Sineth is a 13-year-old 8th grade student from Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia. She lives with her parents and younger sister, who is in Grade 4. Her parents are rice farmers and work hard to support their family. Sineth enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a doctor in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and chatting with her friends. Her favorite food is fried pork with ginger. Sineth has scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. Her spinal curve has gradually worsened over the past three years and is now approximately 50 degrees in the thoracolumbar region. Although she does not currently experience pain, the increasing curvature affects her posture and makes it difficult for her to sit comfortably for long periods. This can make it harder for her to stay comfortable and concentrate during class, and the curvature may continue to worsen as she grows. Sineth's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), by another hospital. They traveled approximately four hours from Kampong Cham to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform posterior spinal fusion to help straighten and stabilize her spine and prevent the curvature from worsening. She needs $1,500 in support to cover the cost of her surgery and related medical care. This treatment will help support her spinal health as she continues to grow and allow her to remain active and continue her education. Sineth's parents said, “We hope that this surgery will help straighten and stabilize our daughter’s spine and prevent her scoliosis from getting worse. We wish for her to grow well, stay active, and continue her studies and daily activities with confidence and comfort.”

Ana is a one-year-old girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who sells vegetables, her dad, who is a locksmith, and her twin sister. When Ana was born, her mom noticed that she couldn't gain weight, and she was always tired. Doctors soon discovered her heart condition and informed her mother that she needed surgery. Ana has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole instead of circulating normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. Ana was also born with a cleft lip and palate. After heart surgery, doctors can then proceed to repair her cleft. On May 6th, Ana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Ana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Ana's mother shared, "I pray this surgery goes well so my little daughter can feel better and have a happy life."

Benjamin is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of three children, and lives with his parents, whose livelihoods depend on small-scale business activities to sustain their household. Benjamin's family describes him as a bright and curious child, who enjoys learning and playing with other children in the community. Benjamin has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus or "bow legs," a condition where the knees curve outward while the feet and ankles 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 potentially causing long-term joint damage. The condition has affected Benjamin's posture and mobility, making prolonged standing and walking increasingly difficult. Without treatment, the condition could continue to worsen as he grows, potentially limiting his movement and participation in school and daily activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Benjamin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 24th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Benjamin's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Benjamin's father said: "I wish for his legs to be strong, so that he can walk independently with his friends to school, without us worrying about his well-being."

Roger is 41 years old and a hardworking father from the Philippines. He works as a construction worker and is the family's main provider. When jobs are scarce, he fishes or collects recyclables to earn extra income. He and his wife have two children, but his eldest had to stop studying to help support the family. Two years ago, Roger began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain, discomfort on his sides, and feeling bloated. He was diagnosed with gallstones and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Roger is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on March 13th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Roger's surgery and care. Roger shared, "I am deeply grateful for the chance to receive help for my surgery. The pain has made it hard for me to work and provide for my family, but I believe that with this support, I can recover and return to work more effectively. I look forward to regaining my strength, continuing to support my family, and seeing my eldest child return to school."

Say is a four-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents and her older sister at the refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Say and her sister go to school during the week. Her mother is a teacher, while her father is a security guard in the camp. Their family's combined income is enough to cover their daily expenses, and they are fortunate to receive free basic health within the camp. However, they can't afford the expensive treatment costs outside of the camp. On February 14th, Say was playing with her friends. There was a pickup truck parked beside the small road in their camp. Say and her friends don't travel by car very often, so they were excited to see a vehicle parked so close to their home. While playing in the truck bed, Say suddenly fell off the truck and fractured her right forearm. Currently, she is in severe pain and has been crying a lot since it first happened. However, painkillers are alleviating some of her discomfort. Say can't grab anything with her right arm or use it to eat or write. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Say will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for February 16th. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of her care. Say's mother said, "I would like to say thank you very much to the donors for supporting my daughter's treatment cost. Without your support, I would have to look for someone to borrow money from, as we do not have the money to pay for Say's treatment costs. We have already borrowed money from our neighbor to get her to a hospital outside of the camp, and we do not want to ask for more. Thank you again."