Piseth is a nine-year-old boy from Cambodia. He wants to be a teacher when he's older, and his favorite food is pork and rice with coca cola. When he was eleven months old, he got injections in his leg from a village clinic to treat his fever. The injection site became very sore over time, and Piseth couldn't move his leg. He has a muscle contracture, which limits mobility, so he can't bend or straighten his knee properly. When Piseth learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. On January 12, surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure of his right leg to help him improve mobility. Now, Piseth's family needs help to fund this $413 procedure.

Mu is a 27-year-old farmer from Burma. She rents a patch of land with her husband and farms. She has two children. Mu experienced abdominal pain and visited Mae Tao Clinic, our medical partner's care center. She received medication, which temporarily alleviated the pain but did not eliminate her symptoms. She has been diagnosed with gallstone pancreatitis. Mu says, “It is a sharp pain and it comes on without warning. Sometimes I can feel it all the way in my back.” Mu has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Mu's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Mu is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on February 14. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Mu's procedure and care.

Sophat is a father of three from Cambodia. He works as a nurse in a remote provincial hospital. He is busy with three kids, and enjoys gardening around his house, particularly his flowers and mango trees. For the last three years, he has been experiencing hip pain due to avascular necrosis. He can only walk about ten meters, which isn't suitable for his job. He's in pain and it's also affecting his sleep. Fortunately, Sophat learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Sophat of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 10, and Sophat needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "It's difficult to work and I want to support my family."

Vy is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has four children and one grandchild. She enjoys cooking and has a small food stall in the local market. Six months ago, she started experiencing debilitating pain in her left leg. She cannot walk or work, and she is in chronic pain. Fortunately, Vy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Vy of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 16, and Vy needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. She says, "I hope I can walk again without pain."

Martin is a young student from Kenya. He wants to become a pastor. He is in sixth grade and has four siblings. Martin was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Martin has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Martin will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 29. AMHF is requesting $535 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. “I want to be a pastor when I grow up,” shares Martin.

Atwendeza is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She is married with four children. Her husband works on construction sites in order to provide for their family. Five years ago, Atwendeza began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck disfigurement, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Atwendeza receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 16 at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $240, and she and her family need help raising money. Atwendeza says, “I hope to continue with cultivation after surgery.”