Sak is a five-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Thom with his mother and older brother, who is in Grade 6. His parents divorced three years ago, and he is currently under the care of his mother, who works as a chef in a private household. He enjoys going to school and likes learning Khmer reading and writing. In his free time, he plays outdoor games with his friends in the neighborhood. His favorite food is vegetable soup, and he hopes to become a police officer in the future. For the past three months, Sak has been experiencing difficulty in breathing during sleep, difficulty swallowing, and recurrent sore throat (pharyngitis). This has affected his sleep quality, which has led to reduced energy, and impacted his ability to focus at school. The recurrent throat infections also cause frequent discomfort and illness. Sak was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Sak, which is scheduled to take place on May 13th. During the procedure, surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sak of his symptoms, allowing him a healthier life. His mother says, “After the surgery, I hope my son can breathe and sleep better, so he can wake up energetic, attend school happily, and enjoy being a child again.”

Hervens is a 17-year-old high-school student from Haiti. He lives in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince with his parents, four brothers, and two sisters. His parents are both small-scale vendors. Hervens is in his second year of high school and likes art and literature. Hervens has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. Hervens needs fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 23rd, he will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing to pay for surgery. Hervens's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Hervens's family overseas. Hervens says: "I am looking forward to having more energy, and to being stronger after my surgery!"

Phary is a six-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in a small neighbourhood near Phnom Penh with her parents and her two-year-old younger sister. Her parents sell clothes to support the family and work hard to provide for their children. She is in Grade 1 and enjoys learning to read and write Khmer. In her free time, she likes playing with toys with her younger sister. Her favorite foods are caramelized pork and grilled fish, and she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up. Phary was born with an abnormality in her right leg. Three months ago, she underwent surgery to correct the position of her leg. Doctors implanted metal plates in her right leg to help repair the abnormal bone. Recently, the area around the metal plate became infected and swollen. This has caused her pain and made it difficult for her to walk comfortably. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On March 16th, Phary will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $378. This treatment will help remove the infection and allow her leg to heal so she can walk comfortably again and return to her normal activities as a child. Phary's mother shared, “I feel very worried seeing my child in pain and having difficulty walking. I hope the doctors can treat her so the infection will heal and she can walk comfortably again like other children.”