Seav Y is a four-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is a cheerful kindergarten student from Kompong Cham Province. She lives with her parents and two siblings. Her father is a math teacher, and her mother sells fish at a local market. She is the youngest child in the family, with an older brother in Grade 6 and an older sister in Grade 3. She enjoys writing and reading Khmer at school. In her free time, she loves playing with her toys. Her favorite meals are soups, especially those with plenty of vegetables, and she dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up. One year ago, Seav Y had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the eardrum. For this reason, Seav Y experiences left ear pain, intermittent ear discharge with a foul smell, and hearing loss. This condition makes it difficult for her to hear clearly, which can affect her learning and communication. The ongoing pain and discharge also cause discomfort and may prevent her from fully enjoying school and playtime like other children. Seav Y traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 21st, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $477 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Seav Y's mother said, “I hope she can receive proper treatment so she can be free from pain and discomfort, and live happily like other children.”

Ilhaam is a seven-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents and her younger sister, the only surviving children after her parents tragically lost their first set of twins shortly after birth. Ilhaam is a cheerful child who enjoys playing with other children in her neighborhood. She loves singing and dancing. Ilhaam’s father works as a primary school teacher and is the sole provider for the family. Although he works hard to support his household, the cost of surgery is beyond what he can afford. Her parents are hopeful that with support, their daughter will receive the treatment she needs to walk comfortably and return to enjoying childhood activities. Ilhaam has been diagnosed with unilateral left valgus, a condition where the left knee angles inward. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Over time, Ilhaam's condition has worsened, and she has begun experiencing pain while standing or walking for long periods. Her parents first sought help at a nearby health facility where they were told that her bones might be weak and she was given calcium supplements. Despite following the advice, her condition did not improve. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $631 to fund treatment for Ilhaam. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 10th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Ilhaam's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Ilhaam's father says, "I only wish to see my daughter walk, dance and play without pain, and grow up like other children."

Sok Ny is a three-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother in Kampot Province, Cambodia. His parents work in the city; his father is a construction worker and his mother is a chef in a restaurant. He is the youngest of two siblings, and his older sister is 6 years old. In his free time, he enjoys playing toy cars with his sister. His favorite food is fried pork. In April 2025, Sok Ny was home when he sustained a burn injury affecting the right foot. This resulted in burn contracture of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes of the right foot. The burn contracture has caused tightening of the skin and deformity of the toes, making it difficult for him to wear shoes and walk comfortably. It affects his daily activities, and the family is concerned about his physical appearance and emotional well-being as he grows older. When Sok Ny's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On May 19th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve foot function, allow normal shoe wear, and help him walk more comfortably and confidently. Now, Sok Ny's family needs help to fund this $652 procedure. His grandmother said, “After the surgery, I hope he will be able to walk comfortably, wear shoes normally, and grow up with confidence and happiness.”