Mekdes is a young mother from Ethiopia. At just 22, this single mother is the heart and soul of her small family, working hard to build a life for herself and her four-year-old child. She runs a small street-side stall selling fried chips, and this humble business is their only source of income. Mekdes has been fighting chronic tonsillitis for four years. Because her business is outdoors and requires her to be on her feet all day, these frequent, painful throat infections make it incredibly difficult for her to work. When she is too sick to stand at her stall, she loses the income they desperately need, creating a constant and exhausting cycle of physical pain and financial worry. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Mekdes, which is scheduled to take place on May 23rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Mekdes of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Mekdes said, "My deepest hope is to finally achieve lasting health and financial security, so I can work consistently without the constant fear that a sudden, painful illness will take away my ability to provide for my child."

Sokha is a 63-year-old woman from Cambodia. She lives on the outskirts of Phnom Penh with her sister, who works as a cleaner. She has one son who works at a motorbike company. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and doing household chores. In April 2025, Sokha was involved in a road traffic accident that caused a fracture to her left wrist. She was treated at a government hospital, where she underwent surgery to stabilize the fracture using a metal plate and screws. Since then, she has experienced persistent pain in her wrist and fingers, making it difficult to perform daily tasks like cooking and household chores, and significantly affecting her independence and quality of life. Fortunately, on April 22nd, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, will help Sokha undergo a hardware removal procedure — a surgery to remove the plate and screws from her wrist, which will allow her to use her hand more comfortably again. She can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $328 more to fund her procedure and care. Sokha said, “Since the accident, I have had constant pain in my wrist and fingers, and it makes it very hard for me to do my daily work. I hope that after treatment, I can use my hand normally again without pain and return to my everyday life.”

Chan is 54 years old and a rice farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, a grocery seller. They have three grown children: one works for a private company, one is a construction worker, and the youngest is a rice farmer. In addition to farming rice, he often works as a day laborer to earn extra income and support his family. Approximately eight months ago, Chan was involved in a car accident while traveling as a passenger. During the collision, he was thrown against the interior of the vehicle and sustained a fracture of his right upper arm. He initially sought treatment from a traditional healer, but the fracture failed to heal properly and developed into a non-union. He experiences ongoing pain, weakness, and limited function in his right arm. The injury makes it difficult for him to lift, carry, and perform physical work, affecting both his farming activities and his ability to earn income for his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 3rd, Chan will undergo a fracture repair procedure, where surgeons will perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using a plate and screws to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. This procedure is expected to reduce pain, restore strength and function to his arm, and help him return to work and daily activities more comfortably. Chan can contribute $100, but needs help raising an additional $500 to fund his procedure and care. Chan said, “I have lived with this injury for many months. I hope the surgery will help my arm heal properly so I can work again, support my family, and live without pain.”