Thea Rith is a 17-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and three younger siblings in Kampot Province. His parents are rice farmers, and he is the oldest of four children. His younger brother is in Grade 10, while his two younger sisters are in Grades 7 and 5. Thea Rith had to stop studying in Grade 10 because of his injury. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and watching movies on his phone. His favourite food is korko fish soup. On November 30, 2024, he was involved in a motorbike accident that caused severe nerve damage to his entire left arm. He lost consciousness for approximately 10 minutes and was taken to a private clinic for examination. He later underwent nerve repair surgery in March 2025, which helped improve his shoulder and elbow movement. He was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. His injury has left him with weakness and limited movement in his left arm. Although his shoulder and elbow have become stronger after his previous surgery, his wrist remains weak, and he cannot move his fingers normally. This makes it difficult for him to use his left hand for everyday activities and affects his independence. On November 9th, Thea Rith will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. After recovery, he will be able to use his left hand more effectively, manage daily activities more independently, and eventually return to school. His family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $712 to help fund his procedure and care. The Rith said, “I am happy that my shoulder and elbow have become stronger after the surgery. I hope my wrist and fingers will also improve so I can use my left arm more normally. I want to become more independent in my daily life and continue my studies without worrying about my arm.”

Rebira is a 14-year-old student who lives in Ethiopia with his parents and three siblings. His father works as a guard, and his mother stays home to care for the children. Before his recent health challenges, he enjoyed playing football with his friends. About two years ago, Rebira injured his left leg while playing football. Because his family could not afford medical care, the injury went untreated. Unfortunately, the leg did not heal properly, and Rebira continues to suffer from intermittent swelling, severe pain, and difficulty walking. The pain has become so debilitating that he struggles to make the walk to school. His parents fear that, if left untreated, he may be forced to abandon his education, trapping him in a cycle of poverty. Recently, Rebira and his family attended our medical partner’s care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Following an investigation, doctors determined that he needs a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. Without treatment, Rebira may suffer from recurrent infections, which can result in life-threatening complications. On August 24th, Rebira will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $900 to fund Rebira's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate his symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. Rebira's parents shared, "We hope that our son will be able to easily walk to school and return to playing football with his friends again."

Mohamed is a five-year-old boy from Mali. He lives with his parents and two older siblings. Mohamed's problems started when he began to experience swelling and discomfort in the roof of his mouth. Over time, the swelling worsened, prompting his family to visit our medical partner's care center, Hôpital du Mali. Doctors discovered a mass on the roof of Mohamed's mouth, which was investigated and found to be a nasopalatine duct cyst. These cysts are non-cancerous, but carry several risks if not removed. If the cyst is allowed to continue to grow, it could displace Mohamed's teeth and put pressure on his nasal passage, causing difficulty eating and breathing normally. Nasopalatine duct cysts can also become infected, causing further pain. Fortunately, Mohamed is scheduled to undergo cyst removal surgery on September 8th. Our medical partner, Muso, is requesting $1,120 to cover the total cost of Mohamed's procedure and care. Mohamed's parents shared, "Once the cyst is removed, we hope that Mohamed will be able to resume his daily activities free of the uncomfortable symptoms. We hope the swelling will be gone."