Sreymey is a 15-year-old teenage girl from Cambodia. She is the youngest of four siblings and lives with her mother and brother in Kampong Cham province. Her father passed away when she was a toddler. Her mother works as a potato farmer and her older brother is a monk who lives and studies at a pagoda. Her other two siblings attend a nearby school. Sreymey is currently in the 5th grade, and enjoys studying Cambodian history and culture. Sreymey dreams of working in a salon when she grows up. At home, she likes to eat vegetable soup, and she loves spending her free time painting and drawing. Sreymey was born with Escobar syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple pterygia, or web-like skin folds, across joints and other parts of the body. This condition causes muscle tightness throughout her body, affecting both her upper and lower extremities. Her joint mobility is very limited, making it difficult for her to walk and perform daily activities. Because of this, Sreymey is behind several grades in school, but hopes to attend more regularly and focus on her studies. Sreymey was referred by a relative to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). She and her mom traveled for five hours to seek treatment. On June 13th, surgeons will perform a web neck release surgery to improve the function of her neck and head movement. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is seeking assistance to fund the $462 needed for Sreymey's surgery and physiotherapy. Sreymey said, "I hope I can return to school as soon as possible."

Balbina is a seven-year-old girl living with her parents and seven siblings in Tanzania. Balbina's parents are seasonal farmers. When Balbina was three years old, her mother noticed that she was having difficulty walking. At first, she thought it was due to fatigue from all of the walking that Balbina enjoyed doing. However, as the days went by, the problem persisted. Her mother took her to the nearest clinic, but they could not diagnose the issue. Over time, Balbina’s condition worsened. Eventually, Balbina began walking with one of her legs bowed. The condition deteriorated rapidly, and within six months, her gait changed completely. This made it difficult for her to walk and perform other activities at home. Balbina was in pain and easily fatigued. The family tried seeking treatment for Balbina, but were unsuccessful. They visited traditional healers hoping for a cure, but nothing worked. Balbina was referred by a hospital employee to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, where she was diagnosed with windswept deformity. This condition requires corrective surgery to treat her legs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking $891 to fund the procedure, scheduled for August 13th, that will enable Balbina to grow into a healthy young woman. Balbina’s father said: “I wish for my daughter to be okay. We would love to see her dreams come true as she grows older.”

Dennis, a 17-year-old student from Kiambu County in Kenya, faced unimaginable tragedy at a tender age. In 2011, his mother fell gravely ill. One night, a candle left burning in their home went out of control, setting the house ablaze. With his mother too sick to save him, Dennis was trapped in the fire. Tragically, his mother lost her life, leaving Dennis an orphan. Though he was rescued, Dennis suffered severe burns on his head, face, hands, and body. With no one left to care for him, he ended up on the streets, which hindered the healing of his wounds. In 2012, hope arrived when a children's home took Dennis in, providing him with food, clothing, shelter, and education. However, the scars from his injuries made him a target for teasing by his classmates, which deeply affected his self-esteem. In 2016, Dennis’s journey to recovery began at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. He underwent a series of surgeries to treat his forehead, cheeks, face, and nose. By 2018, a surgery successfully opened one of his blocked nostrils, greatly improving his ability to breathe. For a while, Dennis enjoyed a sense of normalcy and the joy of playing with other children. However, after six years of relying on a single nostril to breathe, it became increasingly ineffective. Dennis now struggles with breathing and requires constant monitoring at night to prevent suffocation. During a visit to the hospital this year, doctors recommended surgery to create a new nostril and enhance his breathing. Unfortunately, the children's home cannot afford the cost of this essential surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Dennis receive treatment. On August 12th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help him breathe properly and alleviate the fears he experiences due to his condition. Now, Dennis needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Dennis says, “I want to be an engineer in the future and build beautiful houses.”