Eba is a six-year-old energetic boy from Ethiopia. His mother works as a dedicated cleaner, while his father is a daily laborer. About two years ago, Eba started experiencing fever, difficulty in eating, and snoring. Though he began his school years with such a bright spirit, the constant pain and burning fevers of chronic tonsillitis are weighing him down. The illness has cast a shadow of deep anxiety over his entire home. With his parents relying on minimum daily wages, every bottle of medicine and every day missed from work to care for him pulls the family deeper into a difficult struggle, leaving them in a fragile and uncertain position. Eba was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Eba, scheduled for January 28th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Eba of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. His parents say, "We had actually given up hope of finding treatment for our baby boy because we knew we could never afford it. But the moment we heard about the donor program, tears of joy filled our eyes."

Pinieli is a five-month-old baby boy, and the fifth born child in his family. His parents rely on seasonal farming for the family's daily sustenance. Pinieli has clubfoot on left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. His parents were worried when they noticed the unusual positioning of his foot at birth, especially as they were unfamiliar with the condition. If not treated early, the condition will cause difficulty in his mobility. Fortunately, Pinieli's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on April 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $341 to fund Pinieli's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have a high chance of walking normally and living an active, healthy life. Pinieli's mother says, "We were worried at first, but now we believe that with the right treatment, he will walk like other children."

Srey Neang is 18 years old and a twelfth-grade student from a small village in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers. She is the second of four siblings; her older brother works in a garment factory, while her two younger siblings are in school. She enjoys studying literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and she hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and helping with housework. Her favorite food is spicy stir-fried chicken. Srey Neang has had scoliosis since she was 13 years old, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often forming a “C” or “S” shape. As she has grown, the curve in her spine has progressively worsened and now bends toward the right side. This condition causes frequent pain and makes it difficult for her to sit for extended periods. Because of this, she struggles to concentrate in class and feels worried about being bullied by her classmates due to her appearance. She also experiences difficulty walking, which further affects her daily life. In the past, Srey Neang had not sought hospital treatment because her family could not afford the cost. Recently, a relative informed her family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 6th, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal “growing rod” into her spine to help correct the curve and allow for continued spinal growth. Her family can only afford to contribute $75 and needs help with the remaining $1,425. This will cover the costs of surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Srey Neang's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that Srey Neang will no longer have any pain so that she can do a good job at school and focus on her studies.”