Sopheara is a nine-year-old student from Cambodia. He is the only child in his family and lives with his parents, who are rice farmers. He enjoys reading and writing Khmer and likes making toy cars in his free time. His favorite foods are fried pork and chicken. He wishes to be an architect when he grows up. Sopheara was born with unilateral incomplete cleft lip and cleft palate. He underwent surgery for the condition, but there is still a gap in his gums that affects his eating, speaking, and symmetry of his face. Sopheara needs surgery to close the gap. Fortunately, Sopheara visited our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for further treatment. There, surgeons will perform an alveolar bone graft procedure on September 8th. CSC is requesting $665 to fund Sopheara's treatment and care. After treatment, the alveolar bone graft (ABG) will help fill the gap in his gum and support the development and stability of his upper jaw. It may also make eating and speaking more comfortable and improve the appearance and symmetry of his smile as he continues to grow. Sopheara's mother said, “I am happy that my son can receive this surgery. I hope the bone graft will help repair his gum and support his teeth as he grows. I want him to have a healthy smile and feel confident when he goes to school and meets other people.”

Feyisa is a 74-year-old farmer from Ethiopia who has spent his whole life working the land with his wife, who farms alongside him. Together they raised three children, one son and two daughters. His children are grown now and have built their lives elsewhere, but he remains close to his family and shares his home with his wife and his grandson. One year ago, doctors found cataracts in both of his eyes. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, blurring vision. At the time, his eyes were not ready for surgery, so he had to wait. Through those long months, his sight kept fading. He can no longer judge distances or see clearly where he is going. Walking around his own home has become risky, and he can barely make out the faces of the people he loves. He depends on his wife and his grandson to guide him through each day and care for him. Fortunately, Feyisa is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery on October 28th. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens in both eyes. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is asking for help to raise $300 to fund this procedure. Feyisa's wife shared, "After a long year of waiting in the blur, we look forward to the day he sees clearly again, moves around safely, and lives on his own terms."

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.”