Merge is a 3 year-old child from Ethiopia. She is a beautiful young girl who loves to play with toys and her brothers. She loves to wear new clothes and shoes - her dad shared that she is always asking for new clothes and shoes. Merge loves being around people. Her dad is a farmer with a large family, his older children out of the house and living their own lives. Seven children are still with their parents. Her mom spends her day taking care of her child, collecting firewood from the woods, and pouring water from a long distance from a manual well. She carries the water jar and the sticks on her back. They harvest once a year. Their income is limited to sustain the needs of their household. Merge was born with anorectal malformation and she was referred to Addis Ababa referral hospital and underwent two surgeries. But now she developed an incisional hernia. Fortunately, on February 9th, she will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $512 to fund Merge's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently as she grows. Merge's dad said, “I hope she will heal. That will make me happy. I will send her to school and I want her to become a doctor.”

Moriya is a 3-year-old toddler from Cambodia. She lives in Prey Veng province with her parents, grandmother, and 8-year-old brother. Both her mom and dad work in nearby clothing factories. Moriya's grandmother helps look after the children while her parents are at work. At home, Moriya likes running around the village with other kids, and eating fried noodles. On September 13, 2023, Moriya accidentally burned her left hand at home. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around her burn. It is difficult for her to use her left hand due to the contractures, including playing with toys and carrying objects. When Moriya's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 6th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve her hand function. She and her family need help to fund this $495 procedure. Her dad shared "I want her fingers to straighten out, so that I won't worry about her development and her future."

Yuth is a 65-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. He is married with seven children, and currently lives with his wife, one of his children, and her spouse. Yuth's wife and daughter also work as rice farmers, while his son-in-law works as a construction worker. In his free time, Yuth enjoys watching the news with his family. A week ago, Yuth discovered an ulcer in his mouth that has been getting larger, causing difficulty in speaking and eating. He has been experiencing pain, redness, swelling, and purulent discharge. He is concerned that it may be cancerous. Yuth traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 22nd, surgeons at Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) will remove the mass, relieving his pain, swelling and preventing further infection. Yuth is able to contribute $50 towards the cost of his treatment, and needs help raising $223 more to fund the procedure. Yuth says: "After the surgery, I hope the mass will disappear and I will no longer experience the pain and swelling in my mouth"