Rith is an 18-year-old high school student from Takeo Province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and two younger siblings. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother works in a footwear factory. He is currently in 9th grade and hopes to become an army officer in the future. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. Three months ago, Rith was involved in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his right arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury — damage to the nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. As a result, he experiences shoulder droop, pain, numbness and is unable to lift his right arm, making it difficult to perform daily activities and basic self-care. Fortunately, on May 7th, Rith will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. His family can contribute $75, but they need help raising an additional $662 to fund his procedure and care. The surgery will allow him to regain movement and independence in his daily life. Rith said, “I hope the surgery will reduce my pain and help me regain movement in my hand and shoulder so I can return to my normal daily activities.”

Samalani is a 40-year-old driver from Malawi. He is married with three children and works hard to provide for his family, although his health has recently hampered his efforts. In early 2024, Samalani was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Over time, the swelling has become more frequent and is now associated with pain around the affected area. With proper treatment, Samalani hopes to regain his productivity and continue fulfilling his role as a responsible father and provider for his family. Fortunately, on April 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Samalani is able to contribute to his treatment, but needs $575 more to fund the procedure. He says, "Surgery will provide me the opportunity for a healthier life. Your support will help me to continue taking good care of my family."

Sophorn is a 68-year-old Tuk-Tuk driver from Phnom Penh. He is married and has one son, four daughters, and four grandchildren. He lives with his wife, who is a housewife, and with his oldest daughter, who works as a house cleaner. In his free time, Sophorn likes to watch the news on his phone. About two years ago, Sophorn developed a cataract in his right eye. This causes him to experience itching, tearing, and blurred vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Sophorn has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces. He is also worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Sophorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On March 16th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, our medical partner is requesting $263 to fund Sophorn's procedure. Sophorn said, "I hope after surgery I can see better, so I can go back to driving Tuk Tuk. I'm also excited to recognize people."

Sophea is 18 years old and a young factory worker from Cambodia. She lives in a small village in Battambang province with her parents, who are cassava farmers. She is the middle child of three siblings. Her older brother works as a construction worker to help support the family, and her younger sister is studying in Grade 5. Due to financial difficulties, she stopped studying in Grade 10. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and listening to music. Four months ago, Sophea was involved in a traffic accident when another motorcycle suddenly collided with her, causing paralysis to her left hand. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. She is unable to lift or properly use her left hand and experiences pain and stiffness in her fingers. This makes it difficult for her to perform daily activities such as dressing, cooking, and holding objects. The weakness and discomfort forced her to stop working, adding financial stress to her family. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sophea receive treatment. She traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On February 26th, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, The treatment will help improve movement and strength in her left hand, reduce pain and stiffness, and gradually restore hand function. Sophea's family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $637 more to fund her surgery and care. Sophea said, “Since the accident, I have not been able to use my left hand like before. I hope this treatment will help me regain strength so I can return to my normal life and support my family again.”

Dulce is a four-year-old girl from Colombia who has a beautiful smile. However, she has been experiencing pain caused by multiple cavities, which have greatly affected her oral health, overall well-being, and quality of life. As a result, Dulce has been struggling with eating, experiencing discomfort, and facing a higher risk of infection. Given the extent of the dental lesions and her young age, it was determined that Dulce would need to undergo comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia. This procedure involves the removal of carious lesions, restoration, and comprehensive management of the affected teeth, ensuring safety, efficacy, and comfort for the patient. Fortunately, our medical partner Clinica Noel can help. They have scheduled Dulce's procedure on February 23rd. Now, Dulce and her family need help raising $868 to fund her care. Dulce's mother shared, "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your willingness and interest in helping us. As a mother, it has not been easy to see my daughter in need of a surgical procedure. Her condition directly affects her well-being, her nutrition, and her quality of life, and as a family we have done everything in our power to find a solution. This is a gesture that we will never forget and that will remain in our hearts forever."

Mark is a 12-year-old boy from Kenya. His health challenges began at birth. He was born with severe clubfoot, blindness in his right eye, and was unable to cry like other newborns. He was later diagnosed with brain damage, which affected his feeding and overall development. Mark has experienced significant developmental delays; he was able to walk at the age of five but has never developed speech. Despite these medical challenges, Mark’s mother has remained supportive, taking each day as it comes. In 2019, Mark was enrolled in a regular school. However, it was difficult for him to keep up with his class because of his hearing difficulties. It was recommended that Mark be fitted with hearing aids to help him with school and his interactions with others. Mark’s father works as a casual driver, and his mother is a domestic worker. Together, they work tirelessly to provide for their two children, aged 12 and 2, ensuring their basic needs are met. Unfortunately, their limited income prevents them from affording hearing aids. Yet, access to them would go a long way in supporting Mark’s speech development and greatly improving his quality of life. Mark’s parents are now reaching out for support, hoping he can receive hearing aids and have a chance at a better future. On January 14th, Mark will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 for Mark. Mark’s mother says, “I believe hearing aids would help Mark develop his speech and finally be able to communicate with those around him.”

