Seng Hour is a 16-year-old student who resides in Pursat province with his parents and two younger sisters. His father is a teacher, his mother is a rice farmer, and his sisters are students at the local school. Seng Hour is in grade 10 and enjoys chemistry; he would like to become a teacher. At home, he enjoys his mother's fried beef and vegetables and playing volleyball with friends. In August 2023, Seng Hour was in a motorbike accident and fell onto his right side. His family sought treatment from a local clinic, but his right arm and hand remain paralyzed, and he cannot use them. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand, and injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Because Seng Hour is unable to use his hand, he has stopped attending school. Seng Hour traveled to Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre to receive treatment, the only center in the country where the treatment he needs is available. On January 9th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery with the goal of regaining some function in his arm. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Seng Hour said: "I hope the doctors can fix my arm so I can go to school and get a job to help my family."

Racheal is a middle-aged small businesswoman from Uganda. She is the mother of one and shared that she separated from her husband due to domestic violence. She now lives with her twenty-five-year-old daughter and her grandchild. She works hard to provide for her family. Eleven years ago, Racheal began to experience troubling symptoms, including a neck swelling. It was small and painless initially but has increased in size over the years. The swelling now causes respiratory problems, worrying Racheal. A doctor examined Racheal and diagnosed a multi-nodular goiter - an enlarged thyroid gland with separate bumps (nodules) on it. Racheal needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Racheal receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 8th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and Racheal and her family need help raising money. Racheal says, “I believe with your support I will have a successful surgery with a positive outcome for my life.”

Srey Mey lives in Kampong Cham province with her parents and older sister. Both of her parents work in nearby rice fields. Srey Mey enjoys science class and hopes to be a nurse when she's older. She studies with her friends and likes listening to pop music in her free time. Since she was little, Srey Mey's parents noticed stiffness in the right side of her neck. A local clinic diagnosed her with torticollis, a twisting of the neck that causes the head to tilt at an odd angle. The family has hoped she would grow out of it, but her condition has not changed. She has a limited range of motion and often feels embarrassed. Fortunately, a friend in their village told Srey Mey's family about the Children's Surgical Centre. Srey Mey and her mom traveled two and a half hours for treatment. Doctors recommend a tendon surgery to restore the range of motion in her neck. Surgery will resolve her head tilt and improve her quality of life. Srey Mey shared, "I hope I can move my neck normally and not worry about this anymore."