Surjeet is a 26-year-old man from India. He drives an electric auto rickshaw as a daily wage earner. When Surjeet was four years old, he sustained burns while sitting around a bonfire during winter. For around two months, he was treated at home by a nurse working at a government hospital. Twelve years ago, Surjeet, who lives in Bihar, travelled over 300 kilometers to visit our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, for specialized care. He had extensive post-burn contractures or tightening of the skin around the neck, arms, hands, and lower lip. He has undergone two surgeries for the release of his neck and left axillary contractures. Surjeet needs another surgery to help him regain strength and mobility in his right wrist and hand. On April 16th, he will undergo burn contracture release surgery, and he needs help raising $1,442 to fund his treatment and care. Surjeet has high hopes that this surgery will help him regain the function of his right hand. Surjeet's father shared, "With the help of G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital, I hope that my son will be able to study further with the promise of a better future after this surgery."

Rai is a 15-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Siem Reap Province with his parents and siblings, where they share a modest home. His entire family works together as construction workers, putting in long, physically demanding hours each day to support one another and make a living. In his free time, he enjoys playing football and helping his parents with work. His favorite meal is sour fish soup with fried vegetables. When he was seven years old, Rai had a severe burn on his left arm in an accident involving hot glue at his parents’ worksite in Thailand. After the injury, he developed a burn scar contracture on his left arm, which limits his movement and sometimes causes pain. This makes it difficult for him to carry out physical work and affects his daily activities. When Rai's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for eight hours seeking treatment. On March 19th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve movement in his arm, reduce pain, and allow him to work more comfortably. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Rai's mother said, “After the surgery, I truly hope my son will recover well, regain full movement in his arm, and live without pain so he can work comfortably and have a better, brighter future.”

Jana is a four-year-old young girl from El Bagre, Colombia. She is an active, cheerful preschooler who loves spending time with her family and enjoys music and dancing. Even at a young age, Jana shows a caring heart and dreams of becoming a doctor one day so she can help people, or animals, in need. Unfortunately, Jana has developed severe dental caries and infections. Because of her young age, she requires extensive dental treatment under general anesthesia to safely address the problem. At times, Jana feels sad because other children tease her about her teeth, and she hopes her teeth can be fixed. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund treatment for her infection and severe tooth decay under general anesthesia on March 20th. Doctors hope this care will allow Jana to grow up healthy, free from pain, and able to smile with confidence. Jana's mother shares, "To anyone who wants to do their bit to help my daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are a low-income family; I am a single mother, I do odd jobs, and unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to cover the treatment she needs, as it is very expensive. God bless every person who can help make this surgery possible. My daughter dreams of the day when she can smile without fear or pain. She always tells me, 'Mom, when I have my pretty teeth, I'm going to laugh all the time, and they won't hurt anymore.' That is her greatest wish, and hopefully we will see it come true very soon. May God reward you for your support, solidarity, and prayers."

Srey Neang is 18 years old and a twelfth-grade student from a small village in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers. She is the second of four siblings; her older brother works in a garment factory, while her two younger siblings are in school. She enjoys studying literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and she hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and helping with housework. Her favorite food is spicy stir-fried chicken. Srey Neang has had scoliosis since she was 13 years old, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often forming a “C” or “S” shape. As she has grown, the curve in her spine has progressively worsened and now bends toward the right side. This condition causes frequent pain and makes it difficult for her to sit for extended periods. Because of this, she struggles to concentrate in class and feels worried about being bullied by her classmates due to her appearance. She also experiences difficulty walking, which further affects her daily life. In the past, Srey Neang had not sought hospital treatment because her family could not afford the cost. Recently, a relative informed her family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 6th, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal “growing rod” into her spine to help correct the curve and allow for continued spinal growth. Her family can only afford to contribute $75 and needs help with the remaining $1,425. This will cover the costs of surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Srey Neang's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that Srey Neang will no longer have any pain so that she can do a good job at school and focus on her studies.”

Chan is a 31-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Cham province with his wife, who is a rice farmer. He has three children; his eldest child works in a garment factory, while his two younger children are still students. In his free time, Chan helps his wife in the rice fields and takes care of his children. Twenty days ago, Chan was involved in a traffic accident between a motorcycle and a car. The car ran over his foot, causing serious injury to his right foot. Several days after the accident, a local clinic amputated his 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes. However, he still has a degloving injury, a traumatic injury where skin and underlying soft tissues are torn away. Chan has a large open wound and experiences pain and stiffness at the site. He cannot walk and needs to use crutches to maintain balance, which has prevented him from working. When Chan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On January 16th, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to close the massive wound, prevent severe infection, and restore function by replacing lost skin. The treatment will reduce pain, improve wound healing, and help Chan regain the ability to walk more easily. Chan can contribute $25 to his care, but needs help to raise $558 more to fund his treatment. Chan said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will be able to walk without pain again, so I can return to my job and earn some money to support my family."

