Meng Leap is a 13-month-old baby boy from Cambodia. He lives in Kratie Province with his parents and two older brothers. He is the youngest child in the family. His first brother is in Grade 4, and his second brother is a kindergarten student. He enjoys playing with toys and likes eating different kinds of fish soup. Meng Leap was born with syndactyly of the right hand. This means that his second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers of his right hand are fused. The fused fingers make it difficult for him to hold and grasp objects, affecting the normal use of his right hand. His right hand and arm are smaller than the left side, which may affect his hand function and confidence as he grows older. Fortunately, on July 20th, surgeons will perform a syndactyly repair procedure to separate and release the fused digits. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $462 to fund this procedure. After surgery, he will be able to hold and grasp objects more easily and use his hand more normally as he grows. Meng Leap's parents said, “We hope this surgery will help our son use his hand more easily to hold and grasp things. We also hope he will grow up feeling confident and never feel shy because of his hand.”

Nuruhaiya is a three-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her mother, who earns a living through small-scale local work to support her family and provide for their daily necessities. Nuruhaiya was brought in for treatment after her mother noticed progressive bowing of both legs soon after she started walking. She has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus, a condition where the knees curve outward while the feet and ankles touch. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. As Nuruhaiya grew, walking became increasingly difficult. The condition has been causing her imbalance and fatigue whenever she tries to walk or play with other children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Nuruhaiya. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Nuruhaiya's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Nuruhaiya's mother says, “I want her to walk and play freely like other children, without pain or difficulty.”

Wadaje is an 18-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a college student who lives with her older sister. Two months ago, Wadaje started to experience an itchy infection on her right finger. The wound developed into a contracture, causing significant difficulty with movement. Following her initial treatment at a local small clinic, she developed a severe hand contracture that has left her hand stiff and difficult to use. This has significantly disrupted her studies and daily life. The resulting loss of independence is deeply distressing, as she now depends on her sister for almost everything, which creates a difficult situation for them both. When Wadaje learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for one week seeking treatment. On June 3rd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to gradually restore movement to the right finger. This will make it easier to handle schoolwork and help with household duties comfortably, while also decreasing the frequency and cost of hospital visits. Now, she needs help to fund this $500 procedure. Wadaje said, "I hope to regain the health and skills required to perform my academic and daily tasks with ease, which is vital for my success as a college student."