Surafel is a 14-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and dreams of becoming a professional football player. He also enjoys learning mathematics and spending time with his younger brother. His mother earns a living by selling vegetables on the street, while his father works as a daily laborer. Surafel was born with hypospadias, a condition in which the opening of the urethra is positioned differently. His mother noticed the condition soon after his birth and sought medical advice. She was told that it could be corrected when he was older. As Surafel grew, however, his mother became increasingly concerned. She visited several hospitals and was advised that he needed surgery, but they could not afford it. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Surafel's mother learned about our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Surafel’s mother said, “Thank you so much for the support you have given us and for your kindness. After many years of worry and uncertainty, I am grateful that my child has this opportunity. I sincerely hope and pray that his surgery will be successful and that he will have a better future.”

Sam On is a 65-year-old former soldier from Kampong Thom, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, a grocery seller, and their two children. His eldest child helps with household responsibilities, while his youngest child is studying in Grade 7. Since retiring from military service, he has relied on a small government pension to support his family. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news on his phone. In 1997, Sam On stepped on a landmine, resulting in a traumatic injury that required a below-knee amputation of his right leg. Following rehabilitation, he was able to use a prosthetic limb and regain mobility for many years. However, over the past several months, he developed a chronic infected wound at the amputation stump. The wound has produced persistent discharge and caused pain and discomfort, making it difficult for him to wear his prosthetic leg and move around independently. His wife has been caring for the wound at home, but despite her efforts, the infection did not improve. As the condition worsened and began interfering with his daily activities, Sam On sought medical attention and was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for specialized care. Doctors diagnosed him with an infected right below-knee amputation stump. On June 3rd, Sam On will undergo stump revision surgery, costing $478. The procedure will remove infected tissue, promote healing, relieve pain, and help him use his prosthetic leg comfortably again. Sam On said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to receive treatment. I hope my stump will heal well, the pain and discharge will stop, and I can use my prosthetic leg comfortably again.”

Sreynit is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents and two younger siblings. Her father works as a Forestry Administration officer, while her mother is a housewife. She enjoys studying Khmer literature and hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. When Sreynit was three months old, she suffered a head injury after a wooden part of her hammock broke and struck her head. She was treated at a local hospital for more than two months and was diagnosed with a brain hematoma. Since then, she has had weakness on the left side of her body, including a contracted left wrist. The weakness has affected her left arm and leg. Her left wrist remains held in a flexed and outward-deviated position, with limited movement and difficulty holding objects. She also has mild muscle atrophy and has difficulty balancing on her left leg, which can affect her mobility and everyday activities. When Sreynit's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 16th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse her wrist and left thumb MCP joint and to help provide greater stability to her wrist and thumb and improve the position of her left hand. This may give her a more useful grip and make it easier to use her hand during everyday activities and become more independent. Now, Sreynit needs help to fund this $611 procedure. Sreynit's mother said, “I hope the surgery will make my daughter’s left wrist and thumb more stable and help her use her hand more easily. She has had difficulty using this hand for many years, and I hope the treatment will make everyday activities easier for her and help her become more independent.”