Theare is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. He has two older brothers and they live with their grandmother and cousins in Battambang province. His parents are divorced and his mother works in a clothing factory in another province to support her children. In school, he is in grade five and enjoys classes about Khmer history. He would like to be a teacher when he is older. At home, he enjoys soccer, but cannot play due to his condition. Two years ago, he was riding with his brother on a motorbike and fell, suffering a severe injury to his left tibia or shin. His leg became red, swollen, and painful. His grandmother took him to a local hospital, where he had several different surgeries. Unfortunately, none of the surgeries repaired his leg and has since been diagnosed with a delayed union fracture or a fracture that will not heal without intervention. The local surgeons told his grandmother they could not do any more surgery to fix his leg as Theare needed a more complicated procedure that would entail internal fixation and bone grafting. His current condition hinders his mobility, forcing him to rely on crutches and endure constant pain, impeding his ability to keep up with school and indulge in his love for soccer. When Theare learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left tibia and to correct the non-union. This will help him walk unaided and help relieve the pain. Now, Theare needs help to fund this $600 procedure. Theare said, "I hope to walk with no pain and continue my schooling."

Gabriel is a shy 4-year-old boy from Kenya who needs surgery to heal his clubfeet condition. He lives with his family in a village in Kilifi County and is the third born child in a family of six children. His father, Kazungu, is a butcher and his mother a housewife. Seeing Gabriel was born his with a clubfoot condition, his father has taken on a very active role and responsibility for Gabriel's care. His father learnt of our medical partner's mobile care center in Mombasa and took his son in for review. Gabriel was diagnosed with having clubfoot of both feet, which makes the feet point downwards and inwards. He shared that Gabriel walked with a lot of discomfort and could not comfortably play with his friends or even wear shoes. Fortunately, Gabriel will receive the help that he needs at AIC Cure International Hospital. Here, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gabriel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have improved mobility and self-esteem, leading to an enhanced quality of life. Additionally, reduced pain will allow him to walk comfortably and continue his studies uninterrupted as he grows. “I am looking forward to see my son going through surgery, healing well, walking like other children and doing well in school,” Gabriel’s father told us.

Kwangu is a farmer and a single mother of three adult children. She enjoys taking care of her grandchild and eating maize porridge with vegetables prepared with groundnut flour. Kwangu was diagnosed with a goiter, which was affecting her movement, daily activities, and health. She was referred to Partners in Hope Medical Center where she was told she needed a thyroidectomy, a procedure where surgeons remove a part or all of the thyroid glands. She is scheduled for surgery on February 27th and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare is requesting $1,015 for the procedure. Kwangu believes that the surgical operation will help her get back home and be with her children. She looks forward to getting better after surgery so she can continue her farm work and support her family as a single parent.