Mpapa is a 61-year-old man from a village in Malawi. He has four married children and lives with his wife and grandchildren. When he was young, Mpapa needed to stop attending primary school making it hard for him to secure a job. He depends on farming where he grows maize and groundnuts for his family and for commercial purposes to support their day-to-day costs. Mpapa was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and scheduled for surgery with our medical partner at Nkhoma Hospital. However, he cannot afford the entire cost of the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the balance payment for his surgery. Mpapa says, “I hope to receive treatment and resume life without this condition.”

Sok Len and his family come from Prey Veng province. His father manufactures water barrels and his mother is a homemaker. Sok Len has one 6-year-old older brother in grade one. At home, he likes to help his mother with the groceries and play with toy cars. His favorite meal is his mother's soup. Sok Len was born with macrodactyly of the left great and second toes on his left foot. Macrodactyly is a condition where toes or fingers are abnormally large due to the overgrowth of bone and soft tissue. His parents are worried that as he grows, he may have difficulty walking, wearing shoes, and being teased by other kids when he starts school. Because his family could not afford private care, a clinic referred them to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for diagnosis and treatment. Doctors at CSC have determined that two of his toes need to be amputated to avoid further disfigurement. Surgery has been scheduled for January 29th. Now, his parents need assistance with the cost of the $479 which will support the cost of surgery, medications, hospitalization, and physical therapy post-operatively. His mother said: "I hope his toe does not keep growing, and he will be able to keep up with other children when he starts school."

Meet Tichheang, a 13-year-old, second-grade student from Cambodia. His parents work as farmers, cultivating rice and cashews. His favorite subjects in school are Khmer and Sociology, and he loves playing the drums with his dad and playing soccer with his friends in his free time. When Tichheang grows up, he dreams of becoming a drummer! Around five years ago, Tichheang developed an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. As a result, Tichheang experiences ear pain accompanied by fever, ear drainage, headaches, and weakened hearing on the right side. It is very difficult for Tichheang to communicate at school due to this condition. He is also often absent from class due to his symptoms. Tichheang's family traveled to our medical partner's care center for treatment. On April 9th, Tichheang will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Tichheang and his family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $926 more to fund this procedure, which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. His mother shared: "I want to see my son in good health and able to communicate more easily."