Samnang is a two-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his parents and his 3-year-old brother. His mother stays home to care for the children and his father is in the army. At home, Samnang likes to play with his toys and enjoys eating fried chicken prepared by his mother. At birth, Samnang was diagnosed with arthrogryposis, a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving multiple joint and muscle contractures or stiffness. As a result of this condition, Samnang has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition where the foot is rotated. This causes pain and difficulty walking. Samnang traveled for one and a half hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). There, surgeons will perform a bilateral tendon release and insert a K-wire on March 1st. CSC is requesting $444 to fund Samnang's clubfoot repair. After treatment and therapy, he will be able to walk and be more active. Samnang's mother said, "I hope after surgery, my son will learn to walk, have no pain, and keep up with his older brother."

Win is a 65-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives on a farm with her husband, cultivating their land to grow vegetables. When Win and her husband have the chance, they will go out into the forest and collect leaves used to make roofs on houses and firewood for their home. Around 10 years ago, Win began to experience blurry vision in her left eye. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for her to see. Win was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Win is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach her retina on March 12th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. After her surgery, Win's vision will hopefully be restored and she can resume her daily activities comfortably. Win shared, “I must move around very slowly, sometimes I trip over things and fall because I cannot see them.”

Simon is a 33-year-old man from Kiambu County in Kenya. He is the firstborn in a family of two children. Simon is now married and a father of two of his own children, aged 10 and 7. He is known for his hard work and dedication. He managed to acquire a motorbike, which he used for ferrying riders to support his family. His wife engages in a casual job cooking in a nursery school. Regrettably, in May 2022, Simon had an accident while driving his motorbike. The incident resulted in an open fracture of the left tibia/fibula bones in the leg. He sought medical attention and underwent surgery. However, after about a year, it was discovered that his injury was not healing as expected. The plate was subsequently removed, and a plaster cast was applied. By October 2023, the plaster cast was also removed due to significant pain. A repeat X-ray revealed that the fibula bone had united, but the tibia bone had not. Simon has non-union of the broken bones, prompting the surgeon to recommend another surgery to help him fully heal. Unfortunately, Simon's inability to work currently has left him unable to cover the costs associated with the recommended surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 1st, Simon will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The treatment will reduce the risk of permanent disability and non-union in his leg, enabling him to regain mobility. His current situation not only jeopardizes his ability to return to work but also places a strain on his responsibilities as the head of a family. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Simon said, “I am desperate and at the mercy of the doctor. I hope I can get sponsorship so that my leg can be well again; I can be able to walk and also resume my job because my family is looking up on me.”