Reaksa is 14 years old and a 10th grader from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family and lives with her parents. Her father works as a chef in a restaurant, while her mother works as a cleaner. She enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes drawing and listening to music. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. Around the age of 10, Reaksa's mother first noticed that her daughter’s back was becoming curved. Over the years, the curvature gradually worsened. She now has severe scoliosis, with her spine bending significantly toward the right side and associated kyphosis. Her condition has begun to affect her daily life. She has difficulty walking and sitting for long periods, and the discomfort she experiences while sitting makes it difficult for her to concentrate in class. Despite these challenges, she continues to attend school and work toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Until now, her family has not been able to afford the treatment she needs. Her family learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. On August 18th, she will undergo posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from T3 to L3, a surgical procedure that uses instrumentation to correct and stabilize the curved portion of her spine. She needs help of $1,500 to help cover the costs of her surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. The surgery aims to improve the alignment of her spine and prevent the severe curvature from progressing further. Reaksa's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help manage my daughter’s severe spinal deformity, improve her comfort and posture, and allow her to stay active and continue her studies and daily activities. I want her to feel more confident and comfortable as she grows.”

Joel is a young student from Bolivia. He lives with his grandfather, who works in construction. Joel's mom works in Brazil in order to earn some money to send to the family. This year, Joel's grandfather noticed Joel looked very tired when walking, and his lips turned purple. Joel was diagnosed with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves a hole between two lower chambers of the heart, as well as a blockage that affects how blood flows out of the heart. As a result, Joel does not get enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. On September 2nd, Joel will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, doctors will close the hole in his heart and remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally. Joel's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Joel's grandfather says, "Joel likes to go to school and have friends. I pray his surgery goes well so he can be healthy and return home."

Angel is a student from Colombia. He is a bright, responsible boy who is dedicated to his studies, which has allowed him to consistently excel at school. He is known for being curious, intelligent, cheerful, and very active. He enjoys anime, soccer, board games, traveling with his family, and playing freely; he also loves learning fun facts about animals and dinosaurs. He is currently learning to play the guitar and is on a soccer team. Angel began experiencing pain in early 2025, which forced him to stop playing soccer for a few months. He has an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, on September 30th, Angel will undergo repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, Clinica Noel. He needs help raising $1,005 to fund his procedure and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Angel's parents say, "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in children and for giving our son a future filled with well-being and joy. Thank you also for supporting us as parents in our mission to always give him the best; sometimes we do our very best, and it still isn’t enough, so your help has been a true blessing. May God reward you abundantly for your generosity."