Tamiru is a brave and bright five-year-old boy from Ethiopia who loves playing with friends and exploring new ideas. Tamiru comes from a large family with nine children—four daughters and five sons. His father is a farmer, but as the parents have aged, they can no longer work the land. Two of Tamiru's married sisters and their husbands support their parents by farming a portion of the family land. Three of his brothers work as daily laborers, while two younger brothers continue their education. Amidst these challenges, the family has faced immense hardship. One sister, who moved to Addis Ababa four years ago for domestic work, went missing after just one year. Despite their desperate search for her, the family has been left in distress, and the emotional toll has been heavy. Tamiru's mother carries the burden of daily life, managing the home and caring for the family. She struggles with her health, suffering from the effects of smoke from cooking fires and the relentless demands of their difficult living conditions. Their home, made of mud, was damaged during the war, and they now live in a makeshift tent against a crumbling wall, constantly fearing for their safety. With limited access to food, they often go hungry, surviving on just one meal a day or sometimes none at all. Tamiru has faced his own health challenges since birth, suffering from a painful left inguinal hernia, a condition that results from a weakness in the abdominal wall. This condition requires urgent surgery to prevent serious complications, and it has taken a toll on both him and his family, weighing heavily on their spirits. Tamiru's mother expresses the family's struggles, saying, “We never had the chance to go to school. We can’t read or write. I fear for my child’s health, and it has been incredibly difficult. We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the social worker to get here - to the city and to the hospital, but we need your help.” Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tamiru receive treatment. On October 7th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate Tamiru's pain and discomfort and prevent future medical complications. Now, Tamiru's family needs help to fund this $512 procedure. Tamiru's father says, “I hope that this surgery will treat his condition and allow him to live normally, free of any complications. I place my trust in God's hands and in the skills of the doctors.”

Chhai is a 32-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He comes from a family with four brothers. After his father passed away 10 years ago, he now lives with his mother, his second older brother, his sister-in-law, and his 2-year-old niece. His mother makes a living by selling sun-dried river clams, while his brother works in construction. His two other brothers work in Thailand on fishing boats. In his free time, Chhai enjoys checking his social media and spending time with family. In 2017, Chhai was in a motorbike accident that resulted in a closed fracture of the right shin bone. He underwent surgery at a public hospital in Phnom Penh, where doctors inserted surgical hardware in his leg to stabilize the fracture, and he was in hospital for two weeks. The fracture is now healed, but he is unable to afford surgery to remove the surgical hardware, which has been causing him discomfort and difficulty in walking. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On September 4th, Chhai will undergo a hardware removal procedure to relieve his discomfort and help him walk easily again. Now, Chhai needs help to fund this $304 procedure. Chhai says: "I hope to have this surgery so I can finally heal from the accident, and go back to work as soon as possible."

Mouykeang is a four-year-old child from Kandal province in Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam. She is an only child and lives with her parents and grandparents. Mouykeang's father works as a truck driver, while her mother is a homemaker. Her grandparents stay at home as well, raising frogs in a pond behind the house. Mouykeang is currently in kindergarten and enjoys English class. She enjoys watching cartoons and loves eating rice with a fried egg on top. Mouykeang and her father came to Children's Surgical Centre to seek treatment for a bone condition affecting her left leg. She had received surgery at another hospital in December 2023 to treat an infection, and a second surgery in February this year when the infection recurred. Because her condition has been difficult to manage, Mouykeang was sent to our medical partner's care centre, Children’s Surgical Centre, for further care. There, she was found to have a leg bone that didn't heal properly after a fracture, along with an infection in that area. On August 14th, Mouykeang will undergo surgery on her left shinbone, and surgeons will also affix an external frame to help support her recovery. Mouykeang and her family are able to contribute $100 towards the cost of her treatment and need help raising $369 more to fund the procedure. Mouykeang's father says, "I hope she will be able to walk comfortably and grow up happy and free of pain."