Allen is a 25-year-old mother from Uganda. Allen enjoys cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her family. She farms for a living but due to limited land, most of her crop is used to feed the family. If there is a surplus, she can sell them to generate income for the family. Allen came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), complaining of a swelling on her left thigh. For two years, Allen has found it uncomfortable to walk and the swollen area is painful upon touch. She experiences paralysis whenever she sits or stands for long. At AMH, Allen was examined and diagnosed with a neurofibroma, a type of peripheral nerve tumor. It was recommended that the neurofibroma be excised. On March 12th, surgeons will remove the mass and Allen needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Allen says, “I’ve been in pain for the past two years but am hopeful that with your support, I will be operated on and will get better.”

Theare is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. He has two older brothers and they live with their grandmother and cousins in Battambang province. His parents are divorced and his mother works in a clothing factory in another province to support her children. In school, he is in grade five and enjoys classes about Khmer history. He would like to be a teacher when he is older. At home, he enjoys soccer, but cannot play due to his condition. Two years ago, he was riding with his brother on a motorbike and fell, suffering a severe injury to his left tibia or shin. His leg became red, swollen, and painful. His grandmother took him to a local hospital, where he had several different surgeries. Unfortunately, none of the surgeries repaired his leg and has since been diagnosed with a delayed union fracture or a fracture that will not heal without intervention. The local surgeons told his grandmother they could not do any more surgery to fix his leg as Theare needed a more complicated procedure that would entail internal fixation and bone grafting. His current condition hinders his mobility, forcing him to rely on crutches and endure constant pain, impeding his ability to keep up with school and indulge in his love for soccer. When Theare learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left tibia and to correct the non-union. This will help him walk unaided and help relieve the pain. Now, Theare needs help to fund this $600 procedure. Theare said, "I hope to walk with no pain and continue my schooling."

Chouch, a 52-year-old father of three, has one son and two daughters, hailing from Cambodia. He and his wife are both construction workers based near the northern border of Thailand. Their sons work in nearby rice paddies to help support the family, and their daughter recently got married and moved to a neighboring village. In his free time, Chouch enjoys listening to music and harvesting fruit. Five months ago, Chouch was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture on his finger and a loss of mobility in his left upper arm. He was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, which is a sudden damage to nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Because of this condition, Chouch is experiencing paralysis on the left arm and has been unable to work. Chouch traveled to our medical partner's care facility, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On March 18th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery and upon recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Chouch and his family are requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Chouch says, "I hope that I can one day move my arm again and go back to work to support my family."