Brian is a 17-year-old boy from Kenya. His father is a primary school teacher. Brian is due to start school and is worried about missing lessons and falling behind in the syllabus. Education is very important to him, and he hopes to resume his studies as soon as possible. Three weeks ago, Brian experienced a convulsion and fell into a fire. As a result, he sustained severe burns to his leg. He was eventually brought to the hospital, where the surgical team assessed him. The surgeon managed his injuries through multiple dressing changes, surgical debridement, and, due to the severity of the burns, amputation of one toe. Brian was later placed on a wound vacuum (VAC) to support healing. At present, his condition is stable, and he is doing relatively well. However, he still requires a skin graft to achieve proper wound coverage and complete healing. On January 6th, Brian is scheduled to undergo a skin graft procedure, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,183 to fund his procedure and care. Brian says, "I hope that after the skin graft, my hospital stay will be reduced. I should be in form four, and I don't want to fall behind, especially with the syllabus. My goal is to take after my father, be a teacher, and aim higher to head a teachers' organization in the future. Please help me. "

Grace is 47 years old and a single mother to one child from Malawi. She separated from her husband six years ago and moved away. Grace works as a store clerk for a company that sells motorcycle spare parts. Nine years ago, Grace began to experience troubling symptoms, including frequent episodes of intense abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her health has significantly affected her daily activities, and she can no longer report to work. She now depends on her sister’s support, but her sister cannot afford the surgery costs, and Grace’s child is currently unemployed. This has led Grace to seek financial assistance. Grace first noticed pain in the upper right quadrant of her abdomen in 2016. She went to the hospital and was given only painkillers. Over time, the pain became intermittent, and she eventually got used to it and stopped seeking help. However, the episodes gradually increased in both frequency and severity, and they became associated with nausea, vomiting, and backaches. On November 12th, 2025, her condition worsened. She was taken to the hospital, where an abdominal ultrasound was performed. She was diagnosed with cholelithiasis, or stones in her gallbladder. Grace continues to experience other symptoms such as loose stools, swelling at the painful site on her right side, loss of appetite, heart palpitations, breathlessness due to intense pain, and weakness that requires assistance from others. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is able to help. On December 1st, Grace will undergo surgery to remove her gallbladder. She needs help to raise $1,244 to fund her procedure and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve her quality of life. Grace shared, "I am in pain; kindly help me."

Baraka is a 16-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the oldest in a family of six children, growing up in a pastoralist household where his father works as a herdsman to support the family. From a young age, Baraka has carried responsibilities beyond his age, often helping with livestock and household duties. Baraka was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. This a condition that causes his knees to bend inward. 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. As he has grown older, the deformity has become more severe, causing him pain especially when walking long distances. This has significantly affected his daily life and limited his ability to participate fully in community activities. Due to these challenges, Baraka never had the opportunity to attend school, a loss that deeply affects both him and his family. Despite this, Baraka remains resilient and hopeful. He loves working with livestock and dreams of being strong and independent. He is planned for bilateral distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) surgery, which will help straighten his legs, relieve his pain, and give him a chance to lead a more active life. His family hopes that through this treatment, Baraka will finally walk comfortably and engage fully in his community without pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Baraka. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 9th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Baraka's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Baraka says, "I want to be able to walk pain free and be able to guide my younger siblings as we go out for walks during the day."

Win is a 46-year-old widow from Burma. She lives with her 18-year-old son in Tak Province, Thailand. She used to work as an agricultural day laborer, but had to stop because she started experiencing back pain in April 2024. Win experiences lower back pain which intensifies with prolonged sitting. Due to the pain, she sometimes has trouble sleeping. Physicians at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakron Chiang Mai Hospital, diagnosed Win with kidney stones. She needs a percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which removes kidney stones from the body, to relieve her of the pain and discomfort she feels. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on September 15th and once completed, it will hopefully improve Win's quality of life. Win said, “I would like to say thank you to the donors who are helping me with my treatment. I cried when I heard that I needed surgery because I cannot afford it. Now, I am full of joy that I will have the chance to receive treatment with the help of you. Once I recover, I will work alongside my son. I do not want to be a burden to him.”

Leap is a 57-year-old woman from Cambodia. She has been divorced for 20 years and lives independently, working to manage her household and yard. Leap has two children. Her eldest daughter is 35 years old and sells Khmer cakes to support herself. Her youngest daughter is 31 years old, married, and currently lives in Korea with her family. During her free time, Leap enjoys helping her older daughter make the Khmer cakes and sells them at the local market. Leap was in a motorbike collision several years ago that resulted in a right distal femur fracture. She underwent surgery with hardware to heal the bone and recovered well initially. However, after having the hardware removed at a private clinic, she began experiencing numbness in her right lower leg and foot drop, which has persisted for the past three months. Foot drop is a condition where a person has difficulty lifting the front part of their foot, causing the toes to drag on the ground while walking. This can be due to various causes, including nerve damage or muscle weakness. Leap needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Leap receive this treatment on July 14th. Leap contributed $100 to her care and needs help raising $601 to fund the remaining cost of her tendon and nerve repair surgery. Leap said, "I hope the doctors can fix my foot because I am worried I will fall and break my leg again."

Ratha is a 34-year-old taxi driver from Cambodia. He is divorced and lives with his brother, sister, and elderly parents. To help support his family, Ratha drives a motor-taxi and grows vegetables to supplement their diet. In the past, he worked as a jewelry maker. About 10 years ago, Ratha was involved in a motorbike accident. He fell off his bike and landed on his left shoulder, losing consciousness for several days. His family took him to a local hospital, but they could not afford the necessary surgery. Instead, Ratha tried treatment through traditional Khmer medicine using bamboo splints, but despite this treatment, he experienced no movement in his left shoulder and arm. Subsequently, Ratha traveled to Vietnam for further medical care. Over the next few years, he underwent several shoulder surgeries in Vietnam but still has no use of his left arm and only has limited movement in his wrist and some fingers on his left hand. He can ride a motorbike with this limited movement, but experiences pain and feels frustrated that there has been no improvement in his condition after so many years of seeking help. Fortunately, when Ratha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he was able to travel for six hours seeking treatment. On June 10th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left shoulder and to help him have some use of his left shoulder and arm. Ratha contributed $100 to his care and needs help raising $511 to fund his surgery. Ratha shared: "I hope to use my arm again and work to support myself and my parents."