Mark is a 2-year-old boy, His mother works as a teacher, while the father owns a small business of selling thrift shoes around town. However, ever since the lock down period during the COVID-19 pandemic, their business has been slow, thus, reducing their household income. The past year has been the most difficult for them, and they are unable to raise funds to seek medical treatment for their son. Last year, while playing with his friends, Mark accidentally pulled on a flask of hot water resulting in the water spilling and burning most parts of his arms and stomach. Following the accident, his mother applied honey and a raw egg on the wound as first aid and then rushed him to the hospital. Mark was given ointments to help the wound heal, but his mother was led to believe that applying mashed cassava mixed with honey would help Mark’s wound heal faster and better compared to the medicine he was given at the hospital. Two months after the incident, Mark no longer had an open wound, but the skin around the fingers of his right hand was badly damaged. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around the burn. Now it is difficult for him to use his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mark receive treatment. On March 3rd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to increase the functionality of his fingers. Now, he needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Mark’s mother says, “Sometimes I wonder if not following the doctor’s advice is the reason my son’s hand is the way it is, and I’m the one responsible for that.”

Fikir is a thirteen-month-old baby from Ethiopia. He is playful and loves spending time with his mother, playing with other children, and watching cartoons. He loves drinking milk and eating foods made from corn flour. Fikir has an older brother who is three years old. His father works as a shoe-shiner and sells plastic bags and socks. His mother used to sell coffee and tea and now stays at home taking care of the children. Fikir was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will eventually be at risk of cancer and infertility. Fortunately, Fikir is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Fikir's mother said, “Once he gets well, I will educate him. I want him to help people in the future. I hope he will be a doctor.”

Chamroeurn is a 20-year-old soccer player from Cambodia. He lives with his mother and father in Preah Sihanouk province. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is a homemaker. Chamroeurn plays soccer and is hoping to get a soccer scholarship to attend university. Last year, while training, he tripped over and fell without any collision. He tore a meniscus- a cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and the thighbone- and ruptured a ligament in his right knee. Chamrouern has pain, swelling, and loss of range of motion in his right knee. He continues to have a feeling of instability or "giving way" while bearing any weight on his knee and requires pain medication. Missing out on training and competing has affected his emotional and social well-being, as well as his identity as a fierce competitor. When Chamroeurn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for five hours seeking treatment. On February 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform an anterior cruciate ligament repair procedure to relocate and secure his right knee. Chamroeurn needs help to fund this $600 procedure. Chamroeurn said: "After surgery, I hope that I can play soccer again and get the scholarship. This will help me to support my parents."