Napris is a six-year-old student from Svay Rieng province, Cambodia. He lives with his parents, who are garment factory workers. He stays with his grandmother while his parents are at work. He is in the second grade, and his favorite subject is math. Napris dreams of becoming a teacher when he grows up. He enjoys playing with other children in the neighborhood and likes eating prawns and chicken soup. Napris was born with left torticollis, a condition that causes a twisting of the neck due to a tight sternocleidomastoid muscle. While some children can improve with physical therapy alone, others may need surgery to lengthen the muscle. Because of this condition, Napris has difficulty turning his head and neck and often experiences shoulder pain. Over time, it has also caused postural problems. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Napris receive treatment. On February 3rd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to restore normal movement of his neck, relieve pain, and allow him to grow and focus on his studies like other children. Now, he needs help to fund this $572 procedure. Napris's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope my son will have a normal neck like other children and no longer have difficulty moving his head, so he can grow up healthy and enjoy his studies.”

Benson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya. His mother shared that she first noticed a problem with his foot when he was almost two years old. At the time, she hoped he would eventually outgrow it and begin walking better, but the condition persisted. Determined to find help for her son, she took Benson to hospital. Benson has Equinus deformity, a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) is limited. This causes him to walk on his toes instead of placing his entire foot on the ground. The condition developed as a result of cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with. Over the last few years, Benson has attended physiotherapy sessions, surgery and has been fitted with corrective splints to realign his foot, but each time, the procedures did not achieve the expected results. His mother got increasingly worried about his health and future, until a friend informed her about specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. Benson is presently admitted at AIC CURE Hospital in preparation of his corrective surgery. The procedure represents a significant opportunity to improve his quality of life, as his condition has limited many of the activities and opportunities he would otherwise enjoy. He often experiences pain in his leg, especially during cold weather, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably. Benson's surgery has been scheduled for June 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 for the treatment that will provide Benson greater mobility, reduced pain, and the chance to pursue his dreams with renewed confidence and independence. He says: "I am looking forward to a quick healing so that I can continue with my regular life."

Filisitiya is 47 years old and a mother of five from Malawi. Her husband takes on casual jobs as a builder, while she molds clay pots for a living. Seven months ago, Filisitiya started to experience pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Her symptoms affect her ability to perform her daily tasks and her work. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Filisitiya's surgery. On June 8th, she will undergo gynaecological surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Filisitiya will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Filisitiya shared, "Concentration on my business is now poor, hence, reduced my monthly income; Your support will help me get better and care for my children better."