Musa is a jovial and sociable 14-year-old boy from Narok County in Kenya. He is the last born in a family of seven, and is currently a Grade 7 student. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a small-scale farmer to provide for their family. Like many boys his age, Musa enjoys being active, but his biggest dream is to become an athlete in the future. However, Musa’s journey has not been easy. He was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition where the feet are twisted out of shape, which makes walking and running difficult. Because of this condition, Musa has often struggled with mobility, which has limited his ability to run and participate in sports like other children. Despite these challenges, Musa has not given up on his dreams. Musa is not new to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. He previously underwent surgery on his right foot, which is now corrected, greatly improving his mobility. Musa now needs corrective surgery on his left foot. Although resources are limited, Musa’s parents remain hopeful and supportive as their son continues his treatment journey. Musa was admitted to the hospital, and is currently undergoing serial casting in preparation for surgery on his left foot. Musa is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th at AIC CURE Hopsital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Musa's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, run freely, and continue with his studies without hindrance. Most importantly, it will bring him closer to chasing his dream of becoming an athlete and, perhaps one day, representing Kenya in international athletic events. Musa says: “I really looking forward to standing upright, walking well, and achieving my dream of becoming an athlete in the future."

Vantha is a 64-year-old woman from Cambodia. She enjoys doing household chores, feeding her pets, and growing vegetables around her home. Vantha lives with her husband, who is blind, and her children, who work in garment factories. She has four children, but sadly, two of them died in a traffic accident. On January 3rd, Vantha slipped and fell on a wet floor, causing her to fracture her right wrist. She experiences severe pain, especially when using her hand. This makes it difficult for her to perform daily activities, such as cooking, carrying objects, and doing other household tasks. After the injury, Vantha's family took her to a traditional Khmer practitioner for treatment. However, despite taking pain medication, she continues to experience severe pain. Since her condition did not improve, Vantha decided to go to Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) for further evaluation and management. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 18th, Vantha will undergo a fracture repair procedure. CSC is requesting $600 to cover the cost of her treatment. The surgery will significantly relieve Vantha's pain, restore movement in her wrist, and allow her to use her hand normally. This will help her perform daily activities more comfortably and independently. Vantha said, “I want to be free from pain and able to move my wrist easily again. I hope after the surgery, I can live more comfortably and not worry about the pain every time I use my hand.”

Seav Y is a four-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is a cheerful kindergarten student from Kompong Cham Province. She lives with her parents and two siblings. Her father is a math teacher, and her mother sells fish at a local market. She is the youngest child in the family, with an older brother in Grade 6 and an older sister in Grade 3. She enjoys writing and reading Khmer at school. In her free time, she loves playing with her toys. Her favorite meals are soups, especially those with plenty of vegetables, and she dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up. One year ago, Seav Y had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the eardrum. For this reason, Seav Y experiences left ear pain, intermittent ear discharge with a foul smell, and hearing loss. This condition makes it difficult for her to hear clearly, which can affect her learning and communication. The ongoing pain and discharge also cause discomfort and may prevent her from fully enjoying school and playtime like other children. Seav Y traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 21st, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $477 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Seav Y's mother said, “I hope she can receive proper treatment so she can be free from pain and discomfort, and live happily like other children.”