Miriam is a sociable four-year-old girl from Arusha Tanzania, the first born child in a family of two children. Miriam's father works casual day jobs to earn a living, while the mother is a homemaker. Despite financial challenges due to limited income, the parents work diligently to ensure their family's well-being. Miriam was brought to our medical partner's care center, Kafika House, by her mother following a burn incident she experienced in May 2023. A pot of boiling beans tipped off and the hot water spilled on Miriam, causing burn injuries. She was first taken to a nearby healthcare center for wound care, and it took a month for her wounds to heal. During the healing process, her skin developed a burn contracture on her elbow, which was left untreated as the health center did not have the capacity to handle such cases, and the family did not have the financial resources to seek treatment in a larger institution. Sometime later, Miriam's mother met one of Kafika House's staff members who advised her to go to the facility for an assessment, with hope for treatment, as the condition was already limiting Miriam's ability to perform her daily activities. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Miriam receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On April 2nd, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore the functionality of her hand. Now, she needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Miriam’s mother says: “Please help my daughter get this treatment. I hope she will grow up with her arm fully functional.”

Mavin is a seven-year-old first grader. His family currently lives in Tbong Khmum province, where both of his parents work in the rubber industry. He also has a two-year-old younger brother. At school, Mavin enjoys studying Khmer subjects, painting, and playing with toy cars. He wants to become a soldier when he grows up. About four years ago, Mavin had a severe ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. His mother took him to the local pediatric hospital, and they suggested Mavin needed a specialty surgeon. He has trouble communicating with others, is embarrassed about the ear discharge, and often misses school. Mavin's family has now traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On January 4th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $914 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Mavin's mother said: "I hope my son gets better and has no more infections, and will do well in school."

Srey Buoy lives in Kampong Cham province with her family. Both her parents work as farmers, growing rice and corn. Her grandmother stays at home and takes care of her 6-year-old daughter, who is in kindergarten. Her husband works at a clothing factory several hours away in Phnom Penh and travels home on the weekends. At home, Srey Buoy helps her parents harvest vegetables around the house and enjoys playing games with her daughter. On April 14th, 2023, Srey Buoy was in a motorbike accident, where she sustained multiple injuries across her body. She was transported to a hospital in Vietnam for urgent medical care. Throughout the year, her fractures healed, however, her right eye developed ectropion, a condition where the eyelid turns outward, leading to limitations in the lateral movement of her eye. She cannot close her eye completely, which may cause complications as her eyelid cannot completely protect her eye from infections and scrapes. When Srey Buoy learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), her family traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 6th, our surgeons at CSC will perform a contracture release procedure to alleviate tightness, a lateral canthopexy to stabilize the eyelid, and a full-thickness skin graft to repair tissue damage on her right eye. This will allow her to close her eye completely. Srey Buoy and her family are able to contribute $100 but needs to raise $387 more to fund the procedure. After the surgery, Srey Buoy hopes to return home and be able to care for her family without worrying about this anymore.