Thavoreak is a five-year-old Grade 1 student from Cambodia. His parents raise pigs to support the family. He enjoys reading and writing Khmer at school and playing with toy cars at home. His favorite food is sour fish soup. Thavoreak was born with polydactyly of his left hand. This means that he has an extra thumb on his left hand. The extra thumb cannot bend, straighten, or move sideways and has no function. Its appearance makes him feel shy around other children and may affect his confidence as he grows and interacts with others. Fortunately, on October 16th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra digit. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $379 to fund this procedure. The surgery will improve mobility, and he will feel more comfortable and confident when playing, learning, and spending time with other children. Thavoreak's parents said, “We want our son to grow up feeling comfortable and confident about himself. He sometimes feels shy because of the extra thumb on his hand, and we hope the surgery will help him feel less self-conscious and use his hand more comfortably as he grows.”

Seng is a 16-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and two sisters. His older sister sells clothes, while his younger sister is in Grade 9. He enjoys studying Khmer literature and hopes to work in an IT company when he grows up. During his free time, he enjoys reading books and playing games. In 2024, Seng was involved in a road traffic accident involving a motorbike and a car, which caused a closed fracture of his right ankle. He initially visited a private clinic and was later treated by a traditional practitioner, who applied a splint for two months. A wound developed a few days after the splint was applied and later became infected, requiring medical treatment to clean the wound and remove damaged tissue. After the splint was removed, he could no longer lift the front of his right foot. He has been living with this condition for approximately two years. He needs a tendon and nerve repair procedure to regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Seng receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on October 21st. His family can contribute $12.50, but needs help raising $689 more to fund his procedure and care. Seng's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help my son walk more easily and continue his studies without difficulty. As his mother, I want to see him move freely and have a brighter future.”

Htee is a 22-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, mother, daughter, and three cousins in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her daughter and cousins are all students in the camp. Her husband works as a day laborer, and her mother is retired. In her free time, she loves to weave Karen traditional clothes and spend time with her family. Htee is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Htee undergo a C-Section on November 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Htee needs your support. Htee said, "Without your help, I could not afford the cost of the surgery. Thank you for giving me and my baby a chance for a healthy future.”