Nana is an adorable 18-month-old baby. Her father works as a farmer, and her mother works selling food. Nana is the only child in her family. She enjoys playing with toys, and her favorite meal is fried noodles with fresh milk! Ten months ago, Nana's left-hand fingers were severely burned from a pan of boiling oil. Her mother took her to a local clinic for medications, but her fingers did not heal. She has since developed scar contracture on three of her fingers. This means the scar from the accident is pulling together and tightening the skin surrounding it, leaving Nana unable to hold objects. In order to help her condition, she will need to undergo a contracture release surgery, as well as a skin graft surgery to repair the scar tissues. When Nana and her family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help Nana use her fingers again. Now, she needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Her mother expressed, "I hope after this surgery my daughter can use her hand like other children."

Meet Emmanuel, a 9-year-old boy, living with his mother and four siblings in a small town in rural Kenya. Emmanuel's mother is a single parent, who works daily jobs like helping with laundry in an effort to support her children. Despite her hard work, the family's neighbors step in at times to make certain the children are fed, as Emmanuel's mother shared that she doesn't always have enough money for food. On Saturday evening, Emmanuel was brought to Kapsowar Hospital, after being hit by a speeding car. An X-ray confirmed that Emmanuel's left femur was fractured. He was admitted to the children's ward, and his leg was placed in traction until he can undergo surgery to repair the fracture. In the meantime, Emmanuel is in pain, and he cannot use his left leg. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 7th, Emmanuel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $1,145 to fund Emmanuel's surgery, which will enable him to walk easily again, and to resume the life of enjoying being a 9 year old. Emmanuel's mother says: “I am going through so many struggles. I have a one-year-old baby at home. I am unable to take care of her as I am at the hospital. My hope is to see Emmanuel treated so that I can take care of him at home with his siblings.”

Mean is a beautiful five-year-old boy from Cambodia who has one sister and three brothers. He enjoys watching cartoons at home and playing with his four siblings. To support their family, his father is a construction worker, and his mother manages their home and cares for the children. Last August, Mean was badly burned across most of his body in a petroleum accident. Although his parents took him to a specialty children's hospital to receive care, he eventually developed severe burn contractures. Contractures occur when the skin surrounding a scar matures, thickens, and tightens, preventing movement. He is no longer able to stand straight due to a contracture of his right hip. He has burn contractures on his forearm, right elbow, and both armpits. He also has keloid scars, or enlarged and raised scarring, on both ears. He currently experiences itching all over his body and difficulty sleeping. When Mean's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On August 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to release the painful contractures. This will allow him to stand and walk straight, as well as grow at a healthy rate. Now, his family needs help funding this $495 procedure. Mean's mother says, "I hope the doctors can help Mean so he will not be in pain or ashamed when he is ready to go to school."