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.”

Zaw Min is a 55-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, son, and grandson in Tak Province, Thailand. Before his condition worsened, he ran a bicycle repair shop at his home. However, he had to stop working due to his deteriorating health. His wife earns a living by selling vegetables. In the middle of 2024, Zaw Min began to experience troubling symptoms, including back pain. He was diagnosed with urethral stones and was referred to a specialty hospital for further care. Currently, he experiences some discomfort while walking and also experiences back pain. Doctors recommend performing a cystolithotomy, a procedure to remove bladder stones, to address his symptoms. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 19th. Once completed, Zaw Min will hopefully live more comfortably and can return to work. Zaw Min said, "Thank you very much for giving me a hand. It relieves me of my stress, especially financially."

Reaksa is 14 years old and a 10th grader from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family and lives with her parents. Her father works as a chef in a restaurant, while her mother works as a cleaner. She enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes drawing and listening to music. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. Around the age of 10, Reaksa's mother first noticed that her daughter’s back was becoming curved. Over the years, the curvature gradually worsened. She now has severe scoliosis, with her spine bending significantly toward the right side and associated kyphosis. Her condition has begun to affect her daily life. She has difficulty walking and sitting for long periods, and the discomfort she experiences while sitting makes it difficult for her to concentrate in class. Despite these challenges, she continues to attend school and work toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Until now, her family has not been able to afford the treatment she needs. Her family learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. On August 18th, she will undergo posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from T3 to L3, a surgical procedure that uses instrumentation to correct and stabilize the curved portion of her spine. She needs help of $1,500 to help cover the costs of her surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. The surgery aims to improve the alignment of her spine and prevent the severe curvature from progressing further. Reaksa's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help manage my daughter’s severe spinal deformity, improve her comfort and posture, and allow her to stay active and continue her studies and daily activities. I want her to feel more confident and comfortable as she grows.”