Michael is a 10-year-old student from Kenya. When his mother was pregnant with him, she went through a very hard time. She had married into a different tribe, and this brought her a lot of pain. “I was rejected because I was seen as a foreigner,” she said quietly. “This made my pregnancy very difficult. Then my only son was born with clubfoot, and life felt too heavy to bear.” Clubfoot is a condition where one or both feet turn inward, affecting the bones and muscles. Michael lived with this condition on both of his feet for almost ten years without treatment. As he grew older, walking became painful and tiring. “My feet are very sensitive,” Michael said. “I cannot walk without my slip-on shoes. I want to walk fast or even run, but I cannot.” Many times, he leaned on walls for support while watching other children walk and play freely. His mother's pain grew deeper when her in-laws rejected her and her husband, saying their child was cursed. Michael’s father supported them at that time. But after everything they went through, they stopped looking for treatment, and Michael grew up with the condition. Even so, they still hoped that one day things would change. In 2025, that hope came back when they moved to a new village. A neighbor told Michael's mom about CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya. Fortunately, Michael traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. At the clinic, the doctors examined Michael and quickly scheduled him for surgery. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 25th. While Michael is scheduled for surgery, his family cannot afford it. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Michael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and attend school without disruptions. "I am looking forward to getting better so that I can continue with my studies and engage with my friends in playing football," Michael told us.

Fadhili is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. His father is a small business owner, and his mother is a housewife. Fadhili was brought to the hospital by his father because of burn scar contractures affecting his left hand. Fadhili's injury occurred last year when he succumbed to a burn on the fourth and fifth fingers of his left hand. Initially, the family managed the wound at home due to limited access to healthcare. As a result, Fadhili struggles to open his hand fully and has difficulty holding objects or feeding himself. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Fadhili receive treatment. On February 17th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to help restore Fadhili's hand movement and prevent long-term disability. This early intervention will allow Fadhili to grow and develop without functional limitations. AMH is requesting $832 to fund this procedure. Fadhili's father says, “His burned fingers are tight and cannot open well, so he cannot hold things like other children.”

Serey is a three-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and three older siblings. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother works in a mango jam factory. His siblings are all students. In his free time, he enjoys playing with toy cars and eating all kinds of soup, especially lemongrass sour soup. Serey was born with syndactyly of both hands, meaning his 3rd and 4th fingers on both hands are fused. This makes it difficult for him to use his hands comfortably and affects his confidence around others. Fortunately, on April 23rd, our medical partner, the Children's Surgical Centre, will assist Serey in undergoing syndactyly repair surgery to separate and release the fused fingers. This procedure will cost $462, and Serey needs your support to fund the surgery. Serey's father said, “After the surgery, I hope that my son will be able to use his hands more freely and comfortably in his daily life. I also hope he will gain confidence, no longer feel shy about his appearance, and be able to interact and play happily with others like any other child.”