Kim Eang is a 38-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She is married and a mother of two sons. Kim Eang was diagnosed with a recurrent ameloblastoma, a benign tumor, of the right lower jaw. She went to a hospital in Phnom Penh, where she underwent three tumor removal surgeries and received reconstruction plate implants. However, after surgery, her symptoms did not improve. Kim Eang developed another tumor. A CT scan shows that the second tumor formed around one of her reconstruction plate implants. The tumor is causing her pain and difficulty eating. Having heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from a relative, Kim Eang and her husband traveled four hours to CSC. On January 17, Kim Eang will undergo surgery to remove the mass and plate. CSC is asking for $224 in funds to cover hospital, physician, and medical supply fees. This surgery will allow Kim Eang to feel comfortable again.

“Keyner is a happy baby. He loves to play with his neighbors and cousins. The other kids enjoy having him around, and often times call him hermanito (‘little brother’) even if they are unrelated to him," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). This baby brother to all is Keyner, a six-month-old boy from Guatemala. Shortly after his birth, Keyner’s father left his family. Keyner lives with his mother, who has been unable to breastfeed due to lactation failure. Keyner has been subsiding on “atol, typically consisting of boiled water and pulverized corn," says WK. "However, without the immune resistance from him mother’s breast milk, Keyner’s immune system has become extremely weak. He was admitted to the hospital for 15 days due to a high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. He is rapidly losing weight and in constant need of medical attention.” Thankfully, lactation failure is easily solved. With $1,220, WK will provide “nutrition education, formula supplementation, and deworming medication" for Keyner and his mother. "His diarrhea due to a parasitic infection will stop, he will recoup previously lost weight, and his immune system will strengthen," WK adds. “I want my child to be able to study and become a professional… not like me. I have never studied, and now I cannot get a job to support us," shares Keyner's mother. "I want to see my baby grown, to see him smiling and walking. Above all I want to be the one to bring up my son.”

Mistire is just 3 weeks old. Her mother wants nothing more than for her first child to grow up and lead a healthy normal life. Mistire was born with an obvious mass on her back and weakness in her legs. Her doctors diagnosed her with spina bifida, a condition that causes the spinal cord to protrude through vertebrae in the back that are not fully formed. The condition is very serious and Mistire risks death from infection and the possibility of water collecting on the brain. With surgery costing $1300, doctors can close the space between the vertebrae in Mistire’s back and stop the risk of death from infection. If water is found to have collected on the brain, they can insert a drain to remove the fluid and reduce the pressure. Following surgery Mistire will require follow up medical assistance but with good care she can expect a long and healthy life.