dad brings home a new pair of shoes and a dress for her. Mekides was born with a birth defect called Hirschprung disease. She has an abnormally functioning segment of her bowel. This condition has been a struggle for the family to cope with. Mekides previously underwent a colostomy creation and now needs a colonic pull-through, where the diseased section of her intestine will be removed and the healthy portion will be pulled down. Doctors with our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) will perform this surgery on July 25th and are requesting $1,500 to fully fund the procedure. This surgery will help Mekides thrive with the other children in her village. Mekides' dad said “After her treatment, I believe she will heal. I will not give her the duty to do labour work as other girls have in my area. But I will educate her. I will work hard to upgrade her life and give her a quality life. I gave her to God, believing God will lead her to a better future.”

Giovani is a one-year-old boy who lives with his parents and one older sibling. His mother works as a local roadside vendor, selling fruits, and his father, who is unemployed, is making dedicated efforts to secure a job to support his family. In addition to his job search, he has taken up poultry farming, involving the production and sale of chickens and eggs, so that he can contribute to the family's income. In April 2023, Giovani, while exploring alone in the kitchen, came upon a pot of hot soup. He immersed both of his arms in the pot, and sustained severe burns on his hands. His parents rushed him to the local hospital, where Giovani stayed for the next two months, while he received treatment for his wounds. Although he was eventually discharged after his wounds had healed, Giovani's hands had sustained significant skin damage. Despite facing financial constraints, Giovani’s father remained determined to find a solution for his child’s condition. While inquiring about a suitable location to receive treatment for his son, he encountered the parents of one of our former patients, who directed him to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare and the Plaster House. Following a thorough evaluation, the medical team diagnosed Giovani with burn scar contractures, affecting both of his hands. Four months later, Giovani was evaluated by a plastic surgeon, who devised a surgical treatment plan to address Giovani's inability to use his fingers to grasp objects - a result of the burn contractures. Giovani's parents are reaching out to you for assistance, to ensure that their son receives the appropriate medical care he requires. Fortunately, African Mission Healthcare is helping Giovani receive the care that he needs. On August 16th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery, to improve his hands’ functionality and appearance. Now, their family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Giovani’s father says: “I wish to see my son enjoying playing with his toys. We hope this treatment will be a big change from his current situation.”

Anthony lives with his parents and two younger siblings in a mining city in central Bolivia. He is in the fourth grade and loves computer science. His parents co-own a small tailoring shop together. Anthony was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related heart defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive his body of oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. During surgery, doctors will close the hole with a patch and remove the blockage from his valve. Heart surgery will allow Anthony to live a full, active life, and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund his life-saving procedure. Anthony can't wait to feel better soon and shared: "I am excited to be able to start running and keep up with my friends!"

Richard is a 23-year-old man from Kiambu County, Kenya. He is married and has one child who is two years old. Richard is originally from Uganda, and he moved to Kenya in 2022 in search of a job. Now, Richard works as a casual laborer on farms in Kiambu County. On June 21st, Richard was opening the gate for his boss's vehicle when the gate accidentally closed on his hand. Richard was first taken to a nearby hospital for first aid and then taken to our medical partner's care center for an x-ray. The x-ray showed an open fracture in Richard's pointer finger, and the surgeon advised Richard to undergo a surgery called open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to fix the fracture. However, Richard cannot currently afford this surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 23rd, Richard will undergo an ORIF procedure to fix his hand. After his procedure, Richard will be able to return to work pain-free. Now, AMH is requesting $1049 to cover the cost of Richard's procedure. Richard said, "My hands help me work and feed my family. My wife is not working, so I kindly request assistance so that once my hand is healed I can resume my job and support them"

Levi lives in a mining city in the mountains of central Bolivia, and he loves exploring and trying new things. His parents are both industrial mining engineers. Levi was born with a serious heart condition that leaves him weak and short of breath. Through surgery, doctors can close the hole in his heart so he can continue to be his happy and playful self. Levi's mom shared: "Our family is so relieved to know that it is possible to fix the problem with our son's heart. Thank you."

Susan is a soft-spoken woman from Kenya. She is a widow and a mother of six children who are now all adults. She currently resides in her ancestral home in Limuru, Kenya. For four months, Susan has been experiencing pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, a precancerous condition that impacts her quality of life. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Susan's national health insurance coverage has not been active, and despite reactivation, she will have to wait for more than 60 days before using it. However, she is unable to continue living with her condition as is and urgently needs to undergo her procedure to rid her body of the risk of cancer. Her family cannot afford her treatment and is appealing for financial assistance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1260 to fund Susan's surgery. On June 1st, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Susan will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Susan says, “I am old and need to get treatment for this bleeding condition. It is very uncomfortable.”

Son is a 64-year-old retired rice farmer who has two daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren. Since retiring from the rice fields, she is working some hours for a construction company, where her husband and youngest son also work. In her free time, Son likes caring for her grandchildren and visiting her local pagoda to pray. Ten years ago, Son developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Son learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. Son needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence, which is scheduled for July 17th. Son is able to contribute $50 and needs help with $225 to cover the cost of medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. She shared, "I hope I can see more clearly so I can do more to look after my grandchildren, and I would like to plant more vegetables around my house."

Srey Tey is a playful 3-year-old from Cambodia. She lives in Svay Raing province with her parents and two older siblings. Her mother cares for the children at home, while Srey Tey's dad earns a living as a taxi driver. Srey Tey's favorite things include ice cream, cartoons, and playing with her siblings! Srey Tey's mom had a long and difficult delivery with shoulder dystocia, a condition where one or both of the baby's shoulders get stuck in the birth canal. Since birth, she noticed that Srey Tey has limited movement in her left arm. Srey Tey has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Currently, she cannot move her left hand and has limited strength and function in her arm. Srey Tey's family brought her to our medical partner's care center for treatment. This is the only center in the country where this treatment is available. On May 11th, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will have improved function in her arm and hand. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Srey Tey's family contributed $100 to her care. Srey Tey's mother shared her hopes that, after surgery, Srey Tey will be able to move her hand more easily and start preschool.

Alice is a 52-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is a confident and eloquent mother to two children who are currently pursuing their studies. Alice faced various challenges growing up as an orphan, but she persevered and completed school through seventh grade. Unfortunately, she was unable to continue her education due to a lack of funding. Alice and her husband rely on small-scale farming to sustain their livelihood, as they have limited land. They primarily grow crops to feed their family but sell any surplus to generate additional income. Five years ago, Alice began to experience troubling symptoms, including swelling in her neck. This condition causes her difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and consistent palpitations. She was diagnosed with a left cystic goiter or an enlarged area in the thyroid. Alice needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Alice receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 11th at AMH's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and Alice and her family need help raising money. Alice says, “I believe if I get your support, I will be operated on and will get better.”