Zackaria is a 9-month-old baby from Tanzania. His young parents work hard to take care of their only child's needs. They used to depend on farming to make ends meet, but recently the rainy season has been unreliable due to the climate. Zackaria's father, working together with the mother, then started a small business selling food products. They are now trying to run their new business while raising their baby. Zackaria has clubfoot of both his feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes as he grows older. Fortunately, Zackaria traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Zackaria's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to grow up active and healthy. Zackaria’s father says, “it is my wish to see my son with normal feet.”

Channet is a bright, 14-year-old student, living in Cambodia. Channet was orphaned when he was a young child, and now lives with his oldest sister. In addition, he has six other siblings to look after him. In school, his favorite subjects are social science and mathematics, and he hopes to be a math teacher when he completes his studies. Six years ago Channet developed an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in his left ear to perforate. As a result, Channet experiences ear discharge, pain, fever, tinnitus and hearing loss. He struggles to communicate with those around him, and he has stopped attending school due to his hearing loss and frequent infections. Channet sought help from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and he is now scheduled to undergo a myringoplasty at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre on December 21st. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation, improving Channet's ability to hear, and preventing further infections. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $487 to fund this procedure, and all of the medications, supplies, and inpatient care that Channet will need. Channet shared: "I hope after the operation I will feel better, get my hearing back, speak well with others, and enjoy going back to school."

Darika is 11 years old, and lives in Phnom Penh City, Cambodia with her parents and her two younger brothers. She attends grade seven in public school, and her favorite subject is Khmer literature. When she grows up, she would like to be a doctor. At home, she enjoys writing stories and reading books to her brothers. Darika has genou valgum or knock knees. It is a knee misalignment that turns her knees inward. Additionally, her left leg is shorter than her right leg. This causes her to limp, and if she walks for too long, her legs become painful. She shared that she feels embarrassed by how her legs look, and doesn't want other children to make fun of her. Darika needs to under go a procedure using metal plates to realign her legs, while lengthening the bones in her left leg. With the aid of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, Darika is now scheduled for surgery at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, on December 12th. Darika and her family need your help to pay for this procedure, which will cost $469. The surgery, and physical therapy afterwards, will enable Darika to walk without pain. Darika's mother said: "I hope my daughter's legs will be straight, and she will be able to be like other children, and not be in pain anymore."