Joseph is a young boy from Tanzania. Joseph is the fifth born child in a family of 7 children. He comes from a polygamous family and has 10 siblings inclusive of his step-siblings. He is struggling to write in his class one studies due to contractures on his right hand. He has to learn how to write with his left hand. When he was two years old, Joseph was spilt by boiling tea in his mother's hut. He suffered burns on his right hand and right side of his head. He spent several months in the hospital recuperating from the burns. Unfortunately, he healed with contractures on his right hand that has limited his ability to use his right hand. His parents are small scale farmers in Northern Tanzania. His father often traverses into Kenya to sell Masai herbal medicine to supplement income and meet the daily demands of his big family. The family has not been able to consolidate funds for Joseph's further treatment. Joseph was referred to our facility and after review, contracture release was advised. Upon successful surgery, Joseph's ability to use his hand will be regained. The family appeals for help as they do not have sufficient income. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Joseph receive treatment. On October 15, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to allow Joseph utilize his hand with ease. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Joseph’s mother says, “Learning for Joseph is going to be every challenging due to his hand condition. Please help treat my son.”

Kanha is a fifth grade student from Cambodia. She likes to study Khmer and math, and hopes to become a doctor when she grows up. She has had an ongoing infection in her ear for the past year, which has been growing in size. She experiences pain and fullness in her ear, and has difficult hearing others. Kanha traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 5th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the mass. Now, Kanha needs help to raise $220 to fund this procedure. "I hope that my daughter will no longer have any pain and that she will be able to hear again after her surgery." -Kanha's Mother

Tha Gay is a 26-year-old mobile health worker. He studied medicine at the refugee camp where he lived in high school to pursue his dream: helping people in need of basic healthcare in rural areas of southern Burma. But at the moment, Tha Gay is not able to do this work that he is passionate about. About a month ago, Tha Gay was in a motorbike accident while transferring clinic supplies to a remote area. He suffered a severe fracture in his right arm. His friends helped him get back to the clinic where he works to access the free healthcare there—a bandage and painkillers for his arm. However, Tha Gay did not try to access more advanced medical treatment for his condition in Burma because he could not afford the cost and difficult transportation due to bad weather. Currently, Tha Gay is not able to move his right arm nor lift up, grab anything, or wash his clothing. He feels guilty that his broken arm has taken him out of commission for his medical work. There are currently only a few health workers at the clinic where he is employed, and many patients come there during the rainy season for diseases like malaria. We can help Tha Gay gets back to work soon. For $1,500, doctors will perform an open reduction internal fixation operation on his arm. In this procedure, they will surgically align the broken parts of his arm, then will set them in place using a rod or screw. This implanted equipment will guide the bone as it heals to make sure it grows back in the correct position. The requested sum will also cover the cost of the week-long hospital stay that Tha Gay will need to recuperate from the procedure. "After my fractured arm is healed, I will continue work as a health worker at the clinic because I want to help people get basic healthcare," Tha Gay shared.

Lay was burnt by acid while working on her rubber plantation in Cambodia. The plantation uses acid to prevent coagulation of the rubber, and an acid bottle fell onto Lay's face at work. This caused an acid contracture burn, or tightening of the skin, on her lip and nose. Lay is 41 years old, and married with one son and four daughters. One of her daughters brought her to Children's Surgical Centre for care. Currently, Lay is uncomfortable, and she hopes surgery can improve her condition. For $392, Lay will undergo surgery to treat her burns. Surgeons will perform an excision and advancement flap surgery to release the scar tissue and replace the area with healthy skin. "I've never had surgery," Lay said, "and I hope this will help me. When I am healed I will go home and continue working." Let's help make treatment possible for Lay.

Rong, a 65-year-old man from Cambodia, is married with one son, six daughters, and 10 grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda, listening to the monks pray on the radio, and reading books. One year ago, Rong developed a cataract in each eye. This has caused him blurred vision and he can't see everything clearly, work well, or go outside on his own. He traveled three hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) with his daughter. After a small-incision cataract surgery, and intra-ocular lens implant in each eye, Rong will be able to see everything clearly again. This surgery costs $225 and will be performed by the medical team at CSC. Rong shares his hopes for after surgery: "I will easily read a book, and can go outside without disturbing another."