Vumilia is a 2-year-old girl from Tanzania. She has a beautiful smile and is very charming. Vumilia is the third born in a family of four children. Her parents come from the northern part of Tanzania known as Serengeti, which is close to the Serengeti National Park. Most of the people living in this region depend on small-scale farming for a living. Vumilia's parents grow mostly maize, sorghum, and vegetables, selling part of their harvest to make a humble income to support the family. Vumilia was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, or bowleggedness. Her legs bow inward so that her knees touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, Vumilia has a difficult time walking and often feels pain after walking for a while. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Vumilia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 22nd. Treatment will hopefully restore Vumilia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Vumilia’s mother shared, “My daughter is struggling so much that she can no longer play well with her siblings and is forced to sit by herself most times which saddens me as her mother. Please help correct her legs."

Makara is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his younger sister. His father is a construction worker and his mother is a farmer. At school, Makara is in sixth grade. His favorite subject is reading, but he wants to be a soccer player when he grows up. He practices hard every day, and loves to play with his friends. In his free time, he does house chores or watches TV. In July 2017, Makara fell from a tree, causing a fracture in his left elbow. He went to a local hospital, where they installed hardware to repair the fracture. His fracture healed well, but the hardware still causes him some pain, is at risk of infection, and it is difficult for him to move his arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 13th, Makara will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $230. This procedure will allow him to move freely without any pain. Makara shared, "I think I will be happier when this hardware is removed, and I can play soccer easily."