Akshay is 18 years old and lives in Palamu, Jharkhand, India. He lives with his parents and elder sister. His father is a farmer. He studied until the 8th grade. When Akshay was six months old, he fell into a traditional cooking stove and burned his right hand. The burn caused a contracture, where the skin healed tightly, and over time, his hand became restricted in movement. He has lived with this since he was a baby. The contracture on his right hand makes daily tasks difficult. At 18, with a father who farms and a family that depends on physical work, this has been a real limitation in his day-to-day life. When Akshay learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, he and his mother traveled 6.5 hours to receive treatment to release the post-burn contracture of his right hand. On July 1st, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery so he can regain function and mobility in his hand. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Akshay shared, "I want my hand to work properly so that I can help my family."

Kemert is a three-year-old girl who lives in Ethiopia with her parents and brother. Her father works as a teacher, and her mother is a homemaker. Shortly after Kemert was born, she began experiencing recurrent tonsillitis. During these episodes, her throat becomes swollen and painful, she develops a fever, and she struggles to breathe, eat, and sleep. These periods of illness are emotionally difficult for Kemert and her family, who say the hardest part is watching her fight to breathe. Although tonsillitis can sometimes resolve on its own, doctors are recommending surgery because Kemert’s condition is severe and keeps returning. Currently, Kemert is experiencing symptoms and has been for about three months. Without treatment, her symptoms will persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Kemert, which is scheduled to take place on May 10th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Kemert of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Kemert’s family hopes for a future where she can feel peaceful during the day and sleep quietly through the night. Instead of being easily annoyed, tired all the time, and feeling sick, they want her to feel healthy and rested.

Neema is a two-month-old girl from Tanzania, the second-born child in her family. She lives with both her parents, who rely on farming to provide for their household. Her parents are grateful for their daughter and dream of seeing her grow into a healthy, active, and independent young girl. Neema has clubfoot on right foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual and this causes difficulty with mobility. To correct her foot and give her the best chance of a healthier future, Neema requires treatment through a series of manipulations and casts, followed by a tenotomy procedure. Afterward, she will need to wear a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) until the age of five to help maintain the correction and prevent the condition from recurring. Fortunately, Neema's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where doctors will begin clubfoot treatment on June 23rd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to run, play with other children her age, and participate fully in daily activities. Neema's mother says, "I hope she will be able to play and participate in activities with other children, without me having to worry how she will be able to walk and run."