Liza is a determined 18-year-old high school student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents and two younger siblings. Her father works as a welder, and her mother stays at home to care for the family. She is the eldest child and is currently studying in Grade 11. Her younger sister is in Grade 9, and her younger brother is in Grade 6. She dreams of becoming a doctor one day and enjoys listening to music and reading books in her free time. Liza was born with severe spasticity affecting both her upper and lower limbs, causing abnormal muscle tightness and an abnormal gait. In November 2025, she received botulinum toxin (Botox) injections into her hamstrings and other spastic muscles in her lower limbs, which noticeably improved her walking for a period of time. However, about four months later, her condition gradually worsened again, and her right leg developed a contracture. This has made walking increasingly difficult and has limited her mobility and independence in daily activities. Although the previous treatment provided temporary improvement, the return of the contracture has once again made movement challenging and affected her confidence in walking. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Liza receive treatment. On May 22nd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to release the tight muscle and improve the position and movement of her ankle. This treatment will help her walk more easily, improve balance and comfort, and allow her to move with greater confidence. Liza's family can contribute $75, but needs help in raising $497 more to fund her procedure and care. Liza said, “When my walking improved before, it gave me hope for the future. I pray this surgery will help me walk better again so I can continue my studies and move closer to my dream of becoming a doctor.”

Ilhaam is a seven-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents and her younger sister, the only surviving children after her parents tragically lost their first set of twins shortly after birth. Ilhaam is a cheerful child who enjoys playing with other children in her neighborhood. She loves singing and dancing. Ilhaam’s father works as a primary school teacher and is the sole provider for the family. Although he works hard to support his household, the cost of surgery is beyond what he can afford. Her parents are hopeful that with support, their daughter will receive the treatment she needs to walk comfortably and return to enjoying childhood activities. Ilhaam has been diagnosed with unilateral left valgus, a condition where the left knee angles inward. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Over time, Ilhaam's condition has worsened, and she has begun experiencing pain while standing or walking for long periods. Her parents first sought help at a nearby health facility where they were told that her bones might be weak and she was given calcium supplements. Despite following the advice, her condition did not improve. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $631 to fund treatment for Ilhaam. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 10th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Ilhaam's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Ilhaam's father says, "I only wish to see my daughter walk, dance and play without pain, and grow up like other children."

Christie is a four-year-old girl from Haiti, who lives with her parents and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in preschool, and is learning to read. She loves dressing up and playing with her friends. Christie has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Christie will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Christie's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Christie's family overseas. Christie's mother says: "Our family is so thankful that our daughter has this chance to travel and to get her heart healed!"