Esuphat is an 11-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She was born into a large family of eleven children. Her father has two wives, and Esuphat lives with her mother alongside her brother and sister. Her family belongs to a pastoral community where livestock keeping is the main source of income. Esuphat's father is well known in the area for raising and grazing cattle, sheep, and goats to support his large household. Esuphat has clubfoot on both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, which may make it difficult for her to walk properly as she grows. Without treatment, it will be a challenge for her to wear shoes, participate in daily activities, and eventually walk the long distances often required to attend school. Doctors have recommended treatment through a series of gentle manipulations and casts, followed by a tenotomy procedure and the use of a Foot Abduction Brace (FAB) until the age of five. On June 19th, Esuphat will start clubfoot treatment, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Esuphat's care. After treatment, the position of her feet will be corrected, giving her the best chance of walking comfortably, wearing regular shoes, and living an active and independent life. Esuphat's mother says, "I want what is best for my daughter, and for now her treatment is the first priority."

Sary is A 61-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is a widow and lives with her oldest son. She and her son sell bread to support their family. In her free time, she enjoys watching the news and listening to monks' sermons. About seven years ago, Sary developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage, wind, or dust, and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. Sary learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On March 5th, she will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $298. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Sary said, "I hope that after surgery, my eye will stop tearing and feeling irritated, so I will not worry about my eye anymore. I also hope to return to selling bread comfortably and continue my daily work."

Sambath is 17 years old and a first-year university student majoring in marketing from Cambodia. He lives in a small village in Kampong Cham province with his parents, who work as rice farmers. He is the second child among four siblings. His older sister is studying accounting at university, while his two younger siblings are still attending high school. In addition to helping his family, he works a part-time job to help cover household expenses and support his education. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and doing his assignments. Since he was five years old, Sambath had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in his left ear to perforate. For this reason, Sambath experiences persistent ear pain, ear discharge, hearing loss, and a ringing sound in the ear. This makes it difficult for him to hear clearly, which affects communication with others and his ability to focus in class. Hearing problems have also caused discomfort and reduced his confidence in social interactions and academic activities. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sambath receive treatment. On March 4th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. His family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $338 more to fund his procedure and care. Sambath shared, “Since I was young, I have struggled with my hearing. It is hard for me to follow lessons in class and talk with my friends. I hope that one day I can have surgery to repair my ear so I can hear clearly, study better, and feel more confident when communicating with others.”