Piseth is a 16-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives in Kratie Province with his parents, who support the family through rice farming and day labor. He is the oldest of two children, and his younger sister is in Grade 8. Although he is no longer attending school, he enjoys spending time with friends and playing football in his village. His favorite meal is Korko fish soup. On February 26th, 2026, Piseth was involved in a car-motorcycle accident that caused a closed fracture of his left distal femur. He was taken to a hospital and was told he needed surgery, but his family could not afford the operation. He later received treatment from a traditional healer, who used a bamboo splint to support his injured leg. Unfortunately, the fracture did not heal properly and developed into a non-union, leaving his left leg approximately 4 centimeters shorter. The unhealed fracture has continued to cause pain and abnormal movement in his left thigh, making it difficult for him to walk and stand comfortably. He also has a small superficial wound near his left ankle. Piseth was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, for further care. On September 9th, he is scheduled to undergo a left femur osteotomy and placement of a traction pin. The surgery aims to address the abnormal bone position and shortening and support the healing of his leg, with the hope of improving his mobility and independence. Piseth's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help my son’s leg heal properly, reduce his pain, and make it easier for him to walk and stand. I want him to become more independent and return to his normal daily activities.”

Ester is a 13-year-old student from Burma. She lives with her parents, her younger brother, and two younger sisters in a village in Karen State, Burma. Ester and her three younger siblings go to school while their parents are small-scale farmers. They also raise chickens and pigs, and they forage for vegetables in the forest for their own consumption. They also have a small garden where they grow betel nut trees, and they sell some of the betel nuts to earn a small income. Sometimes, Ester’s father also finds work as an agricultural day laborer. In her free time, Ester loves to help her mother with household chores and also play with her friends at school. She wants to become a teacher when she grows up. Ester was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Ester is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on July 7th to correct her condition and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Ester's procedure and care. Ester's mother shared, "I would like to thank BCMF and your donors for your kindness and willingness to support my daughter. Without you, my daughter would not receive treatment as the cost is too high for us, and we cannot borrow such a large amount of money from our neighbours. On behalf of our family and our daughter, thank you to your donors and everyone willing to help my daughter.”

Seav is six years old and a second-grade student from Cambodia. She is the middle child of three siblings and lives with her parents, who are rice farmers in Prey Veng Province. Her older brother is in Grade 8, while her younger sister is three years old. She enjoys reading and writing Khmer and likes playing with toys with her cousins and sister. Her favorite foods are caramelized pork and eggs. When she was nine months old, Seav suffered a hot-water burn to her right hand. After the burn healed, scar tissue gradually formed and caused contractures in her right middle and ring fingers, along with a shortened web space. The tight scars restrict movement in her right middle and ring fingers and make it difficult for her to use her right hand for writing. This can make schoolwork and other activities that require hand movement more challenging. When Seav's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On September 23rd, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to improve movement in her right hand, making it easier for her to write and use her hand during school and daily activities. Now, she needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Seav's mother said, “Her hand has been tight since she was very young, and now it is making writing more difficult for her at school. I hope the surgery will help her move her fingers more freely so she can write, learn, and use her hand with greater ease.”