Habtamu is an 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia who lives with his mother in the city and shares a close bond with his brother and sister. Habtamu experienced an accidental puncture wound to his left leg. Unfortunately, the injury never healed properly. For over a year, he dealt with continuous pain, daily swelling, and persistent fluid discharge from the wound. Because of the constant discomfort, he was forced to stop attending his fifth-grade classes. He is unable to run, play, or move around. Following a review at our medical partner's care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors recommended that Habtamu undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on September 30th, Habtamu will undergo surgery that will help his leg heal, alleviate his symptoms, and prevent future health complications. He needs help raising $900 to fund his procedure and care. Habtamu's mother shared, "I hope to see him walking confidently, as seeing him suffer at his young age breaks my heart."

Rebira is a young boy from Ethiopia. This five-year-old boy lives with his mother and his older sister. His father is a soldier, serving away from home, so his mother raises the children on her own. She earns a small income selling vegetables at the local market. Rebira arrived at the hospital wearing his traditional dress, as last month was a season of holidays in Ethiopia. He came full of hope that he would finally be free from the trouble he has lived with for so long. His problems began more than three years ago with repeated throat infections. A year ago, surgeons removed his tonsils, but the adenoids behind his nose were left in place. They are still swollen, and they continue to block his airway. Because of this, he snores loudly, breathes through his mouth day and night, and wakes often. He never sleeps properly, and he wakes up tired. Poor sleep leaves him exhausted every day. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund surgery for Rebira, which is scheduled to take place on October 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Rebira of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. Rebira's mother shared, "We hope this is the last time he has to go into an operating room. We just want him to be completely healthy."

Phors is a 35-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Phors is married and lives with her husband, who works in a factory, and their two children, one in Grade 6 and the other in kindergarten. She enjoys listening to music and spending time caring for her children. Three months ago, Phors had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in her right ear to perforate. For this reason, Phors experiences pain, ringing in her right ear, reduced hearing, and ear discharge. An examination found a perforation in her right eardrum, and she was diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Her ear problems make it difficult for Phors to hear clearly and communicate comfortably with others. As a rice farmer and mother, she hopes to improve her hearing so she can manage her farming work and care for her children more comfortably. On October 27th, with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Phors will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. She can contribute $100, but needs help raising $263 more to fund her procedure and care. Phors said, “I hope the surgery will help me hear better and reduce the problems with my right ear. I want to communicate more easily with others and continue my farming work comfortably. I’m looking forward to feeling better and returning to my daily activities without so much worry about my ear.”