Fenet is eight-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She lives in a loving home with her parents and two brothers. She is supported by her father, who works for the government, and her mother, who was once a teacher but now devotes all her time to caring for their children. For the past seven years, Fenet has been fighting a difficult battle with chronic tonsillitis. This ongoing health struggle has made it very hard for her to enjoy her daily life and feel like a happy, active child. During an episode, Fenet experiences severe throat pain, low appetite, and exhausting fevers, leaving her without the energy she needs to play with friends or focus in school. She often misses class and is stressed about falling behind her classmates. Fenet was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Fenet, which is scheduled to take place on June 6th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Fenet of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Fenet’s parents shared, “We hope to provide her with a healthy and completely uninterrupted childhood, where she can finally leave behind these years of chronic throat pain and sudden fevers.”

Matiyas is a two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. His mother is a homemaker who looks after Matiyas and his younger sister, while his father is a taxi driver. Since birth, he has been fighting a severe, ongoing battle with chronic tonsillitis, a condition that deeply impacts his daily life and overall well-being. His struggle is at its worst during the night. Because his tonsils are constantly swollen, he faces significant airway blockage that makes it nearly impossible for him to breathe through his nose while he sleeps. Instead of resting peacefully, he spends his nights gasping for air and struggling to catch his breath, leaving both him and his parents exhausted and worried. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Matiyas, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Matiyas of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Matiyas's parents shared, "Our deepest hope is for our little boy to finally breathe easily, sleep peacefully through the night, and wake up refreshed instead of gasping for air."

Punleu is a 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampot Province with his parents and younger brother, who is in Grade 8. His father works as a construction contractor, and his mother stays at home to manage household duties and take care of their orange farm. Punleu enjoys studying Khmer literature. In his free time, he likes listening to music and playing volleyball with his friends in the village. He hopes to become an agricultural specialist in the future. In December 2024, Punleu was in in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture in his right lower leg. He was treated at a provincial hospital where he underwent ORIF surgery with plate and screw fixation of the leg. Since the surgery, he has been experiencing pain when walking long distances and stiffness in his right leg during cold weather, which affects his daily activities and mobility. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 18th, Punleu will undergo a hardware removal procedure to reduce pain and stiffness and improve his walking ability and overall comfort. Punleu's family is contributing to his surgery, but they need to raise an additional $303 for the procedure. Punleu says, “After the surgery, I hope I will be able to walk better without pain, regain my strength and confidence, and return to my normal daily life, studies, and activities without any limitation.”