Jasmin is an 11 year-old girl from Bolivia who needs heart surgery. Jasmin lives with her father, a police officer, and her mother, a nurse. She has one older brother and one younger sister in La Paz. Jasmin likes to paint, draw in coloring books, and help her family with errands. Jasmin was born with Down syndrome, and also a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving Jasmin weak and short of breath. Our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund surgery to repair Jasmin's heart. During surgery, doctors will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer pass through it. Once her heart is repaired, Jasmin will be able to breathe easier and have more energy and ability to make the most of everyday. Jasmin's mother shares: "we're so happy that the time has finally arrived for her surgery, our family has been waiting a long time for this moment."

Phoeun, who is 52 years old, is a widow, living on her own in Kampong Speu province in Cambodia. All of her children are married, but they live close to her, and support her financially. In turn, she helps them with babysitting or cooking. In July, Phoeun was in a motorbike accident, and injured her left elbow. Because she could not afford care at the local hospital, she visited a Khmer traditional healer, who placed a bamboo splint on her upper arm. However, her fracture has not healed properly, and her elbow has become swollen and deformed. As a result of the swelling and pain, Phoeun is unable to use her hand. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 24th, Phoeun will undergo a procedure on her elbow, at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, so that she will be able to use her arm again. Now she needs your help to raise the $485 to cover the costs of her procedure and care. Phoeun said: "After surgery, I hope that my hand can move, and I will have no pain or infection."

Judith is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. When she was young, she was in school only up to the 7th grade due to limited financial support from her parents. She now does farming together with her husband and it is through the sale of their farm produce that they are able to pay school fees for their three children. They live in a three-room mud house that was given to them by her father-in-law. Six years ago, Judith began to experience neck swelling that was noticed by her friends. They advised her to use herbs but that did not help. The swelling is painless except when she touches it. She has mild airway obstruction especially when she walks up the hill and when singing in church, which she loves to do. Last year she visited a doctor at Kabale Referral Hospital to seek treatment. Judith was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Judith receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on September 22 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Judith says, “I believe that I will be singing in church comfortably again one day soon and hope to be able to proceed with farming for my family’s survival.”