Srey Nou is a 17-year-old teenager in Cambodia who lives with her parents and two siblings. Her parents work in a pepper plantation to support the family. Srey Nou and her siblings dropped out of school at a young age due to the inability to afford school fees and materials. At home, Srey Nou always helps her mother with housework and likes to play with her siblings. Srey Nou traveled to our medical center, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), presenting with weakness on her right leg and an abnormal gait. At the age of nine, she underwent surgery on her right gastrocnemius muscle at a public hospital to remove a tumor. After a consultation at CSC, surgeons diagnosed her with polio, a virus that mainly affects nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Currently, Srey Nou cannot fully straighten her right knee, and her right leg muscles are smaller than normal. Her right hip is also stuck in a bent position. She compensates by hopping on her left leg due to a fixed flexion deformity in her right leg. Although our doctors hoped to save her leg, it was determined that she needs an above-the-knee amputation. On August 1st, she will undergo an amputation and a hip flexor release surgery to help improve her mobility and overall quality of life. The family needs assistance with the $479 to cover the cost of surgery, medications, hospitalization, and physical therapy. Srey Nou's mother shared, "I really hope my daughter will be able to live happily and feel more comfortable."

Srey Tey is a 12-year-old girl who lives in Kampong Thom province with her parents and older sister. Her sister sells bottled gasoline from home, her mother is a homemaker, and her father is a retired army officer. Srey Tey is currently in grade 2 and her favorite subject is Khmer Studies. When she grows up, she wants to become a nurse. At home, she enjoys reading and playing with her sister. Srey Tey was born with a condition called neurofibromatosis and pseudoarthrosis of her left leg, which involves abnormal bone development and the formation of a false joint in the left shin bone. Because Srey Tey's condition is difficult to treat, she was referred to the doctors at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, where she was first seen in 2015. Currently, she experiences pain in her left knee, and has a leg deformity characterized by an abnormal angle of the bone, and slight shortening compared to her right leg. On July 4th, Srey Tey will undergo an osteotomy, a procedure aimed at reshaping her leg, relieving discomfort, and improving her balance. Srey Tey's family was able to contribute $100 towards her medical costs but needs help raising the remaining $369 to fund the procedure and post-op care. Srey Tey said, "I hope I will be able to walk more comfortably and I can go back to school regularly."

Arlet is a preschooler from Bolivia. She lives in a valley in southern Bolivia with her father (who is a farmer), her mother ( who is a homemaker), and one older sister. She goes to preschool and loves coloring and drawing. Arlet has a cardiac condition called 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 July 24, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is helping her family raise $1,500 to directly support her treatment. Her mother shared: "Our family has been hoping and praying for this surgery ever since our daughter was a small baby, and we are so glad to have the chance now."