Magdalena is a two-year-old toddler from Tanzania. Her family depends on crop cultivation for both sustenance and income. Three of Magdalena’s siblings are school-going. In 2022, tragedy struck as Magdalena sustained severe burns on her hip, extending down to her thigh, as a result of an accident with a hot stove while she was playing. Although she required medical attention for the extensive burn wounds, her family's financial circumstances prevented them from affording extended hospital care for her. Consequently, Magdalena received only initial first aid and continued her treatment at home. Unfortunately, as her wound healed, her thigh became fused to her waist, impairing her ability to use her right leg. Since then, Magdalena’s family has been struggling to find proper treatment for her condition. During one of our medical partner care center's outreach visits, the team met Magdalena and her family and recognized the severity of her situation. The family was directed to Kafika House, where a plastic surgery camp was being held. Despite the arduous journey of over nine hours, they arrived seeking hope and help. Upon examination, Magdalena was diagnosed by a plastic surgeon who determined that she would require a release procedure to separate her thigh from her waist. However, due to the complexity of her treatment, the surgeon has clearly communicated the possibility of amputating her leg if complications arise during the surgery. Magdalena is scheduled for surgery March 7th and her family is requesting help in raising $1,088 for surgery and postoperative care. Magdalena’s mother says: “I hope my daughter’s treatment will go well and that she will be able to walk after she completes her treatment.”

Dan is a 36 year-old-factory worker who lives in Prey Veng province with his wife and 5-year-old son. His wife works as a mango farmer and Dan has been working in a nearby food factory for several years. In his free time, he likes playing soccer with his friends, or with his son. In 2021, Dan was driving at night and was in a motorbike accident that caused a fracture in his right femur. He went to a local clinic and doctors fixated hardware to heal the fracture. Now, the fracture has healed but the hardware is uncomfortable and it is difficult for him to walk and run. He is also at risk of further infection. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 11th, Dan will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This procedure will eliminate pain and help him walk easily again. He shared, "I am hoping I can have surgery so the pain will go away and I can run around with my son."

Savoeun resides in Kampong Cham province with her two children, a son and a daughter, who help her with the farm and household chores. As a widow, she has been the sole provider for her family since her husband's passing several years ago. Together, they work long hours in the fields to cultivate enough rice to feed themselves and for sale at the market for additional necessities. In the evening, Savoeun likes to keep her house clean or listen to the radio. On December 20th, Savoeun slipped in the bathroom, and immediately felt great pain, but could not afford to visit a clinic. She endured weeks of persistent pain and navigated life from a wheelchair, when a villager suggested she should visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for a consultation. She and her daughter traveled for six and a half hours where surgeons diagnosed her with a fracture of the neck of her left femur. Femoral neck fractures are among the most common fractures in the elderly population, with a high mortality risk. Her doctors have planned a hip reconstruction procedure, where the femoral head and neck are replaced with a reconstruction prosthesis called a hip hemiarthroplasty. Now Savoeun and her family need help with the cost of the $544 procedure. The surgery will repair her fracture and allow her to walk again. Savoeun's daughter shared: "We hope my mother can walk again and be without pain after her surgery."