Korn is a loving grandfather from Cambodia. He and his wife are retired rice farmers and live in Kampong Thom province with their youngest son. Their youngest son was the first in the family to receive a decent education, and is able to help support his parents and extended family by working in customer relations at a local bank. They have four other children living nearby, and twenty grandchildren. In his free time, Korn likes praying and volunteering at the pagoda in his village. Around two years ago, Korn developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Korn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On November 1, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. He shared, "I hope after surgery I can see better as I am eating, start to read again, and take good care of my grandchildren."

Huot is a 9 year-old 3rd grader. He lives in Kandal province with his paternal grandparents and two sisters. His favorite subject is Cambodian studies, and he enjoys reading Cambodian fairy tales. In his free time, he likes playing with his friends, and getting fried fish from a street cart near his house. Around five months ago, Huot began experiencing a sore throat, trouble sleeping, and difficulty swallowing. Frequent illness caused him to miss school. Huot was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Huot, which is scheduled to take place on September 11. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Huot of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. His grandmother shared, "I just want him to feel healthy again and go back to school."

Sopheakdey is a 42 year old tuk-tuk driver, living with his wife and two children in Kandal province, Cambodia. Sopheakdey's wife works in a clothes factory, while Sopheakdey stays at home with their five year old daughter, since his condition prevents him from being able to work. For the past four years, Sopheakdey has been suffering from chronic back pain. While he has no history of trauma, it is difficult for him to bend, twist, or stoop down; any work or activity causes pain. His legs feel weak and clumsy, so he stays home. Because he cannot work, he worries about being able to feed his family. Fortunately, a relative told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Surgeons have diagnosed him with spondylolysis, a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae, the small bones that make up the spinal column. This weakness can occur with no known injury. The most common cause in adults is degenerative arthritis. On August 3rd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre plan to do a posterolateral lumbar fusion, to stabilize his spine and decrease his pain. Now, Sopheakdey needs your help to defray the cost of the $1500 operation. The money he receives will cover surgery, medication, and post-operative care. Sopheakdey said: "I hope that my pain will be less after surgery, and I can go back to work to help my wife and children."

Gladness is a 5-year-old smart and vibrant girl who enjoys interacting with all kinds of different people. She is the firstborn in a family of two children, and her parents make a living by selling thrift clothes and shoes in Arusha city. Gladness has faced significant health challenges since she was one year old. During playtime she tripped and fell, resulting in an injury to her leg. Her father promptly took her to the hospital, where they received ointment to massage the affected area. Unfortunately, two years later, she had another accident that dislocated her right knee. It was during this hospital visit that the medical professionals discovered a previous, untreated fracture from her first accident, which has caused other problems. Gladness and her father traveled over 180 kilometers to the medical center and our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund her surgery, which is scheduled for June 27th. Treatment will hopefully restore Gladness's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Gladness’s father shared, "I hope this treatment will help my daughter. I wish for her to grow up without any abnormalities."

Bramwel is a 10-year-old boy from Makindu, in Makueni county in Kenya. He lives with his grandmother while his mother works in Nairobi. Because he was born deaf he attends a school that specializes in educating deaf students. Since birth, Bramwel has lived with a clubfoot, which significantly affects his mobility. He walks on tiptoe and falls often. His grandmother brought him to the clinic in Makindu, seeking help for her grandson. With the assistance of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Bramwel is now scheduled to undergo angular deformity correction surgery on May 8th. This surgery will enable him to walk confidently and continue his studies. Bramwel and his family need your help to fund this $1,224 procedure. “As the grandmother of Bramwel, I would love to see him walk like other children and continue living a normal life. Any help to cater for his surgery will mean a lot to us,” Bramwel’s grandmother told us.

Ruraza is a cheerful and confident 75-year-old man from Uganda who works as a banana farmer. Ruraza loves music and is part of his church's choir. He has eight children: three sons and five daughters. His daughters are farmers, and his sons are welders, mechanics, or motorbike taxi operators. For about three years, Ruraza has had a bilateral inguinal hernia. This condition makes it painful for him to lift heavy objects, do strenuous work, or walk long distances. Fortunately, on April 18th, Ruraza will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $230 to fund Ruraza's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently! Ruraza said: "I have had this pain for quite a long time. I hope, given your support, I will get well."

