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.”

Pich is a 17-year-old young man from Cambodia. He is the youngest of two siblings and lives with his parents in Kampong Cham Province. His father works as a day laborer on a rubber farm, while his mother works in a garment factory. He left school while in Grade 10 and now works alongside his father to help the family. His favorite dish is korko fish soup. During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and football with his friends in the village. In April 2026, Pich was involved in a motorbike accident that caused serious injuries and nerve damage to his left arm. He lost consciousness and received stitches for multiple wounds on his left upper arm. He later sought traditional Khmer treatment, but his arm did not improve as he had hoped. Approximately six months after the accident, he has regained some movement in his shoulder and elbow, but he still cannot bend his elbow normally or move his wrist and fingers. He also experiences numbness in his left forearm and hand. He needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Pich receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on October 22nd. His family can contribute $37.50, but needs help raising $664 more to help fund his procedure and care. Pich said, “Since my accident, I haven’t been able to use my left arm the way I used to, and it has made my daily life and work very difficult. I’m still young, and I want to regain movement in my arm so I can work and take care of myself again. I hope this surgery will give me a chance to improve and move toward a better future.”

Scovia is 58 years old and a mother of nine from Uganda. When she was 10, she lost both of her parents within a short period, leaving her and her siblings to be raised by their grandmother. She and her husband depend on farming as the family’s main source of livelihood. They primarily grow food crops such as beans, maize, and potatoes for household consumption and sell any surplus produce to generate income for her family’s needs. Twenty years ago, Scovia began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling at the front of her neck. Because the swelling grew slowly and was not painful, she did not initially seek medical attention. However, about a month ago, she began experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and increasing breathing difficulties. Concerned about her worsening condition, she sought medical care at a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Scovia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 2nd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Scovia says, “This has never been painful, but recently, I couldn’t breathe. Am always catching my breath and can’t do anything about it because of limited finances. I kindly appeal to you for support to have my surgery so I can continue farming and keep my children in school.”