Srey Neang is a 22-year-old factory worker from Prey Veng, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers, and is the middle child of three siblings. Before her injury, she worked to help support her family. In her free time, she enjoyed listening to music and watching movies. In April 2025, Srey Neang was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that caused an open fracture of her left femur. She lost consciousness for about 12 hours and was hospitalized for two weeks. Over the past year, she has undergone 10 surgeries, but the fracture became infected and developed chronic osteomyelitis. During her most recent operation, doctors placed an external fixator and antibiotic bone cement to control the infection. Despite these treatments, she continues to have drainage from the pin sites, a large bone defect in her left femur, pain, and difficulty walking. Srey Neang was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for specialized care. On July 17th, she will undergo surgery to remove the antibiotic bone cement, perform bone grafting, reconstruct the femur with an external frame, and perform an osteotomy to gradually restore the missing bone. This complex limb reconstruction aims to eliminate the infection, promote new bone growth, improve her ability to walk, and help her return to work. However, she cannot afford the full cost of treatment and needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $483 more to fund her procedure and care. Srey Neang said, “After so many surgeries, I never gave up hope. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope this treatment will finally help my leg heal so I can walk again, return to work, and enjoy a normal life.”

Christine is a 44-year-old mother from Uganda. She has two children, both of whom are enrolled in school. Early on in her marriage, her husband passed away. As a widow, Christine relies on subsistence farming to provide food and financial support for her family. To earn extra income, she occasionally works as a casual laborer on other farms. These additional earnings help her afford essential household necessities such as soap, salt, and other daily requirements. Christine finds joy in seeing her children pursue their education, hoping it will open doors to future professional opportunities. Five years ago, Christine began to experience troubling symptoms, notably a swelling at the front of her neck. Although initially painless, the swelling began to cause her discomfort. Over time, Christine began to experience difficulty with swallowing and breathing, shortness of breath, and palpitations after engaging in laborious tasks. Her condition limited her ability to work on her farm and carry out daily responsibilities, significantly affecting her quality of life. Due to financial constraints, Christine initially resorted to local herbs and traditional remedies to manage her condition. However, the interventions provided no relief, and she underwent screening at Nyakibale Hospital. There, Christine was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in front of your neck and produces hormones that are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Christine requires surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Christine receive treatment. On November 1st, Christine will undergo a thyroidectomy, where surgeons may remove all or a portion of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Christine says, “Having my surgery with your support will be a blessing. Once I am back on my feet, I am sure I will be able to keep up with farming and will continue working at my best to keep my children in school. I can’t do this on my own and kindly appeal to you for support.”

Chorn is a 69-year-old retired farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who is a rice farmer. His first wife passed away 16 years ago, and he has three children from his previous marriage. All three are married; his eldest child serves in the army, the second works as a grocery seller, and the youngest is employed at a laundry shop. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the radio and watching the news on his phone. Around 10 years ago, Chorn underwent total hip replacement surgery on both hips. However, over time, the artificial components in his right hip became severely worn and loose, causing damage to the surrounding bone. He has experienced right hip pain for approximately four years, which has become much worse over the past year. Standing and walking are now extremely difficult, and he relies on a wheelchair to get around. The pain and limited mobility have also prevented him from returning to farming and managing his daily activities independently. Although his left hip also shows some loosening, it is not currently causing him significant problems. On November 3rd, Chorn will undergo surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Doctors will perform a right hip revision surgery, with removal of the existing artificial components and conversion to an excision arthroplasty. Chorn and his family can contribute $100 and need help raising $1,400 more to fund his procedure and care. Chorn said, “I hope this surgery will help reduce the pain in my right hip so I can stand and walk more comfortably again. I want to be able to take care of my daily activities with less help from others. If my recovery goes well, I hope I can return to farming and enjoy being active again.”