Seang Hai is an 11-year-old monk from Cambodia. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother is a garment factory worker. He has an older brother, who is 17 years old, and a younger sister, who is 6 years old. Seang Hai is currently studying in Grade 4, where his favorite subject is mathematics. In his free time, he enjoys learning dharma. His favorite meal is fried pork, and he dreams of becoming a teacher in the future. When Seang Hai was around one year old, he was accidentally burned by hot water, which affected the 3rd and 4th fingers of his left hand and the 3rd finger of his right hand. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his fingers. As a result, he has difficulty grasping objects and experiences mild pain during hand movements, limiting his daily activities. When Seang Hai's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 21st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the contractures, improve movement and strength in his hands, reduce pain, and allow him to hold and use objects more easily in his daily life. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Seang Hai's mother shared, “I hope after the surgery, he will be able to use his hands freely again, without pain, and live a happier life.”

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father works for a private company, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. He enjoys playing with toys alongside his sister, and his favorite meal is soup, especially lemongrass sour soup. Laysing was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side. His parents first noticed the condition when he began walking. As he has grown, the scoliosis has caused him to tire easily when walking or playing. The condition makes everyday activities difficult and sometimes causes discomfort. Laysing's parents are concerned about his posture and possible complications in the future. Laysing's family heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled four hours to attend a consultation. After extensive testing, doctors recommended that Laysing have spinal surgery. Without treatment, Laysing's symptoms will continue, and he will be at risk of future complications. On March 23rd, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal "growing rod" into Laysing's spine to help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. This treatment will help him stand taller, move more comfortably, and reduce fatigue. After recovery, he should be able to play, walk, and participate in daily activities more easily, improving both his quality of life and his confidence. Laysing's mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”

Dalen is 32 years old and a farmer from Cambodia. He lives in Preah Vihear province with his wife and their four-year-old son. His wife works at a garment factory and is currently the main provider for the family because he cannot work due to his injury. At home, his parents help support him and assist with tasks that he is unable to do on his own. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and playing volleyball, but he can no longer do these activities because of his condition. On March 5th, 2025, Dalen was involved in a motorbike accident with a hand tractor, which caused a closed fracture of his right leg. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plate fixation two days after the accident. Two weeks after the surgery, the surgical wound became infected, and he required a skin flap procedure to help treat and cover the infected area. About six to seven months ago, he started to experience persistent pain and abnormal movement in his leg. It is difficult for him to walk, and he now relies on crutches to keep his balance. Because of this, he cannot work and struggles with daily activities. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 6th, Dalen will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will help stabilize his leg, relieve his pain, and allow him to walk more comfortably so that he can return to work and support his family again. His family can contribute $37.50, but needs help raising $563 to fund his procedure and care. Dalen said, “After the surgery, I hope this treatment will heal my leg, relieve the pain, and allow me to walk normally again so I can work and take care of my wife and son.”

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.”

Milia is a 5-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the oldest of three children. He is a very active boy who enjoys making cars from wood and used bottles. He dreams of driving big trucks. Milia’s father is a pastoralist who depends on livestock for the family’s livelihood. Although life has been challenging, the family holds strong hopes for Milia’s future. They dream of seeing him walk comfortably, attend school, and grow with normal legs. Milia was diagnosed with bilateral varus; both his legs were bending outward as he grew older. Several factors can cause this condition, including growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride 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. They believe that the corrective surgery will help straighten his legs and prevent long-term disability. His family is seeking support to give their child a healthy and active future. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Milia. The procedure is scheduled for January 19th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Milia's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Milia's father says, "Living off herding cattle is good for the village life, but when I learnt of the cost for his treatment, it got me worried that I won't be able to afford the surgery, and he might end up living life with this deformity."

Jayson is 41 years old and a single father of three from the Philippines. He and his children live with his elderly parents, whom he looks after, too. He works as a food delivery rider and a courier for packages. He enjoys fish-keeping as a hobby and hopes to return to jogging and playing basketball once his condition is treated. For 23 years, Jayson has been living with an inguinal hernia. This causes persistent swelling and pain. The pain and restricted mobility have further impaired his capacity to work efficiently as a delivery rider, a job that requires prolonged sitting, lifting, and continuous movement. Fortunately, on January 9th, Jayson will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Jayson's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Jayson said, "This surgery will be a big help not only for me but also for my family. I could go back to work and live normally again without pain or fear that I cannot provide for my children."

Victoria is nine years old and the youngest of three children from Malawi. Her mother is a farmer and has a small business selling potatoes. At birth, Victoria was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia. She experiences painful swelling episodes that affect her sleep and ability to attend school. Victoria's mother thought the swelling would go away and heal on its own. Unfortunately, it has gotten worse over time. Victoria needs surgery to address her symptoms and allow her to live more comfortably. On December 9th, Victoria will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $667 to fund her procedure and care. Victoria’s mother is hopeful that the surgery will transform her daughter’s life, allowing her to return to school, concentrate on her studies, and enable the mother to carry out her daily work and business to support the family. Victoria's mother said, "I wish my child could get better to give me a chance to concentrate on my business and farm work as she concentrates on her education."

Aaron is a quiet and calm three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the 6th born in a family of seven children who live in a village in Kilifi County. Aaron was born with both spina bifida and clubfoot conditions, which has made his early years very challenging. He has already undergone surgery to address the spina bifida condition, but he is still unable walk, stand, or crawl on his own. Both Aaron’s parents are small-scale farmers who work hard to provide for their large family, but life has not been easy. After his spine surgery, Aaron started serial casting clinics at a county hospital to correct his clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. However, his feet began to swell, and the family slowly lost hope in the treatment. They did not know what to do next. One day, Aaron's family heard about a mobile clinic in Mombasa, organized by our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure Hospital. Without hesitation, they traveled to attend the clinic, hoping for a new beginning for their son. After an assessment, Aaron was scheduled for bilateral serial casting in preparation for surgery. Aaron and his family traveled to AIC Cure Hospital where he is currently undergoing serial casting. Following this, surgeons have scheduled clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Aaron's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk, and live a more independent life. His parents look forward to the day he will join school like other children and grow up with confidence. Aaron's father says: “My prayer and hope is for my son to walk and join school, just like other children."

Thandiwe is 45 years old and a mother of three children from Malawi. Her health has been deteriorating over the years, causing deep concern for her younger sister, Jane, who now lives in Lilongwe and has been her main source of support. When she was in better health, Thandiwe earned a living through selling tomoatoes, while her husband engaged in small-scale farming. Six years ago, Thandiwe began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling in her neck that made swallowing difficult. She sought treatment at various local hospitals but was only given pain medication without relief. She has experienced significant weight loss, loss of appetite, and breathlessness, leaving her weak and unable to live normally. Unfortunately, the frequent hospital visits and medication costs drained all her business capital, leaving her unable to afford further treatment. Thandiwe's sister took her to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, to be evaluated. She was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Thandiwe receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 11th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Thandiwe shared, "I was very energetic before the illness; I have lost so much weight, and I look forward to positive results after your surgery support. Kindly help me to find peace."

Darlene is a three-month-old baby girl from Bolivia, who lives with her parents and one older brother. Her mom works as an entertainer at children's birthday parties, while her dad is a day laborer. When she was born, Darlene's mother noticed that she had difficulty breastfeeding and took her to the pediatrician, who discovered a heart problem. Darlene has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus; a hole exists between two blood vessels next to her heart. This condition prevents Darlene's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition goes untreated. On February 11th, Darlene will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Darlene's family needs help to fund the costs of her cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of her exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Darlene's mother says: "I'm grateful for all your help. I want to help children in the future as you helped mine."