Vuthy is a 21-year-old day laborer from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Cham Province with his parents, who work as day laborers. He is the fourth of five siblings. His three older siblings are married, and his youngest sister is in Grade 12. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. About six months ago, Vuthy was involved in a motor vehicle accident that fractured his left upper arm. He underwent surgery at a private clinic, but the bone became infected and did not heal properly, resulting in a chronic wound and a radial nerve injury. He experiences persistent pain, stiffness, and pus discharge from the wound on his left upper arm. The radial nerve injury also prevents him from lifting his wrist or straightening his fingers, making it difficult to use his left hand for work and daily activities. When Vuthy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On August 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove the damaged and infected tissue from his left upper arm, helping control the infection and promote wound healing. This is an important first step before further reconstructive procedures to restore the function of his arm and hand. Vuthy's family can contribute $50, but needs help to raise $367 more to fund his procedure and care. Vuthy said, “I hope this surgery will remove the infection, heal my arm, and help me regain the use of my hand so I can return to my normal life and become independent again.”

Segundo is a 59-year old man from the Philippines who works as a driver. His wife is unemployed, and they occasionally receive help with household expenses from their child, who runs a small business. Segundo has been living with thyroid concerns for the last year. Still, he pushes through to enjoy singing during special occasions and family gatherings. Segundo remains hopeful about his recovery and shared that undergoing free surgery would ease his family's financial stress and keep them from having to borrow money to pay for his treatment. A year ago, Segundo began to experience troubling symptoms, including periodic palpitations and a throbbing sensation in his eyes. He was diagnosed with multinodular non-toxic goiter and needs surgery to heal. A recent ultrasound showed that the number and size of his thyroid nodules had increased, prompting concern from his family and a desire to have surgery before his condition worsens. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Segundo receive treatment. On August 29th, he will undergo a thyroidectomy at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. During this procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. Part of his treatment cost is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is raising the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Segundo's procedure and care. Segundo said, "I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to receive free surgery. I look forward to getting better and continuing to enjoy singing and spending time with my family without worrying about my health."

Nich is a 50-year-old woman from Cambodia. She is married and lives in Battambang Province with her husband, who serves in the army at the border. They have three children; the eldest sells pork at a local market, the second child works as a coffee seller, and the youngest is a university student. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and helping with household tasks. In September 2024, Nich suffered severe burns in a gas explosion while cooking. Although her burn wounds healed after treatment at a local clinic, she developed significant scar contractures affecting her neck and both armpits, with the neck being the most severely affected area. She later underwent burn contracture release surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Following that procedure, her condition improved, and she experienced better movement and comfort. However, over time, the scar contracture gradually recurred, causing increasing tightness around her neck. The tight scars make it difficult for Nich to turn or extend her head normally, and she sometimes struggles to eat because of the restricted movement. On June 18th, surgeons at CSC will perform a free flap procedure to release the severe neck contracture and reconstruct the affected area with healthy tissue. This surgery is expected to improve neck movement, reduce tightness and discomfort, enhance function, and lower the risk of future recurrence. The procedure will also help her eat more comfortably and carry out daily activities with greater ease and independence. Nich said, “I am very grateful for the treatment and support I received before. It helped me feel much better for a long time. I hope this surgery will further improve my condition, allow me to move my neck more freely, and help me enjoy daily life with my family without discomfort.”