Sreyka is eight years old and a second-grader from Cambodia. She lives in a rural area in Koh Kong province with her parents and her brother. Her father works as a boat driver, and her mother works in a garment factory. Despite their modest income, her parents work very hard to provide for their children’s education and daily needs. Sreyka enjoys studying math, playing hide and seek with her friends, and watching cartoons. Her favorite meal is lemongrass sour soup. She hopes to become a nurse in the future so she can help other people. Sreyka was born with a cleft lip and palate, which was repaired when she was a baby. However, there is still a gap in her upper gum where teeth should grow. Without further treatment, her permanent teeth may not grow properly, and she may continue to face challenges with chewing, speaking clearly, and smiling confidently. Sometimes, she feels shy because of the gap in her teeth. The family traveled for six hours to reach our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On March 4th, she will undergo an alveolar bone graft surgery to repair the gap in her upper gum. With proper treatment and recovery, her permanent teeth will be able to grow normally. This will help her chew food more easily, improve her speech, and give her the confidence to smile freely. Her journey to CSC brings hope that she will grow up healthy, confident, and able to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Sreyka and her family need help raising $665 to fund her procedure and care. Sreyka said, “I feel shy sometimes because of the gap in my teeth, but I hope this treatment will help me smile confidently and speak clearly. I want to feel happy and confident like other children.”

Aitana is a young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom and her dad, who have a small convenience store. Aitana has a twin sister and an older brother; they live in the northern part of Bolivia. Where they live, there are no cardiologists. So, when her mom noticed that her heart was beating too fast, she took her to a different area where she found out she had a heart condition and needed surgery. Aitana has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, Aitana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Aitana'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. Aitana's mother shared, "We were looking forward to this day, I trust everything will go well, I pray for that."

Adson is 74 years old and lives in a village in rural Lilongwe, Malawi. He is married, and all seven of his children are grown and living with their own families. At home, he lives with his wife and two grandchildren, relying on small-scale farming to feed them. Three months ago, Adson was involved in an accident at home. While moving around his yard, he stepped onto a sharp stick used to tie a goat, and it pierced through the flesh of his right foot. As he tried to free himself, fragments of the stick remained in the wound, leaving him in severe pain. He sought care and underwent a debridement procedure to remove damaged tissue, but the injury has taken time to heal. He has been attending follow-up clinics, and recently, doctors advised that he needs skin graft surgery to properly close the wound and restore function to his foot. Without this procedure, healing may remain slow and incomplete, making it difficult for him to walk and continue his daily activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Adson receive treatment. On May 6th, he will undergo a skin graft procedure to aid in the healing of his foot, so he can walk again. Adson is contributing to his treatment but needs to raise an additional $295 to fund the procedure. He says: "My wish is for my foot to heal, so I can walk again and continue looking after my home. I have tried what I can, but I do not have enough. I am asking for help so that I can get this treatment and be well again.”