Risham is a three-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh, India. He lives with his mother and older brother. His father passed away last year, and his mother, a homemaker, has cared for the family on her own since then. Risham is described as a playful little boy who loves to have fun. When Risham was just one year old, he accidentally put his hand in hot milk, suffering severe burns. As the burns healed, the scarring caused his right index, middle, ring, and little fingers to contract, limiting the use of his hand. He wants to continue school and write, but because of the contracture, he currently uses his left hand. Risham's mother learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and sought treatment. On September 10th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help him regain mobility and function in his right hand. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Risham's mother shared, "I feel hopeful, and it would be good if he gets the treatment; he can start writing again."

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”

Surjeet is a 26-year-old man from India. He drives an electric auto rickshaw as a daily wage earner. When Surjeet was four years old, he sustained burns while sitting around a bonfire during winter. For around two months, he was treated at home by a nurse working at a government hospital. Twelve years ago, Surjeet, who lives in Bihar, travelled over 300 kilometers to visit our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, for specialized care. He had extensive post-burn contractures or tightening of the skin around the neck, arms, hands, and lower lip. He has undergone two surgeries for the release of his neck and left axillary contractures. Surjeet needs another surgery to help him regain strength and mobility in his right wrist and hand. On April 16th, he will undergo burn contracture release surgery, and he needs help raising $1,442 to fund his treatment and care. Surjeet has high hopes that this surgery will help him regain the function of his right hand. Surjeet's father shared, "With the help of G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital, I hope that my son will be able to study further with the promise of a better future after this surgery."

Ibrahim is a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the firstborn in a family of six children. After his father passed away, his mother became the sole provider, raising her children through small-scale farming, growing cassava and sweet potatoes. Despite the challenges he faces, Ibrahim has a warm smile and gentle spirit. He loves spending time with his siblings and dreams of returning to school one day and helping her mother with farming activities. Ibrahim was diagnosed with severe bilateral genu varus. his legs bow inward at the knee so that they 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. Walking long distances has always been painful, and as his condition worsened, he was unable to continue his education. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Ibrahim. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 17th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Ibrahim's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Ibrahim says, “I always wish to help my mother with farming but she always says 'no' because of my legs.”

Angel is a 9-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the second-born in a family of three and is known as a quiet and gentle child. Angel lives with her family, where her father works as a tour guide to support the household. According to her father, Angel was born without any visible deformity. However, as she grew, her right foot gradually began to curve inward. The family sought medical help early, but the treatment was unsuccessful. Despite repeated attempts to find help, the family struggled to get effective treatment. Their hope was renewed when a relative working with Kafika House informed them about the services available and encouraged them to seek further care. Angel has now been diagnosed with clubfoot and is scheduled for a clubfoot correction treatment on her right foot. Her condition affects her walking, limits her participation in daily activities, and exposes her to emotional and social challenges. Fortunately, Angel's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on January 26th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,119 to fund Angel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will have the opportunity to regain mobility, confidence, and the ability to fully engage in school and community life. Angel's father says, "It will be nice knowing my daughter does not have to live with the leg condition for life."

Reaksa is a hardworking barber from Takeo province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his sister, who works in a garment factory. His father is a truck driver, and his mother also works in a garment factory. In his free time, Reaksa enjoys listening to music and helping his parents with daily tasks around the home. In 2016, Reaksa fell down the stairs at his home, injuring his hip. Since then, he has suffered from ankylosis of the hip with severe flexion deformity, which makes it difficult for him to walk, sit, and maintain a normal posture. He also experiences back pain when sitting for long periods. After the accident, he was treated at a government hospital with medication, but his condition did not improve. He was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), where doctors treated him with a cast. It initially relieved his pain and allowed him to walk without support. However, over time, his posture gradually worsened, and the hip deformity became more noticeable. On March 16th, Reaksa will undergo an uncemented hip replacement procedure on his left hip. Reaksa can contribute $100 for his treatment, and needs help to raise an additional $1,400 to cover surgery, a special prosthesis, medications, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. Reaksa shared, “My hip still makes it hard to sit and walk properly, and I worry about my posture getting worse. I hope the treatment at CSC will help me move more comfortably and live without pain.”

Elizabeth is a business lady from Malawi. She is married and has one child aged 28. She runs a small grocery shop. For about one year, Elizabeth has been experiencing pain on the right side of her abdomen. She visited the hospital and received pain‑relieving medication. However, the pain persisted, accompanied by a sensation of abdominal fullness. Six months later, further assessments were carried out. Her condition has significantly affected her ability to run her business, resulting in reduced income that is barely enough for her upkeep. Her husband is unemployed and also depends entirely on her shop. Elizabeth was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, which are abnormal growths that develop in a woman’s uterus. She needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Elizabeth's surgery. On February 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Elizabeth will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Elizabeth shared, "I wish I could get better to get rid of my pains because I need to concentrate on my business."

Chakriya is a 39-year-old man from Takaeo province, Cambodia. He lives with his wife and two children. His oldest child is in kindergarten, and his youngest child is two years old. His wife stays at home to look after the children and manage household tasks. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home and listening to music. For the past 14 years, Chakriya has been living with ankylosing spondylitis - a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine, causing back pain, stiffness, and inflammation, especially the base of the spine and pelvis. Around one year ago, Chakriya began experiencing pain in his right hip, which has caused difficulty walking and limited his ability to perform daily tasks independently. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his left hip in 2014 with the help of our medical partner. Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Chakriya decided to travel back to CSC for treatment on his right hip. On January 16th, he will undergo a hip replacement procedure, which will cost $1500, including surgery and post-op care. Chakriya and his family can contribute $50, and need support for the remaining cost. Surgeons will operate on his right hip to relieve pain and improve mobility, allowing him to move comfortably and return to work. Chakriya said, "After the surgery, I hope that I will be able to walk easily and no longer have hip pain, so I can do my job properly."