46-year-old Rathana is a tuk-tuk driver from a rural province in Cambodia. He now works in the capital of Phnom Penh, where he rents a traditional house with his wife and their two sons, ages 4 and 9. His wife works in a garment factory, and his children attend a nearby school. On April 5th, Rathana fell off his motorbike and lost consciousness. He was taken to a hospital on the outskirts of town, where he paid the equivalent of two months' wages for pain medications and routine tests. One month later, he noticed weakness in his left arm and hand, but he delayed seeking treatment due to a lack of funds. When Rathana finally sought the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury to his left 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 the loss of function and sensation. Currently, Rathana is unable to use his left hand, and he cannot work. On July 20th, Rathana will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, the only facility in Cambodia where this treatment is available. After recovery, he will be able to use his hand again, and to return to work. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. After surgery, Rathana hopes that he can go back to work to support his family and do his every day activities.

Antonela, who is just two months old, lives in La Paz, Bolivia, with her parents and two older siblings. Antonela's parents both work as market vendors. Antonela was born with two heart defects: a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart, and a leak between two of the major vessels next to her heart. Fortunately, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, can help Antonela access the care that she needs. As she is too small and fragile to repair both conditions at the same time, surgeons at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will first close the leak next to her heart on April 5th, allowing her to become stronger and more stable. Approximately one month later, Antonela will undergo a second heart surgery to close the hole inside her heart. She and her family need your support to raise the $1,500 for this critical procedure. Antonela's mother said: "Our family is all praying that after this surgery our daughter will be healthier and will start growing and gaining weight."

James, who is 51 years old, enjoys sharing entertaining stories that elicit laughter from those around him. He and his wife have four children, and live in Uganda. James teaches at a local secondary school, which provides him with a small salary to live from. His wife works as a farmer to help support their family. James also engages in farming when he isn't teaching. Thirty years ago, James began to experience troubling symptoms, including an anterior neck swelling. As the swelling was painless, he never considered seeking treatment. However, when he began experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and high blood pressure, he resorted to traditional remedies. Unfortunately, nothing he tried helped, so he decided to consult a doctor. He was diagnosed with bilateral thyroid nodules, and he has been told that he will need surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping James receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on August 8th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale, during which surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and James and his family need your help to raise this money. James says: “I hope for a complete recovery, and I will be relieved from the symptoms I’ve been experiencing for so long."