Toma is a 54-year-old elderly man, who lives with his wife, son and grandchildren in rural Takeo Province in Cambodia. His wife stays at home caring for the grandchildren, while his son works as a rice farmer. The family has a simple rural lifestyle with low income and relies mainly on farming and family support. In his free time, Takeo takes care of his hens, grows vegetables around the house, and lives a quiet village life. In 2024, Takeo was shot in the right hand during an attempted robbery. This resulted in a fracture of his right arm. He went to a government hospital where doctors fixed surgical hardware to help with the healing his fracture. Since the injury and surgery, he has continued to experience pain and discomfort in his right hand. The condition makes it difficult for him to use his hand properly, affecting his ability to perform daily activities and reducing his independence. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On April 21st, Toma will undergo a surgical hardware removal procedure to help reduce his pain and improve hand function, so he can return to his daily activities. Toma and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $353 more to fund the procedure. Toma says, “I hope my hand will heal well so I can use it without pain, and return to my normal daily life.”

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

Teresu is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. Growing up in a farming community, Teresu spends much of his time helping with crop cultivation, an important source of livelihood for his family. He has never attended school but actively contributes to family work in the fields. Teresu has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, is a condition where the knees angle inward and touch while the ankles remain apart. His right leg is however more severely affected than the left. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. The condition has caused Teresu discomfort during long hours of standing and walking, limiting his ability to work and participate in daily activities. Despite the challenges, he remains hardworking and hopeful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Teresu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Teresu's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Teresu says, “I want to walk and work without pain, so I can help my family better.”

Hongseng is a 17-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives in a small village with his parents. His father is a carpenter, and his mother works in a garment factory. He is the third of four siblings; his two older brothers are university students, and his younger sister is 13 months old. He studies in Grade 10 and enjoys mathematics. In his free time, he likes playing football with friends and doing homework. His favorite food is soup (especially lemongrass sour soup), and he hopes to become a teacher in the future. Early in February, Hongseng was involved in a high-speed motorcycle-to-motorcycle traffic accident, resulting in a closed fracture of his right leg with a wound above his kneecap. He is unable to walk, experiences significant pain and stiffness, and has been forced to miss school. The injury makes it difficult for him to perform daily activities independently. Following the accident, his relatives brought him to a Kru Khmer (traditional healer), where herbal medicine was applied, and the injured leg was bandaged with two bamboo splints for support. However, his condition did not improve, and a neighbor advised the family to seek further treatment the next day. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care facility, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 9th, Hongseng will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will help him walk again without pain, restore mobility to his right leg, and allow him to return to school and continue his education. His family can contribute $100 but needs help raising $500 more to fund his procedure and care. Hongseng's mother says, “After the surgery, I hope my son will be able to walk again without pain and return to school to continue his studies.”

Pan Ei is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. Pan Ei’s father is a farmer. Her mother is receiving kidney dialysis treatment and cannot work. Her siblings help their father on the farm. In her free time, she enjoys playing with children and loves playing football. In the future, she hopes to work hard so she can support her family. Pan Ei was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Pan Ei suffers from fatigue, insomnia, and pain in her finger joints. Aside from her symptoms, she worries about her health condition and the financial burden of repaying debts. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a heart valve replacement for Pan Ei. The treatment is scheduled to take place on January 17th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Pan Ei expresses her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for helping me with financial support. When I heard that your organization and your donors would provide financial support for me, I felt deeply grateful. Thank you so much for helping with the surgery cost.”

Mateo is a toddler from Bolivia. He is his parents' first child. He lives with his mom, who is a homemaker, and his dad, who works distributing soda. When he was born prematurely at 30 weeks, Mateo had to be in an incubator where doctors detected his heart condition. Mateo has a cardiac condition called tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a combination of four heart conditions, including a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Mateo does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On May 6th, he will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow more normally. Mateo's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Mateo's mother shared, "I'm grateful my child is going to receive his surgery so he can grow and be a healthy boy."

Nora is a farmer from Uganda. She was born into a family of ten children and is the fourth-born. She is survived by two sisters and four brothers, all of whom have families and are small-scale farmers. Nora grew up grazing cows and goats and cultivating the land with her parents. She and her husband have eight children. Her eldest son is a carpenter, another is a barber, while the rest are farmers. Two years ago, Nora developed a progressively growing, protruding mass in her lower abdominal area. This was associated with symptoms such as bleeding, backache, lower abdominal pain, and a frequent urge to urinate. She initially sought care at a nearby hospital, where she was examined and advised to undergo surgery. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, she could not proceed with the operation. Nora was referred by a friend to our medical partner's care center, Karoli Lwanga Hospital, where she was diagnosed with uterine prolapse. She was advised to undergo a transvaginal hysterectomy for complete recovery. Her surgery is scheduled on January 8th, and Nora needs help to raise $243. Nora says, “I don’t see any way to get the money needed for my surgery, yet I am going through a lot of pain. I kindly appeal to you for support for the success of my surgery.”

Chu is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her sister and niece in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. She left her home in Yangon Region, Burma, to escape violence after a military coup in 2021. Chu and her sister work at a church in Mae Sot, where they cook and clean for daily events and handle behind-the-scenes tasks for weddings, funerals, and parties. They rely on donations from the church and have no formal salary. The income she receives is enough to cover basic expenses for the family, including food and healthcare. In her free time, she loves to cook and bake desserts. After surgery, she wants to continue to make snacks and potentially start a business selling them on her own. Since 2023, Chu has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including right lower back pain and right lower abdomen pain. The pain worsens when Chu stands or sits for long periods of time. Her symptoms are exacerbated at work, but she continues her duties, taking oral painkillers to manage the pain. Doctors plan to perform a ureteroscopy, a procedure used to diagnose and treat kidney stones or ureteral blockages by passing a small, fiberoptic scope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Chu said, "I had nowhere else to look for money. After your organisation agreed to help me, I felt relieved. I have fled from my home and left my family to come here. However, I feel warm and supported by my church with basic needs. Thank you for helping me.”