Sreynit is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents and two younger siblings. Her father works as a Forestry Administration officer, while her mother is a housewife. She enjoys studying Khmer literature and hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. When Sreynit was three months old, she suffered a head injury after a wooden part of her hammock broke and struck her head. She was treated at a local hospital for more than two months and was diagnosed with a brain hematoma. Since then, she has had weakness on the left side of her body, including a contracted left wrist. The weakness has affected her left arm and leg. Her left wrist remains held in a flexed and outward-deviated position, with limited movement and difficulty holding objects. She also has mild muscle atrophy and has difficulty balancing on her left leg, which can affect her mobility and everyday activities. When Sreynit's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 16th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse her wrist and left thumb MCP joint and to help provide greater stability to her wrist and thumb and improve the position of her left hand. This may give her a more useful grip and make it easier to use her hand during everyday activities and become more independent. Now, Sreynit needs help to fund this $611 procedure. Sreynit's mother said, “I hope the surgery will make my daughter’s left wrist and thumb more stable and help her use her hand more easily. She has had difficulty using this hand for many years, and I hope the treatment will make everyday activities easier for her and help her become more independent.”

Baby Nardos is a cheerful and playful 8-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys playing with toys and spending time with other children. He lives with his parents and two older sisters. His father works as a carpenter, while his mother is a homemaker who dedicates her time to caring for the family. Baby Nardos was born with a condition called Hirschprung's disease. This is where a portion of the intestine does not have proper nerve function leaving a child with difficulty with bowel function. Doctors explained that he would need surgery but advised the family to wait until he was older and had grown enough to undergo the procedure. When Nardos was five months old, he was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids at Myungsung Christian Medical Center (BKMCM), for specialized treatment. Although the family initially felt anxious and uncertain, they were relieved to learn that Nardos could receive the care he needed. Surgeons will remove the part of the intestine that is not working properly and reconnect the healthy intestine to restore proper bowel function. Baby Nardos is scheduled to undergo this surgery on October 25th with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. The procedure and follow-up care will cost $1,500, and Baby Nardos needs your help. Baby Nardos’s father shares, “I am very happy that my son has this opportunity to receive the medical care he needs. Access to quality healthcare is very important, and I am grateful that my son has received this opportunity at BethanyKids. Thank you so much to BethanyKids and all the staff for welcoming us, supporting us, and giving our family hope. We sincerely appreciate the care and opportunity you have given our son. God bless you all.”

Mekdes is a young mother from Ethiopia. At just 22, this single mother is the heart and soul of her small family, working hard to build a life for herself and her four-year-old child. She runs a small street-side stall selling fried chips, and this humble business is their only source of income. Mekdes has been fighting chronic tonsillitis for four years. Because her business is outdoors and requires her to be on her feet all day, these frequent, painful throat infections make it incredibly difficult for her to work. When she is too sick to stand at her stall, she loses the income they desperately need, creating a constant and exhausting cycle of physical pain and financial worry. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Mekdes, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Mekdes of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Mekdes said, "My deepest hope is to finally achieve lasting health and financial security, so I can work consistently without the constant fear that a sudden, painful illness will take away my ability to provide for my child."