Meseret is a brave 24-year-old woman from Ethiopia who is independent and works hard in the flower industry to make a living. Since she was two years old, she has lived with the effects of a serious burn accident. Because her family could only provide basic care at home when it happened, her scars have become very tight over the years. This tightness has pulled her skin so much that she can no longer move her arm or hand freely, making her daily manual labor much more difficult. Twenty-two years ago, as a young child, Meseret suffered a traumatic burn after falling into a fire. Due to a lack of immediate medical access at the time, the injury was managed exclusively with traditional home remedies rather than clinical hospital care. Working in the flower industry is physically demanding for Meseret. It requires constant reaching, careful sorting, and a steady hand needed to pluck petals or apply protective chemicals. For this young woman, the tightness in her skin is a major daily hurdle that affects her speed and physical comfort. Even though Meseret has struggled to move easily for a long time, she is incredibly determined. She consistently pushes herself to do extra work, hoping to show her supervisors that she is a hardworking staff member and to ensure her job is secure every single day. When Meseret learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for many hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, Meseret will receive treatment on March 19th. The surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore a natural range of motion, which will be a life-changing milestone, marking the first time since she was a toddler that her limb has moved without restriction. This change will allow Meseret to fulfill her duties in the flower field without the persistent physical strain caused by the contractures. For her, this surgery is the key to finally working with comfort and moving her body the way it was meant to move. Now, our medical partner is requesting $500 to fund this procedure. "I have lived so long with these struggles that I forgot what it feels like to be whole. I am so excited to finally do the things that used to be impossible for me. I want to work in the fields and move my arm freely, leaving behind the pain and the limits that have defined my life since I was a child," said Meseret.

Neary is a resilient widow and devoted mother of two from Cambodia. She is a 52-year-old grocery seller from Pursat Province who lives with her daughter. Her husband passed away six years ago due to an illness. She has two children—her son is a police officer, and her daughter is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and planting vegetables around her home. In 2022, Neary was involved in a motorcycle accident that caused a fracture of her left femur. After the accident, she received treatment at a clinic in Pursat Province, where doctors performed internal fixation surgery and implanted hardware to stabilize the fracture. In 2023, after a proximal screw broke, she underwent another procedure to remove the broken screw and replace it with a new one. She is now experiencing lower back pain, pain in her left leg, difficulty walking, and occasional stiffness. The non-union of her left femur has affected her mobility and causes discomfort that makes daily activities and running her grocery-selling work difficult. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 26th, Neary will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will remove the problematic top screw and use bone grafting to promote proper healing of the fracture. It will help reduce pain, improve stability, and allow her to walk more comfortably and independently again. Neary can contribute $100, but needs help raising $278 more to fund her procedure and care. Neary said, “After the surgery, I hope that my pain will be relieved and that I will be able to walk comfortably again. I hope to recover well and return to my normal daily activities without difficulty. I am very thankful to the doctors and everyone who is helping make my treatment possible.”

Heziel is a 48-year-old security guard from Malawi. He is married with seven children, three of whom are married and three still in school. Since 2017, Heziel has been living with an epigastric hernia, experiencing persistent pain and intermittent swelling that worsens during coughing or strenuous activity. Over the years, he sought care from different hospitals without lasting improvement, and despite being scheduled for surgery, he faced repeated delays. His condition has since worsened to the point where he has had to stop reporting for work. Fortunately, on May 6th, Heziel will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. He is raising $575 to fund the surgery, which will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. "Reaching this far, you are my last hope; I have been hearing a lot about the donor program, and I think this is now my time to receive my healing. Kindly consider me," said Heziel.