Chouch, a 52-year-old father of three, has one son and two daughters, hailing from Cambodia. He and his wife are both construction workers based near the northern border of Thailand. Their sons work in nearby rice paddies to help support the family, and their daughter recently got married and moved to a neighboring village. In his free time, Chouch enjoys listening to music and harvesting fruit. Five months ago, Chouch was in a motor vehicle accident that caused a fracture on his finger and a loss of mobility in his left upper arm. He was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, which is a sudden damage to nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Because of this condition, Chouch is experiencing paralysis on the left arm and has been unable to work. Chouch traveled to our medical partner's care facility, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On March 18th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery and upon recovery, he will be able to use his arm again. Chouch and his family are requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Chouch says, "I hope that I can one day move my arm again and go back to work to support my family."

Mattana is an only child and lives with her parents in Kampong Speu province in Cambodia. Her parents are rice farmers. She enjoys watching TV and eating homemade soup prepared by her mother. Mattana was born with cerebral palsy, which affects her ability to move around and requires her to use a wheelchair. Cerebral palsy can make muscles and tendons tight. This tightness shortens the muscles and tendons over time. It can cause pain and create abnormalities in the tendons and muscles, affecting mobility. Using a wheelchair also increases her risk of pressure sores on her skin. In addition to her mobility challenges, she has a learning disability, is primarily non-verbal, and does not attend school. Because Mattana's condition is difficult to treat, she was referred by a national children's hospital to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. Surgeons have determined that she would benefit from correction of her muscle spasticity - the abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle. This will eventually help her to stand and walk. On March 5th, Mattana will undergo an ankle, calf, hamstring, and Achilles tendon lengthening. Mattana's parents now need help with the cost of the $572 procedure. After surgery, they hope she can increase her range of motion, reduce pain, and make sitting, standing, and walking more comfortable. Mattana's mother said: "I hope my daughter feels better after surgery and can go to school like other children."

Curtis is a second grade student from Kenya. Curtis is accompanied by his grandmother at the hospital. He is jovial and inquisitive. Curtis is the only child in his family and is being raised by his grandmother. His mother left him with his grandmother when he was 3 years to work in the Middle East. His father works at a timber yard splitting wood earning an inconsistent income. Curtis was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Curtis has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Curtis will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 5th. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Curtis' grandmother says: “He needs treatment to be healthy in the future.”