Borey is 21 years old and a factory worker living in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who works in a garment factory, and their two-year-old son. In his free time, he looks after his son and plays volleyball with friends in the village. Five months ago, Borey was in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his right arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. 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. He is unable to lift his right arm and experiences stiffness in his fingers, which limits his ability to use his hand and perform daily activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Borey traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On April 2nd, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he is expected to regain strength, improve flexibility in his fingers, and be able to use his right arm normally. He can contribute $100, but needs help raising $637 more to fund his procedure and care. Borey said, “I hope that after the surgery, I will be able to lift my right arm again, and the stiffness in my fingers will improve so that I can regain strength and use my hand normally.”

Srey Touch is a 50-year-old mother of four from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who lives with her husband, a fish farmer. They have four children: two work in factories, one works in Korea, and another is a waitress. In her free time, Srey Touch enjoys chatting with friends in her village and spending time with her family. About three years ago, Srey Touch slipped and fell in her backyard, causing a fracture of her right kneecap. After the injury, she sought treatment from a traditional Khmer healer, but the condition did not fully recover. Although she was initially able to walk with only mild discomfort, her knee pain has gradually worsened over time. She now experiences increasing pain and difficulty walking, which affects her mobility and makes daily activities more challenging. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 2nd, Srey Touch will undergo a fracture repair procedure. Surgeons will perform a partial patellectomy or tension band wiring to repair the fractured kneecap and improve knee function. This procedure is expected to reduce pain, improve walking ability, and help her regain greater independence in her daily activities. She can contribute $100, but needs help raising $500 more to fund her procedure and care. Srey Touch said, “I hope this surgery will relieve my knee pain and help me walk comfortably again so I can return to my normal daily activities.”

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”