Fabriana is a very happy 14-month-old baby girl from the highlands of Kenya, where her parents are small-scale farmers. She lives with them, her older sibling, and her grandparents in a semi-permanent house where her parents plant vegetables for sale. Fabriana has an umbilical protrusion that causes her pain, especially after she eats. Her family brought her to a clinic that prescribed her medication, but her condition worsened. Fabriana stopped eating regularly and has not been as playful as before. Her worried mother brought her to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for further diagnosis. Surgeons there will perform surgery on March 27th to alleviate her symptoms. Now, African Mission Healthcare is asking for $737 to help support this treatment. Fabriana’s mother said,”I am so uncomfortable when my baby cries with pain because of the hernia. Lately, she has not been eating well, and her weight has gone down. Kindly help her so that she may grow in a good way.”

Oudam is a 35-year-old father of three from Cambodia. He is from Kampong Cham province, where he works as a construction worker alongside his wife. Together they have three sons, all young students. He enjoys spending time playing sports with his kids and checking news and updates from friends on Facebook. Around fourteen years ago, Oudam had an ear infection that caused abnormal skin growth to develop in his ear. For this reason, Oudam experiences hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear discharge. It is difficult for him to hear and communicate with colleagues and his family. Oudam traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 8th, he will undergo a procedure in his left ear to remove the abnormal skin growth. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $926 to fund this procedure and covers Oudam's medications, supplies, and inpatient care. He hopes that he can feel healthy and improve his hearing with surgery.

Trizah is an 18-month-old baby girl who is especially playful around her mother. Trizah lives with her parents and three siblings in Kenya, where her mother works as a casual laborer washing clothes, and her father is employed at a welding workshop. Because of the hydrocephalus she was diagnosed with early on, Trizah has already undergone more than three surgeries in her young life. She had a shunt insertion procedure done a few days after her birth, which needed to be revised in May 2022. Her hydrocephalus has worsened, requiring the placement of two external ventricular drains in 2023. Sadly, the revised shunt has failed, and Trizah is now in need of another surgery to have a new shunt inserted to drain the excess fluids in her brain and alleviate the intracranial pressure caused by the fluids. Trizah also needs surgery to stop the convulsions she has been experiencing, and prevent the severe physical and developmental delays that result from untreated hydrocephalus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of the surgery to treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 22nd at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. The excess fluid will be drained from Trizah's brain, reducing the intracranial pressure, and greatly improving her quality of life. With proper treatment, Trizah should develop into a strong and healthy young girl. Trizah’s mother says: “She has been having surgeries since birth. Her head is increasing in size, and she is experiencing scary convulsions. I just hope this treatment will help her to recover.”

Panha is a 19-year-old male from Cambodia who lives in Kampong Speu province. He is the second child in his family and has three siblings- two brothers and one sister. Due to his disability, he is currently unable to work. In January 2022, he was hit by a motorbike and fractured his right femur. He went to a government hospital and doctors used hardware to heal his fracture. Now that the fracture has closed, he would like to remove the hardware in order to increase his mobility and move with ease. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 3rd, Panha will undergo a hardware removal procedure. This procedure will help him fully rehabilitate his leg so he can find a job to support himself. Panha and his family need help raising $304 to fund his procedure. After the operation, he hopes that he will be able to return to his previous job or find a new one.

KimMuoy is a baby girl who lives with her parents and grandmother. KimMuoy's parents work in a nearby garment factory, so her grandmother cares for her during the daytime. KimMuoy's favorite things are being with her family, milk, and playing with her toys. Since birth, KimMuoy has had an extra thumb on her left hand. KimMuoy's parents are worried about how this will affect the use of her hand and its appearance. KimMuoy's parents drove three hours to reach Children's Surgical Centre, where the surgeons can amputate the extra digit, and give her parents some relief from their worries. CSC is helping KimMuoy's parents raise $479 to cover the cost of this surgery. KimMuoy's mother shared, "I hope my daughter can use her hand well."

66-year-old Anna is a widow from Malawi where she lives with her two daughters, one of whom runs a saloon while the other sells second-hand clothing. Anna is in the business of renting houses. Last year, Anna noticed an asymptomatic swelling on the left side of her neck. She visited the nearest clinic where she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for tests on her thyroid. Anna was diagnosed with a goiter and was informed she would need surgery. Surgeons at Partners in Hope Hospital are scheduled to perform a thyroidectomy on May 3rd, during which all or part of Anna's thyroid will be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,015 to cover the costs of Anna's procedure and care. Anna is hoping to get better after surgery so that she can continue supporting her family as a caring mother. Anna believes that her two daughters are the greatest priority in her life and that she has to be in good health for their sake as their only remaining parent. Full of smiles, Anna said: “Thank you, sponsors. I did not know this day would come in my life; I can smile again.”