Panha is a 14-year-old student who needs spinal surgery. His parents are both farmers, and he has one younger sister. He loves to read stories at school, and wants to be a policeman when he gets older. Panha was born with scoliosis. This condition has made it difficult for him to walk or sit up for a long time, and he often feels discomfort before going to sleep. It is difficult for him to join his friends in sports such as volleyball or soccer. He also occasionally has difficulty breathing due to pain. Panha and his parents have come to Children's Surgical Centre, where doctors will be able to perform a spinal surgery to put in place implants that will correct the curve of his spine. He will undergo this procedure on May 25th. Once he has recovered, Panha will no longer experience pain or discomfort, and will be able to walk easily. Panha shared, "I want to play sports with my friends and I will practice running and getting stronger after I am healthy from my surgery."

Amos is a three-year-old boy and the third born in a family of four children. Amos’s father works at construction sites while his mother works at home to take care of their home and family. Amos was born with a condition known as Blount's disease, or bowing of both legs. The condition has greatly affected his mobility and he cannot walk for a long distances or stand. He is almost school-aged, but unfortunately cannot attend school because of the severity of his condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Amos to receive treatment. Amos is scheduled to undergo surgery on May 9th. Now, AMH is requesting $1,224 to fund Amos's procedure. After the surgery, he will be able to walk well, stand for long periods of time, and even begin school! Amos's father shared, “my desire as a parent is to see my son walking like other children. Any support will be highly appreciated."

Saw Moo is a seven-year-old boy who lives with his parents and older sister in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Saw Moo is a student in kindergarten and his sister goes to primary school. In his free time, Saw Moo enjoys playing hide and seek outside. Around mid-May 2020, Saw Moo began to experience blurry vision in his right eye, making it increasingly difficult to for him to see clearly. Saw Moo was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, he could lose vision completely. Saw Moo is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach his retina and our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund is raising $1,500 for his treatment. After his surgery, there is hope for Saw Moo's vision to be restored so that he is able to resume his daily activities comfortably. Saw Moo's aunt shared, “My nephew is a hard-working student. You do not need to tell him to read [or study] because he loves to do it. He is amongst the top 10 students in his class. I want him to regain vision in his right eye and to continue his studies so that he can become a medic. His mother is ill and cannot accompany him [during his treatment]. If my nephew becomes a medic or health worker, he can look after his mother and his community.”

Samuel is a young student from Kenya. He is the third child in a family of four. His mother is a widow who is raising the family on her own. His father passed away three years ago and his mother works as a manual laborer washing clothes for a living. Around November 2020, Samuel fell from a bridge and landed in water resulting in multiple fractures of his pelvis, elbow, and femur. These fractures have made him immobile and unable to use his limbs. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 8th, Samuel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him heal and walk again. He will also not be in pain anymore. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,094 to fund this procedure. Samuel’s mother says, “My son cannot stop crying, and he is in so much pain. He cannot walk or use his hand. Kindly help Samuel walk again.”

Chhorn is a 56-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Chhorn is married with two sons and three grandchildren. Her husband is also a rice farmer. In her free time she enjoys listening to monks pray on the radio. Three years ago, Chhorn developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her irritation, tearing, and photophobia. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Chhorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours with her son seeking treatment. On September 10th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Chhorn said, "I hope after surgery my eye can have improved vision so I can help my family work on the farm, do housework, and take care of my grandchildren. I want to be able to go outside on my own easily."

Phearin is a 24-year-old from Cambodia. He has three older brothers who are all married. When he is not working, Phearin enjoys playing football, listening to music, playing games on his phone, and meeting up with his friends in the evening. In August, Phearin was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a clavicle fracture and paralysis of his right arm. His family took him to a private clinic where the fracture was treated. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right 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. He is unable to lift his arm and he cannot work. Phearin traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure. Phearin said, "I really hope I can regain use of my arm so I can return to working as soon as possible."