Mu Tha is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, her son, and her daughter in a refugee camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Mu Tha and her family have been living in the camp since 2006. Both of her children go to school in the camp. Mu Tha works as a health worker in the camp's clinic. Her husband occasionally works as a motorbike taxi driver in the camp. In late 2024, Mu Tha has been experiencing sharp pain in her right lower abdomen and back pain. She has been diagnosed with a myoma with a right ovarian cyst. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Mu Tha's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Mu Tha is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on January 8th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this procedure will help Mu Tha be free of pain and able to resume her work. Due to her condition, Mu Tha has had to take time off from work while going for her treatment. She said, “I want to get surgery soon so that I can work happily and free from stress and worry. I would also like to say thank you very much to your organization and all your donors for your generous support."

Makoye is a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in a family of eight. His parents work in cotton farming to sustain their household. Makoye was diagnosed with right genu valgus, which means his legs bow inward at the knee so that the knees touch. 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. Because of the long distance between his home and school, Makoye found it increasingly difficult to attend classes. Over time, he became discouraged and eventually dropped out of school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $631 to fund treatment for Makoye. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment should restore Makoye's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Makoye says, "I miss going to school with my friends, I hope this treatment will make it possible for me to go back to school and continue studying."

Aung is a 42-year-old man from Burma. He lives by himself in a refugee camp in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. He is unemployed, and the community provides him with free accommodation, food, and basic healthcare, as he has no relatives to look after him. Sometimes he weeds by hand in someone’s yard for some money. Aung underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for reversal. In Aung's case, his colostomy requires reversal to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of a reverse colostomy for Aung. The surgery is scheduled to take place on November 11th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Aung said, “When the doctor talked about the treatment cost, I felt sad, and I decided not to undergo the treatment since I have nothing, and I cannot afford it. But when I know that BCMF and donors are going to support my treatment, I feel happy. When I recover, I am going to find a job and earn money to support myself.”

Mu is a 75-year-old retired woman from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her son, daughter-in-law, three grandsons and two granddaughters. They moved to the refugee camp in April 2023 from their home in Bango Division, Burma, in order to escape the fighting and airstrikes in their village. Mu’s son, two older grandsons and older granddaughter work as agricultural day laborers in the camp. Her younger grandson and granddaughter are students in the camp. Mu is experiencing severe lower right back pain, nausea, and cannot eat. Her urine is cloudy, and she cannot stand or even sit up fully due to her pain. Her family is worried about the financial burden of treatment and their lack of access to care. Mu was diagnosed with kidney stones and physicians at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, determined that Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) could resolve her symptoms. ESWL is a procedure that can break up the stones in the urinary system and the fragments will exit in the urine. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 6th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Mu's son expressed, “I see her in pain, but I cannot find the money to get her treatment.” Mu’s daughter-in-law said, “We are sad for her but happy that she will receive support. Thank you for helping her and finding a way for her to receive treatment. She has suffered for a long time.”

Thol is a grandmother from Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. She is an 80-year-old widow and has two daughters, four sons, and twelve grandchildren. Her husband passed away almost twenty years ago, and Thol has lived with her children since then. She is currently living with one of her daughters, who works in a handbag factory. At home, Thol likes cooking and listening to Buddhist prayers on the radio. About one year ago, Thol developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Thol learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On October 2nd, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Thol and her family can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $213 more to fund her procedure and care. Thol shared, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better I can recognize my family members and take better care of myself."

In is a 24-year-old furniture factory worker from Cambodia. In lives in rural Kampong Chhnang province with his parents and two siblings. In and his older brother have been working in a furniture factory to support the family, and his younger sister is still in high school. Both of his parents earn a small income by working as rice farmers. At home, In enjoys checking his social media and playing volleyball in the village. In late 2023, he was in a motorbike accident, which caused a nerve injury in his right arm and shoulder. He underwent an operation, which has improved his arm function. However, he is unable to move his fingers, which makes it difficult for him to use his hand. He also experiences pain in his wrist. He has reduced his working hours and finds it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. When In learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On August 7th, surgeons at CSC will perform a wrist fusion procedure. This procedure will alleviate the pain in his wrist and enhance his everyday function. In can contribute $100 but needs help to raise the additional $559 needed for his surgery. In shared, "I hope I can use my hand without pain and work more in the factory to support my family."

Gift is nine years old and a fifth grader from Kenya. She is the third born in a family of four. She loves playing, singing, and dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Gift was only two years old when her legs first started curving outward. As the severity of her condition became clearer, her father began a desperate search for answers. He took her from one hospital to another, hoping someone would explain what was happening. But every visit ended the same; doctors could not identify the cause or offer a solution. “At that time, I didn’t know how bad it could become,” her father said. Mbithi said. The hospital trips drained not only the family’s hope but also their finances. After many consultations, he was finally told that surgery was needed. Even though he wanted the best for his daughter, the cost of the treatment was far beyond what he could afford. Gift was diagnosed with genu varus, a misalignment of her knees, affecting the position of her legs and feet. As she grew older, her legs worsened, and every step became painful. Walking to school was a struggle, and sometimes her friends would run ahead, leaving her behind in tears. “It was heartbreaking to see Gift walking like that,” her father shared. Hope finally came when a friend told him about our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. There, Gift underwent surgery to correct her right leg, and the results brought great relief to her family. She is now back at the hospital for another surgery to correct her left leg, bringing her one step closer to walking without pain and living the life she dreams of. Gift is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Gift's procedure and care. Gift's father shared, “My prayer is that she gets well and has her legs straightened so she can live a normal life. After treatment, I hope she will continue with school and achieve her dreams in the future.”