Nidhi is a 16-year-old girl from India. She lives in Mirzamurad, a village near Varanasi in northern India. She lives with her parents, two sisters, and a brother. Her father works as a halwai, preparing traditional Indian sweets to support the family. Nidhi is currently in the 9th grade and loves dancing. When she was just 2½ years old, Nidhi accidentally fell into a container of hot sugar syrup being used to make gulab jamuns, a sweet dessert. She sustained severe burns to her right chest and arm. Although she received wound care at the time, her family was unable to access reconstructive surgery. As Nidhi grew, the burn scars tightened and developed into contractures, affecting her right breast and elbow. These scars have restricted movement and altered her appearance during adolescence, a time when many young people become increasingly aware of their bodies and self-image. Nidhi's family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and sought treatment. On June 19th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the tight burn scars on Nidhi’s right chest and elbow, improving both movement and comfort. The procedure is expected to increase the range of motion in her arm, making everyday activities such as dressing, writing, carrying schoolbooks, and participating in household tasks easier. The surgery will also address the contracture affecting her right breast, allowing for more normal development and reducing the physical discomfort and asymmetry caused by the scar tissue. By reducing the limitations caused by her burn scars, the surgery will allow Nidhi to participate more freely in school, social activities, and her favourite hobby, dancing. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Nidhi shared, "I hope this treatment will make everyday activities easier for me."

Sabita is 12 years old and a 5th-grade student from India. She is the youngest among six siblings, having four brothers and two sisters. Sabita is cheerful, cooperative, and emotionally resilient. She enjoys drawing and dancing, which reflect her creative and lively personality. She comes across as a determined child with a positive attitude towards treatment and recovery, supported closely by her family. Her family engages in farming and daily wage labor. About 10 years ago, Sabita sustained a severe burn injury after accidentally falling into boiling curry. The injury resulted in post-burn scars and contractures involving her right hand, elbow, and forearm, leading to difficulty in movement and function. Sabita has been receiving care with our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and has been under follow-up for the management of post-burn treatment. The burn injury and resulting post-burn contractures have significantly affected Sabita's mobility, function, and daily activities. Her scars and limited movement also affect her self-confidence and social interactions with peers. These limitations may interfere with academic performance, play, and participation in extracurricular activities such as dancing, which she enjoys. When Sabita's family learned about G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, they traveled for 2.5 hours seeking treatment. On May 27th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery, which will improve her mobility and prevent further worsening of the post-burn contractures. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Sabita's father shared, "Our only wish is that our daughter can use her hand properly and live like other children. She has suffered a lot since childhood, yet she always stays cheerful and brave."

Zay Yar is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, grandmother, an older brother, and a younger sister in Karen State, Burma. Her parents are farmers, while she and her siblings are students. The family also grows some corn for selling. When she was around three or four months old, her mother noticed that Zay Yar had a small mass on her left upper eye. She was brought to the hospital but the doctor said there was no need to worry and that it didn't have to be treated. Recently, however, the mass started to grow bigger. Doctors want Zay Yar to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Zay Yar's CT scan and care, scheduled for April 3rd. Zay Yar's mother said, "Zay Yar's left eye has some blurred vision due to the mass slowly increasing in size and covering her eye. I worry about her condition as it is gradually getting worse."