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.”

Chea is a grandfather of nine from Kandal province in Cambodia. He is 76 years old and a retired farmer who used to grow vegetables and crops to support his family. He has three sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren. Since he stopped farming, his children have been supporting Chea and his wife. In his free time, Chea enjoys visiting the pagoda and participating in religious ceremonies. About two weeks ago, Chea developed a chalazion in his left eye, causing him eyelid swelling, pain, and itching. A chalazion is an inflamed cyst in a patient's tear gland. It is difficult for him to see clearly, which causes him discomfort. Chea traveled for two hours to seek treatment from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 27th, surgeons will remove the cyst through a chalazion excision procedure. After recovery, Chea's symptoms should improve. Chea can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund his procedure and care. Chea said, " I hope that the swelling in my eye will completely stop so that I no longer have to worry about it. I will be very happy if I can return to growing vegetables around my house and continue living a peaceful and active life."

Seven-year-old Debi is a student living in Ethiopia, with his parents and younger sister. Debi's childhood should be full of play and learning, but it has unfortunately been shaped by illness instead. For more than four years, Debi has lived with epilepsy, for which he takes medicine on a daily basis to control his seizures. Over the past year, a second problem has made life even more difficult. His tonsils repeatedly became badly infected, and at one point, his condition grew so severe, that he had to leave his KG 2 class. His education has been on hold ever since. His swollen tonsils keep him in constant discomfort. He has high fevers that return again and again, and he struggles to swallow his food, snores heavily, and is unable to sleep through the night. When the infection flares up, his parents have to rush him to the hospital, and he often stays there for days. The family is also under great strain for other reasons. Last year, Debi's father, a civil servant, was badly hurt in a car accident, and has only recently returned to work after a prolonged absence. His mother finished her studies last year, but has not been able to find a job. For Debi's parents, the cost of caring for him is overwhelming. Each flare-up brings another emergency trip to the hospital, and his seizure medicine is a cost they must meet every month. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Debi, which is scheduled to take place on October 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Debi of his symptoms, and helping him to live more comfortably. "We wish to see him strong again, sleeping through the night, and back at school with his friends. That would bring our family so much relief," said Debi's parents.