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.”

Oun is A 77-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She previously planted corn and beans. She is divorced and has three daughters and seven grandchildren. She lives with her oldest daughter, who works as a construction laborer. In her free time, she enjoys going to the pagoda and joining religious ceremonies. Oun 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 Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On March 5th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. She can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund her procedure and care. Oun said, "I hope that after the eye surgery, my vision will improve so she can move around more easily, take care of my grandchildren, and help my daughter with housework. I also wish to be able to go to the pagoda and participate in ceremonies at places that are farther from my home."

Dennis is an 18-year-old boy from Kenya. He is being raised by his single mother, who is a casual laborer who relies on seasonal farm work and domestic jobs to provide for Dennis and his three siblings. From infancy, Dennis was a frail child who was frequently ill and required constant care. He experienced significant developmental delays, taking his first steps when he was nearly three years old. While his physical milestones came late, it was his lack of speech that concerned his mother the most. She longed to hear him speak, but Dennis remained unusually quiet. She would talk to him, and he would simply look back at her without responding. Instead of using words, he learned to communicate by lifting or pointing to objects whenever he needed something, a pattern that has continued throughout his life. When Dennis was three years old, he was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where fluid was drained from his ears. Unfortunately, this did not improve his condition. As he grew older, his mother enrolled him in school, but he consistently lagged behind his peers. Over the years, he adapted by relying on lip reading and sign language to communicate. Because of his hearing loss, he depends on watching his teachers' lips closely to follow lessons and understand what is being taught. Despite these challenges, Dennis performed well during his primary school years. However, the transition to secondary school has been much more difficult, as the academic demands have increased. On July 7th, Dennis will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help raising $1,171. The gift of hearing aids would significantly improve Dennis' ability to communicate, participate in class, and reach his full potential. His mother is appealing for support to make this life-changing intervention possible, giving Dennis the opportunity for a brighter and more independent future. "Sometimes when I read aloud in class or say certain words, the other children laugh at me. I want to hear better so I can read and speak with confidence," Dennis said quietly.

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."

Chen is 47 years old and father of three from Cambodia. He lives in Kandal province with his wife and three children. The oldest child works in construction, his second child is a monk, and his youngest child is a university student. Chen has spent the last several years working as a mechanic, but has not been able to work much since his accident. In his free time, Chen enjoys planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables around his home. Two years ago, Chen was involved in a motorbike accident and fell onto his right shoulder, fracturing his right clavicle. After the accident, Chen was taken to Vietnam, where doctors performed surgery and implanted a plate and screws in his right clavicle to align the bone and heal the fracture. Although the fracture healed, Chen continues to experience pain in his right shoulder. This pain affects his ability to use his arm comfortably and has prevented him from continuing his regular hours at work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 8th, Chen will undergo a hardware removal procedure that will reduce his pain and improve the function of his right arm, allowing him to use his arm and carry out his daily activities. His family can contribute $25, but needs help to raise $353 more to fund his procedure and care. Chen said, “I hope that I won't have pain, and I want to work to support my family, and I would feel great if I could do my job again."

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.”

Cecilia is a 10-year-old girl from Malawi. She is the oldest of two children. Her mother sells baked Irish potatoes, while her father is a driver. She is in the fifth grade and is a very bright student. When Cecilia was four years old, her mother observed that Cecilia would experience abdominal pain. She took Cecilia to different hospitals, where Cecilia was given pain medication, but her condition did not improve and worsened over time. This affected her health, her attendance at school, and her ability to perform daily tasks. Cecilia was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she will undergo hernia repair surgery on October 7th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund Cecilia's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Cecilia's mother shared, "I can't wait to see my daughter well and happy again."

Tafach is active and cheerful six-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and his older brother. His mother works as a daily laborer, washing clothes and fetching water for neighbors, while his father farms on other people’s land. Despite their hard work, they often struggle to provide for their family, facing frequent food shortages and relying on the kindness of neighbors for support. Tafach's mother first noticed something was wrong when Tafach was only four days old. He began vomiting and was unable to pass stool, prompting his concerned parents to take him to a nearby hospital. Tafach was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. Tafach’s mother was devastated and broke down in tears, as the family had never encountered such a condition before. However, the doctor reassured them that Tafach’s condition could be corrected through a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction and promptly referred them to a larger public hospital. At the referral hospital, Tafach underwent a colostomy to help create a temporary route for his bowel movements, and the family was given a follow-up appointment. They returned home feeling hopeful yet anxious. A few days later, a neighbor informed them about our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Tafach’s parents reached out and took him to BKMCM for further evaluation. Tafach is now scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Tafach's procedure and care. After his recovery, Tafach will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Tafach's mother expressed hope, saying, "I pray for my child's surgery to be safe and successful, envisioning him thriving like his older brother. I aspire for him to become a dedicated student and a remarkable individual."

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."