Pong is a cheerful 11-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampot Province with his parents and two siblings. His father works as a reporter at a radio station, and his mother stays at home to care for the family and manage household tasks. He is the middle child of three children. He is in the fifth grade and enjoys mathematics. He dreams of becoming an army officer when he grows up. During his free time, he enjoys playing football with his friends in the village and likes eating fried onions with beef. Pong has camptodactyly of the left thumb, a congenital condition affecting the proximal phalanx of his left first finger. This limits the movement of his thumb and causes pain when he tries to bend it. This affects his ability to use his hand normally for schoolwork, daily activities, and play. Pong's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. On May 20th, Pong will undergo surgery on his hand that will improve his strength and mobility. Now, he needs help to fund this $582 procedure. Pong's mother said, “I pray that this surgery will help straighten his finger, improve its movement, and allow him to use his hand more normally and confidently in his daily life.”

Joshua is a 12-year-old boy from Tanzania. He lives with his parents, who are livestock keepers, and is one of five children in the family. Joshua is currently in middle school and is described as a bright and responsible child. He enjoys completing his homework and helping care for animals after school. Joshua dreams of becoming a politician when he grows up. For the last three years, Joshua has experienced limited hand movement, making tasks such as writing, feeding himself, and helping with household chores difficult. His doctors recommend an amputation of Joshua's left hand, which has a burn scar with contractures involving multiple fingers. This will prevent his symptoms from getting worse as he grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Joshua's surgery on February 17th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully help improve his health and quality of life. After recovering, Joshua is looking forward to improved hand function that will enable him to regain independence in daily activities and continue developing his leadership potential without physical barriers. Joshua's father says, “He cannot grip objects well because some fingers are damaged and tight from the scar.”

Sat is a 54-year-old security guard from Kandal Province, Cambodia. He is married with three children, and he and his wife both work as security guards. His son and youngest daughter are students. In his free time, he enjoys keeping up with the news on his phone. About two years ago, Sat developed a pterygium in his right eye — a non-cancerous growth on the surface of the eye — causing persistent tearing, irritation, and difficulty seeing clearly. The condition has made it hard for him to recognize faces and carry out his daily responsibilities. Fortunately, on June 17th, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will help Sat undergo pterygium removal surgery that will help him see better. He can contribute $25, but needs help raising $273 more to fund his procedure and care. Sat said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, stop tearing, and can go back to work, so I don’t worry about my eye anymore."