Veasna is a two-year-old toddler from Cambodia. He is an only child, and lives in a multi-generational home with four other family members. His mother sells farm produce in the local market, and his dad is a rice farmer. One of his aunts works at the front desk in a motorbike repair shop. Veasna spends most of his time at home with his grandmother. He loves playing with other kids in the village and watching cartoons. In June 2023, Veasna burned his right index finger on a hot stove. His mother treated the injury at home with cold water and wound dressings. Unfortunately, burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his burn. It is difficult for him to use his hand, and he experiences much discomfort. When Veasna's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he and his mother traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On April 22nd, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery to help restore function in his hand. Veasna's family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of his treatment and need help raising $395 more to fund the procedure. Veasna's mother says: "I hope he can use his hand easily again in the future, be able to hold objects and play."

Rehma is a 5-year-old student in the first grade. She is the only child in the family. Both her parents are doing business selling second-hand clothes and running a barber shop respectively. Rhema likes smiling and eating but since her problem started, her family said she has not been the same and no longer shares her smile or eats enough. Rhema was well until 2020 when she started becoming weak and lethargic and her behavior changed. Her parents took her to the hospital where tests noted nothing wrong. They later took her to different hospitals seeking help but to no avail. Last year in December, Rhema was sick and could not eat anything, so she lost weight. Upon taking her to a private hospital, a diagnosis of a hernia was made after she pointed out the source of her pain. Her mother Pauline was notified about the need for surgery. Fortunately, she was then tipped by well-wishers to seek medical support from Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH). Hernia is the condition in which soft tissue bulges through a weak point in the abdominal muscle. If the hernia is left untreated, the size of the protruding intestine might get bigger and become strangulated leading to the reduction of blood flow to surrounding tissues which may be life-threatening. On January 26th, Rhema and her mother visited PIH for further assessments despite their financial challenges. Rhema was seen by the surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis of a hernia, and she was then recommended for surgery. She was recommended to our program for financial support and their family is also contributing what they can to her treatment. Rhema's family needs help raising $575 in funds for her surgery, scheduled for January 30th. Rhema’s mother looks forward to a successful surgery that would enable Rhema to concentrate on her school as she continues concentrating on her business. She said, “I just want my only daughter to be well to continue sharing her smiles and concentrate at school.”

Rika is a seven-year-old student in first grade from Cambodia. She lives with her parents, her 87-year-old grandmother, and her older brother. Her parents work in a clothing factory in the province. Rika and her older brother attend the local primary school; her favorite subject is English. At home, her grandmother is teaching her how to cook simple dishes such as fried fish, which is her favorite. Rika also enjoys watching cartoons and following her older brother around. When she grows up, she would like to be a nurse. Three years ago, Rika accidentally burned a finger on her left hand from a hanging electrical wire. Her parents took her to a local children's hospital for care but she soon developed a contracture from the scar tissue. She is unable to straighten her finger, which makes it difficult for her to grasp objects. Her parents are worried she will not be able to develop fine motor skills. When Rika's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore the use of her left hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Rika's mother said, "I hope my daughter's finger will work better and she will have no pain."