Thea is a 49-year-old food seller from Cambodia. He lives in Prey Veaeng Province with his wife, who is also a food seller. They have two children; their eldest works in a footwear factory, and their youngest is in the fourth grade. In his free time, he enjoys chatting with friends in his village. One week ago, Thea sustained a fracture on his left ankle after hitting a stone while riding a motorcycle. The injury caused severe pain, swelling, and an inability to bear weight on the affected leg. Since then, he has experienced significant difficulty walking and relies on crutches for mobility. The pain and stiffness in his left ankle have limited his ability to work and carry out daily activities independently. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 11th, Thea will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will stabilize the fracture and allow the ankle to heal properly. It is expected to reduce pain, improve mobility, and help him walk more easily and return to his daily activities. Thea can contribute $50, but needs help raising $550 more to fund his procedure and care. Thea stated, “After the surgery, I hope that my pain and stiffness will improve, and that I will be able to walk more easily without relying on crutches. I hope to regain my independence, perform my daily activities comfortably, and improve my quality of life.”

Meshack is a one-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in his family. His mother is a preacher, and cares for her young children. Despite her responsibilities, she has made strong efforts to find specialized treatment for Meshack after noticing that his hand movement was becoming more restricted. When Meshack was very young, he sustained a burn injury on his right hand. Though the wound has healed, the scars have become tight over time, causing a burn scar contracture. The contracture has affected finger movement and palm opening, making it difficult for his hand to function normally as he grows. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Meshack receive treatment. On February 18th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and skin graft to greatly improve his hand development and future independence. Now, he needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Meshack's mother says, “His hand cannot open well, and I worry about how he will use it as he grows. I am praying he can get treatment and use his hand freely.”

Seven-year-old Bontu lives with her parents in Ethiopia. As an only child, she is the light of her parent's life, and they would do anything for her. About two years ago, Bontu began experiencing fevers, pain, difficulty in swallowing and snoring. Since then, she is often unwell, and her mother constantly needs to stay with her, forgoing the chance to work and to earn money. Bontu's father works long hours as a manual laborer, trying to earn enough to sustain his family. Bontu has been diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, and she needs surgery to treat her condition. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Bontu, which is scheduled to take place on February 11th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Bontu of her symptoms, and helping her to live more comfortably. "We are so excited for this opportunity that will have our daughter attend school every single day, and play happily with her friends. Our hearts long to see her run and laugh without that constant, heavy exhaustion that has kept her so lonely and isolated for so long," said Bontu's parents.