Mesa is 10 years old and a Grade 4 student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and younger brother in Kompong Spue Province. His parents run a small shop where they take photos for students and print documents. He enjoys math at school, looks after his younger brother, and plays football with friends in his village. His favorite meal is lemongrass sour soup with eggs. When Mesa was one year old, he was burned by hot water, causing an injury to his left hand. He received a skin graft to the back of his hand at a governmental hospital, followed by a release of the fourth web space about a year later. He has since developed burn scar contractures between the second, third, and fourth fingers. The scars between his fingers restrict the spaces between them and make it difficult for him to fully straighten his left-hand fingers. He sometimes struggles to hold objects, and the appearance of his hand makes him feel shy around other people. Mesa's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On September 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help open the tight spaces between his fingers and improve the movement of his left hand, making it easier for him to straighten his fingers and hold things. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Mesa's father said, “I hope this surgery will help my son straighten his fingers and use his left hand more easily when holding things. I also hope that as his hand improves, he will feel less shy and more confident around other people.”

Sathya is six years old and a first-grade student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, and his older brother, who is in Grade 4. He enjoys reading and writing Khmer at school and playing with toy cars in his free time. His favorite foods are sour fish soup and oranges. For the past year, Sathya has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and occasional snoring at night. These symptoms may affect his comfort during daily activities and make it harder for him to enjoy school and play. Sathya was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Sathya, which is scheduled to take place on October 20th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sathya of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Sathya's father said, “I hope my son will have fewer throat problems after surgery so he can swallow and sleep more comfortably. I want him to enjoy school, play with his toy cars, and keep following his dream of becoming a teacher.”

Simeng is an eight-year-old Grade 4 student from Cambodia. She lives in Svay Rieng Province with her parents, who both work in garment factories, and a younger brother who attends kindergarten. Simeng enjoys studying Khmer, and dreams of becoming a nurse in future. In December 2025, Simeng was involved in a road traffic accident that caused a fracture on her left elbow. She underwent surgery at a hospital in Vietnam, where doctors stabilized the fracture with metal pins because her family lives near the Cambodia–Vietnam border. The fracture has healed well, and she has regained full movement and normal function of her left arm. She has returned to her daily activities, and the metal pins can now be safely removed as the final step in her treatment. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 13th, Simeng will undergo a surgical hardware removal procedure, which will cost $378. The surgery will remove the metal pins from her left elbow, completing her recovery and allowing her to continue using her arm comfortably for school, play, and daily activities. Simeng's father said, “I am grateful my daughter’s arm has healed. I hope removing the implants will complete her recovery, so she can continue growing up healthy and active.”