Dane is a studious fourth-grader. She and her family live in Banteay Meanchey province, where her parents sell spices at the local market. She has a 7-year-old sister in second grade. At school, she likes Khmer history, mathematics and likes reading books. She hopes to continue her education and be a teacher some day. Three years ago, Dane and her younger sister's hands and legs were burned from a gas explosion. Despite receiving burn care at a local pediatric hospital, numerous burn scars persist on her hands and her legs, especially on Dane's right fingers. This condition significantly hampers her overall hand function. She is unable to grasp objects and has one affected finger that is nonfunctional. The visible effects of her hand condition contribute to her feelings of embarrassment. She has difficulty writing and is shy in school. When Dane's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for six and a half hours seeking treatment. On January 30th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help her use her fingers and hand more efficiently. Now, her family needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Dane said: "I hope I can use my fingers after this operation, and can hold things better in school."

Ren is a 43-year-old rice farmer. Residing in Pursat province, she and her husband have three daughters. Their eldest, a 17-year-old, has transitioned from school to assisting her parents on the family farm. The middle daughter, aged 12, attends the 5th grade, while the youngest, a one-year-old, remains in the care of other close relatives at home. Six months ago, while carrying a large bundle, Ren slipped and fell, fracturing the bones in her right forearm. The family did not have the financial means to go to a hospital and visited a Khmer healer. Despite receiving treatment, her fracture persists without healing, and she has now developed a rash on her arm as a side effect of the traditional treatment. Her pain radiates sharply to her thumb, and she is unable to use her arm. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On January 8th, Ren will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. Following three days of traction involving the use of weights, pulleys, and ropes to delicately apply pressure and realign the bones, surgeons are preparing to proceed with an open reduction internal fixation surgery to address her fractures. After surgery Ren will have improved mobility of her arm. Ren said: "I hope my bones are back in place to be fixed, and I can use my arm again after this operation, and have no more pain."

Naw Gay is a 24-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Originally from Bago Division across the border in Burma, she fled to the refugee camp with her family last May due to armed conflict in their area. Currently, Naw Gay is a homemaker while her husband is unemployed. Her children are too young to attend school. They receive free basic health care in the refugee camp, provided by Malteser International (MI) Thailand, and some financial support from nonprofit The Border Consortium and their uncle living in the United States. During her free time, she loves to play with her children and clean her house. Naw Gay is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section. Both of Naw Gay's sons were born through C-section due to eclampsia. She has received regular antenatal care at the hospital in the refugee camp and she was told that she will have to give birth through C-section in order to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Naw Gay undergo a C-section on February 1st. Naw Gay's family needs your support to cover $1500 of her treatment. Naw Gay shared, “My husband would like to have a girl this time because we already have two sons. As for me, I don’t mind if it’s a boy or a girl because I will love my baby either way.”