Lawamutwe is a 7-year-old boy from Tanzania and the youngest of five children. His father works as a cattle breeder, and his mother is a dedicated stay-at-home parent. Unfortunately, due to a prolonged drought in the region, Lawamutwe's family has faced significant challenges in the past year. Their cattle have suffered starvation, resulting in losses and reduced financial stability. Lawamutwe and his father arrived at our medical partner's care center, brought by one of their relatives who live in the city. Due to a language barrier, the team brought in a Maasai translator to facilitate effective communication. Lawamutwe's father shared that he traveled over 400 kilometers to reach the care center to find medical care for his son. After a heartfelt welcome from our team, the staff performed a comprehensive medical assessment. They determined that Lawamutwe's orthopedic condition started at the age of three. He has shown signs of bowed legs, which have progressively worsened with time. As a young Maasai boy, grazing livestock is a fundamental part of Lawamutwe's culture, but his limited ability to walk long distances prevents him from engaging with his peers during these activities. Lawamutwe was diagnosed with a condition in which his left leg is bowed outward, and his right leg is bowed inward. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. On June 6th, Lawamutwe will undergo surgery to help restore his mobility, allow him to participate in various activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund this procedure. Lawamutwe's father said: "I wish for my son to be able to go and be with his fellow boys. I hope his legs won't be a reason he is always alone."

Dara is a 37-year-old father of two from Kampong Chnang province in Cambodia. Dara and his wife work in the local market, selling second-hand clothes. In February 2019, Dara was in a motor vehicle accident and fractured his left elbow. He went to a local hospital, where doctors implanted hardware to stabilize his fracture. Now the bone has healed completely, but the hardware remains in his arm, causing Dara discomfort. Surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On May 1st, Dara will undergo a hardware removal procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will improve the mobility of his arm and alleviate his pain. Dara needs your help to raise $304 to fund this procedure. Dara shared: "I want the metal removed from my arm so I can be comfortable again."

Sana is a six-year-old girl living with her parents and younger sister in Prey Veng province in Cambodia. Sana's father is a police officer while her mother stays at home to look after Sana and her sister. In December 2022, Sana fell and cut her left pinky finger on a piece of broken tile. She received stitches at a local clinic to close the wound, which has now healed completely. Unfortunately, a contracture has developed and Sana can't move her finger, making it difficult to grasp objects or use her hand as she did prior to injuring her finger. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is seeking assistance to fund the $487 contracture release surgery Sana needs. She is currently scheduled for surgery on May 11th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. After the surgery is complete, Sana should regain the full use of her hand. Sana's mother hopes that after surgery, Sana can use her hand again and go back to school quickly.