Joyce is the oldest of three siblings and likes helping her mother do household chores at home. She also has a green thumb and enjoys helping her father on his farm. She is in seventh grade and her favorite subject is English. Joyce dreams of being a future doctor. In June of 2019, Joyce's family noticed an unusual curving of her spine. Currently, Joyce has trouble balancing while she walks and has experienced lower self-esteem. Surgery will correct the curve in her spine, improve her confidence, and enable her to continue her education and achieve her aspiration of becoming a doctor. Joyce's family has raised funds for half of the cost of her surgery with the help of friends and well-wishers. They are asking for Watsi's support to cover the remaining cost of their daughter's surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the remaining cost of her surgery and care. “My joy would be to get treated so that I can continue with my studies without needing to hide my back,” Joyce shared. Her parents also expressed, “We are pleading for support so that our daughter can undergo surgery and continue with her normal life like other children.”

Brighton is three-year-old boy and the youngest in his family of nine children. Brighton is a friendly and playful boy. Brighton's parents have been wanting to enroll him in school and start kindergarten but they are concerned because Brighton's right foot is deformed after being involved in a fire accident two years ago, making walking for him difficult. Brighton was left at home sleeping while his mother went out to fetch water. His older siblings were inside the house playing and one of them took a matchbox and started playing with it. The fire caught the bed in which Brighton was sleeping in. The oldest child seeing the fire ran and called their mother who rushed in to save Brighton. He was saved, though he sustained burns on his right foot and was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully Brighton was treated, his wound healed, and was able to walk. However as time went on the scars around his foot contracted to pull on his toes, deforming his foot and making it difficult for him to walk well. His parents tried to seek treatment for him but the cost turned out to be expensive for them to afford. Both parents are small scale farmers and their income is not enough to support the family and cover Brighton's treatment cost. They are asking for help. Brighton’s mother says, “We would love to see our son’s foot well so that he can be able to walk like other normal children, but the cost of treatment is too high for us to afford. Please help us.”

Lak is a 41-year old rice farmer from Cambodia. He has been married for 23 years and has three sons and one daughter. His favorite pastimes include feeding the chickens and pigs near his home, planting vegetables, and watching boxing on television. In November of 2019, Lak was hit by a vehicle and fractured his left leg. After receiving initial treatment at a nearby hospital, Lak still experiences swelling and pain in his leg, and he is unable to walk easily on his own. When Lak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On March 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove the infected skin from his injuries and to fit Lak with hardware that will allow his fracture to heal. Now, Lak needs help to fund this $273 procedure. He shared, "I hope that surgery will fix the bone in my leg and I will no longer have any pain or swelling and can walk well again."

Wai is a 33-year-old homemaker from Thailand. She lives with her husband, son, and daughter on the border of Thailand. She is a homemaker, and her husband is a day laborer. Since Wai injured her left eye, her husband had to stop working to look after their children, since her son has a heart condition and her daughter has asthma. Since a young boy accidentally shot her in the left eye with a slingshot, Wai's left eye has been in pain. Her left pupil is covered by a white spot, and she also cannot see clearly. Wai feels stressed and depressed about her eye, and she has lost her appetite. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a lens replacement surgery for Wai. On October 27th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Wai's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Wai shared, “I will try to be a good mother and make sure my children receive an education because I do not want my children to be uneducated like me. If I get better, I will always bring and pick up my children from school. I will look after them full time so that my husband can go back to work and save money.”

Pov is a 66-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has six children, fifteen grandchildren, and enjoys listening to the monks pray on the radio in her spare time. Three months ago, Pov developed entropion of the eyelids. This means that her eyelids are turned inwards, which causes her eyelashes to rub against her eyes. It is difficult for her to see and she often has pain, tearing, and blurry vision. Pov traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On December 19th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to repair her eyelids. Now, Pov needs help to raise $212 to fund this procedure. "I hope that the irritation and tearing will go away and I will be able to see better and go outside on my own again," shared Pov.

Sara is a 27-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. Sara and his wife were married five years ago and they have one two-year-old son. Sara and his wife are both construction workers. He enjoys taking care of his son, doing housework, and listening to the radio. Earlier this month, Sara was shocked by electricity when working on the rooftop of a house. It caused electricity burns on both of his hands. He first went to a provincial government hospital for treatment but left when the only option they presented to him was to amputate both hands. He is now unable to use his hands. When Sara learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On September 29th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to to help him preserve and heal both hands. Now, he needs help to fund this $787 procedure. Sara said, "I hope I can regain the use of my hands as soon as possible. My wife and I are worried so much about the loss of my hands because I will not be able to support my family without them."