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."

Kwangu is a farmer and a single mother of three adult children. She enjoys taking care of her grandchild and eating maize porridge with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Kwangu was diagnosed with a goiter, which was affecting her movement, daily activities, and health. She was referred to Partners in Hope Medical Center where she was told she needed a thyroidectomy, a procedure where surgeons remove a part or all of the thyroid glands. She is scheduled for surgery on February 27th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,015 for the procedure. Kwangu believes that the surgical operation will help her get back home and be with her children. She looks forward to getting better after surgery so she can continue her farm work and support her family as a single parent.

Ireen is a 24-year-old single mother from Malawi. To support her family, Ireen grows maize. While fetching firewood, Ireen fell and fractured her elbow. Because of the pain, she is unable to perform daily tasks and work on the farm. If left untreated, it may result in the non-union of the fractured bone. She is scheduled for surgery on March 12th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $525 for her surgery and care. Treatment will relieve Ireen of the pain and help her resume working on her farm again. Ireen says, “I hope to receive treatment so that I can take care of my child.”