Seav is six years old and a second-grade student from Cambodia. She is the middle child of three siblings and lives with her parents, who are rice farmers in Prey Veng Province. Her older brother is in Grade 8, while her younger sister is three years old. She enjoys reading and writing Khmer and likes playing with toys with her cousins and sister. Her favorite foods are caramelized pork and eggs. When she was nine months old, Seav suffered a hot-water burn to her right hand. After the burn healed, scar tissue gradually formed and caused contractures in her right middle and ring fingers, along with a shortened web space. The tight scars restrict movement in her right middle and ring fingers and make it difficult for her to use her right hand for writing. This can make schoolwork and other activities that require hand movement more challenging. When Seav's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 23rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve movement in her right hand, making it easier for her to write and use her hand during school and daily activities. Now, she needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Seav's mother said, “Her hand has been tight since she was very young, and now it is making writing more difficult for her at school. I hope the surgery will help her move her fingers more freely so she can write, learn, and use her hand with greater ease.”

Dina is an 18-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Cham Province with his parents, who are rice farmers. He is the second of four siblings. His older brother is a construction worker, his sister works in a garment factory, and his youngest brother is just three years old. In his free time, he helps his family with farming work in the fields. Dina was born with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip and cleft palate. He underwent surgery for his cleft lip and palate, but there is still a gap in his gums that affects his eating, speaking, and the symmetry of his face. Dina needs surgery to close the gap. Fortunately, Dina visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further treatment. There, surgeons will perform an alveolar bone graft procedure on June 19th. This procedure will help close the gap and support proper eruption of the permanent teeth in the upper jaw. This will improve his ability to chew food more effectively, enhance speech clarity, and support better dental alignment. It will also improve facial appearance and help boost his self-confidence in social interactions and daily life. His family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $615 more to fund his procedure and care. Dina said, “I hope that with treatment, I will be able to improve my teeth and bite properly, speak more clearly, and smile with confidence without feeling shy about my appearance.”

Nuth is a three-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are cashew farmers, and an older sister who is in Grade 2. She enjoys playing with toys with her sister and likes fish sour soup and fried chicken. In December 2023, when she was eight months old, Nuth was accidentally burned by a fire on a cashew farm. She was initially treated with dressings and follow-up care, but after the burn healed, scar tissue formed around her right wrist, causing a contracture. This has limited her wrist's movement and has made it harder for her to use her right hand. When Nuth's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On September 16th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to loosen the tight scar around her right wrist and help improve her wrist movement, making it easier for her to use her right hand as she grows and plays. Now, Nuth's family needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Her mother said, “I hope the surgery will loosen the scar around my daughter’s wrist so she can move her hand more freely. She is still very young, and I want her to grow up able to use both hands comfortably when she plays, learns, and does things for herself.”