Hawi is a young student from Ethiopia. At 17 years old, this 9th-grade student is at a very important time in her school life. She works hard at her studies while also taking care of her two younger siblings and helping with chores at home. Because she grew up in a hardworking farming family, she knows how important it is to be strong and active. However, a painful bump on her right hand is now making it very difficult for her to get her work done and keep up with her daily tasks. About a year ago, Hawi started feeling pain in her right hand that made simple movements difficult. Since then, the pain has grown much worse, making it nearly impossible for her to move her hand easily. She feels a constant pressure blocking her movement Hawi traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 19th, surgeons will perform an excisional biopsy to remove the mass. Now, Hawi needs help to raise $750 to fund this procedure. Hawi said, "I look forward to being able to write and do my chores without pain and discomfort."

Both is a 23-month-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and is their only child. His father is an electrician and his mother works as a chef in a restaurant. He enjoys playing with toy cars and balls, and likes eating soup and mangoes. Both was born with polydactyly of both hands. This means that he has an extra thumb on both hands (bilateral thumb polydactyly). The condition affects his ability to grasp and hold objects properly. His parents are concerned that it may also affect his hand function and self-confidence as he grows older. Fortunately, on May 19th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. After surgery, the extra thumbs will be removed, improving hand function and allowing more normal grasping, development, and daily hand activities. His father said, “I hope my son can use his hands normally and grow up with confidence, without feeling shy about his appearance.”

Esuphat is an 11-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She was born into a large family of eleven children. Her father has two wives, and Esuphat lives with her mother alongside her brother and sister. Her family belongs to a pastoral community where livestock keeping is the main source of income. Esuphat's father is well known in the area for raising and grazing cattle, sheep, and goats to support his large household. Esuphat has clubfoot on both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, which may make it difficult for her to walk properly as she grows. Without treatment, it will be a challenge for her to wear shoes, participate in daily activities, and eventually walk the long distances often required to attend school. Doctors have recommended treatment through a series of gentle manipulations and casts, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) until the age of five. On June 19th, Esuphat will start clubfoot treatment, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Esuphat's care. After treatment, the position of her feet will be corrected, giving her the best chance of walking comfortably, wearing regular shoes, and living an active and independent life. Esuphat's mother says, "I want what is best for my daughter, and for now her treatment is the first priority."