Sao is a 61-year-old widow from Cambodia. She has three children and lives with her daughter. Her eldest child is a rice farmer, her second child works in Thailand, and her youngest is in Grade 10. She spends her free time caring for her grandchild and growing vegetables around her home. On July 20, 2025, Sao sustained a fracture of her right femur when a car struck her from behind in a road traffic accident. She was transferred to Vietnam, where surgeons stabilized the fracture with an intramedullary locking nail. However, the bone has not united, and she continues to need treatment. The unhealed fracture causes persistent pain in her right thigh and makes walking difficult. She relies on crutches and feels unstable when moving around, limiting her ability to carry out daily activities and care for her grandchild comfortably. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On October 20th, Sao will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will involve bone grafting at the fracture site, removal of the cerclage wires, and removal of the proximal screw to allow dynamization of the nail. These steps aim to encourage bone healing and improve stability in her right leg, helping her gradually regain more comfortable mobility. She can contribute $35, but needs help raising $550 more to fund her procedure and care. Sao's daughter said, “I worry about my mother because she is still in pain and struggles to walk after her accident. I hope this surgery helps her bone heal so she can walk more steadily, feel less pain, and return to her daily activities.”

Sopheara is a nine-year-old student from Cambodia. He is the only child in his family and lives with his parents, who are rice farmers. He enjoys reading and writing Khmer and likes making toy cars in his free time. His favorite foods are fried pork and chicken. He wishes to be an architect when he grows up. Sopheara was born with unilateral incomplete cleft lip and cleft palate. He underwent surgery for the condition, but there is still a gap in his gums that affects his eating, speaking, and symmetry of his face. Sopheara needs surgery to close the gap. Fortunately, Sopheara visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further treatment. There, surgeons will perform an alveolar bone graft procedure on September 8th. CSC is requesting $665 to fund Sopheara's treatment and care. After treatment, the alveolar bone graft (ABG) will help fill the gap in his gum and support the development and stability of his upper jaw. It may also make eating and speaking more comfortable and improve the appearance and symmetry of his smile as he continues to grow. Sopheara's mother said, “I am happy that my son can receive this surgery. I hope the bone graft will help repair his gum and support his teeth as he grows. I want him to have a healthy smile and feel confident when he goes to school and meets other people.”

Hector is a secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and has four children. To support his family, he works part-time. He traveled from Blantyre to Lilongwe seeking assistance for a surgical procedure known as an ileostomy reversal. Twelve months ago, Hector began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with bowel obstruction. He subsequently underwent surgery and was advised to return after three months for reversal of the stoma. Unfortunately, this did not materialize due to limited access to surgical support. Since then, Hector has endured significant physical, social, and emotional hardship. Living with a stoma for an extended period has affected his ability to eat and sleep comfortably. He frequently experiences discharge, which has impacted him socially and in his community. As a result, he shared that he has felt isolated, lonely, and psychologically distressed. When Hector learned that Partners in Hope (PIH) was supporting patients requiring surgery, he decided to travel to Lilongwe in search of assistance. His greatest desire was to undergo ileostomy reversal surgery and regain the comfort, dignity, and peace of mind he once enjoyed. By the time he sought support, five months had passed since he had become due for reversal surgery. Fortunately, on September 28th, Hector was reviewed by a surgeon at our medical partner PIH, who confirmed his condition and emphasized the importance of proceeding with the ileostomy reversal, but he would need financial support. An ileostomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the bowel and restores the pathway for the passage of stool after a temporary stoma has been created. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Hector's surgery. On October 2nd, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. "I can see my life going down as time passes by. I came all the way from Blantyre because I trusted your support. Kindly help me get better so I can continue supporting my family," shared Hector.