Belta is a 14-year-old girl from Kenya. Belta's father operates a boda-boda taxi in town, while her mother sells clothing in a nearby market. Belta is the second of three children and she aspires to become a pilot. When Belta was 10 years old, her mother noticed a change in how she walked. Belta would complain of pain while walking, which emanated from her back to her legs. Belta's family heard about our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure Hospital, through a friend, whose child had been successfully treated for a similar condition. The doctors found that Belta has a curvature of the spine and scheduled her for posterior instrument fusion surgery to take place on March 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to fund Belta's life-changing surgery which will enable her to walk without pain and discomfort. Belta shared, “I am looking forward to a complete recovery, continuing and finishing my studies well, and becoming a better person in the future who will greatly impact society.”

Sonita lives in Takeo province with her parents, brother, and aunt. Her parents and brother are rice farmers, and her aunt stays home to care for the house. Sonita has two other siblings who have married and left home. At home, she likes to read books or help cook for the family. A year and a half ago, Sonita was in a motorbike accident and injured her right leg. As she and her family could not afford the surgery, she has been suffering from chronic pain in her right knee, has difficulty walking, and working in the factory. Sonita and her mother traveled for two and a half hours to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), where she was diagnosed with a poorly healed tibia fracture with varus malunion. This occurs when a fractured bone heals in an abnormal position. On April 25th, doctors will perform an osteotomy, where the bone is cut or rebroken at or near the site of the original fracture, and then restored to its correct anatomical alignment. Sonita and her family are able to contribute $100 but need help to raise an additional $369 to fund the cost of the procedure. Sonita said, "I hope this operation will fix my leg so I can find a good job and have no pain."

Samnang is a 31-year-old farmer from Cambodia. Residing in rural Kampong Speu province with his elderly parents and older brother, Samnang and his brother are subsistence rice farmers. What they do not eat, they sell at the local market in exchange for vegetables and other items. Before his injury, he enjoyed football matches with neighbors as part of everyday life. In September 2023, Samnang had a motorbike collision with a car, falling hard on his right shoulder on the pavement. This caused head trauma and paralysis of his right shoulder and arm. He was taken to a local hospital, where it was confirmed that he ruptured his brachial plexus, causing certain muscles to be unusable. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. However, he was unable to afford the care that is required to help and has not been able to use his arm or work for the past four months. He has pain over his shoulder and no sensation in his forearm. Samnang traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On January 30th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to have some function of his right arm restored. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Samnang said: "I hope I can use my hand again so I can work and my brother will not have to take care of me."