Veasna is a two-year-old toddler from Cambodia. He is an only child, and lives in a multi-generational home with four other family members. His mother sells farm produce in the local market, and his dad is a rice farmer. One of his aunts works at the front desk in a motorbike repair shop. Veasna spends most of his time at home with his grandmother. He loves playing with other kids in the village and watching cartoons. In June 2023, Veasna burned his right index finger on a hot stove. His mother treated the injury at home with cold water and wound dressings. Unfortunately, burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his burn. It is difficult for him to use his hand, and he experiences much discomfort. When Veasna's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he and his mother traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 22nd, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery to help restore function in his hand. Veasna's family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $395 more to fund the procedure. Veasna's mother says: "I hope he can use his hand easily again in the future, be able to hold objects and play."

Vatanak is a three-year-old toddler from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his nine-month-old brother in rural Ratanakiri province. His parents earn a small living working as cashew tree farmers in the village. Vatanak enjoys eating Cambodian sour soup made by his mom and loves keeping his little brother entertained with toys. Vatanak was born with syndactyly of the right foot. This means that his big and second toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone and soft tissue. The condition makes it difficult for him to walk or move his toes, and he experiences mild pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Vatanak receive treatment. On April 22nd, surgeons at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre will perform a syndactyly repair surgery to separate and release the fused digits. This will improve Vatanak's mobility, and provide more comfort while wearing shoes. Vatanak and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $344 more to fund the procedure. Vatanak's mother says, "I hope my son's foot can be fixed so it is easy for him to run and wear shoes when he starts school."

Magdalena is a two-year-old toddler from Tanzania. Her family depends on crop cultivation for both sustenance and income. Three of Magdalena’s siblings are school-going. In 2022, tragedy struck as Magdalena sustained severe burns on her hip, extending down to her thigh, as a result of an accident with a hot stove while she was playing. Although she required medical attention for the extensive burn wounds, her family's financial circumstances prevented them from affording extended hospital care for her. Consequently, Magdalena received only initial first aid and continued her treatment at home. Unfortunately, as her wound healed, her thigh became fused to her waist, impairing her ability to use her right leg. Since then, Magdalena’s family has been struggling to find proper treatment for her condition. During one of our medical partner care center's outreach visits, the team met Magdalena and her family and recognized the severity of her situation. The family was directed to Kafika House, where a plastic surgery camp was being held. Despite the arduous journey of over nine hours, they arrived seeking hope and help. Upon examination, Magdalena was diagnosed by a plastic surgeon who determined that she would require a release procedure to separate her thigh from her waist. However, due to the complexity of her treatment, the surgeon has clearly communicated the possibility of amputating her leg if complications arise during the surgery. Magdalena is scheduled for surgery March 7th and her family is requesting help in raising $1,088 for surgery and postoperative care. Magdalena’s mother says: “I hope my daughter’s treatment will go well and that she will be able to walk after she completes her treatment.”