Ly Hor is a four-year-old kindergarten student from Cambodia. He lives in a rural area of Kampong Cham Province with his parents and two siblings. His father is a rice farmer, and his mother sells vegetables. Ly Hor is the middle child, with an older brother in grade six and a younger sister who is two years old. He enjoys writing and reading Khmer and dreams of becoming a doctor when he grows up. In his free time, he likes playing with toy cars with his sister. Ly Hor's favorite meal is fish sour soup. For the past two years, Ly Hor has been experiencing a sore throat three to four times per month, fever, snoring at night, and difficulty swallowing. The frequent illness is uncomfortable, affects his eating, sleeping, and daily activities, and occasionally prevents him from going to school. Ly Hor was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Ly Hor. On April 3rd, surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Ly Hor of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably. Ly Hor's father said, “My son has been sick again and again for the past year, and it has been very difficult for him to eat, sleep, and live normally. The doctor has recommended surgery, and although I feel worried, I believe this is the best way to help him recover and have a healthier life. I truly hope this treatment will free him from his pain and allow him to grow strong like other children.”

Ilhaam is a seven-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents and her younger sister, the only surviving children after her parents tragically lost their first set of twins shortly after birth. Ilhaam is a cheerful child who enjoys playing with other children in her neighborhood. She loves singing and dancing. Ilhaam’s father works as a primary school teacher and is the sole provider for the family. Although he works hard to support his household, the cost of surgery is beyond what he can afford. Her parents are hopeful that with support, their daughter will receive the treatment she needs to walk comfortably and return to enjoying childhood activities. Ilhaam has been diagnosed with unilateral left valgus, a condition where the left knee angles inward. 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. Over time, Ilhaam's condition has worsened, and she has begun experiencing pain while standing or walking for long periods. Her parents first sought help at a nearby health facility where they were told that her bones might be weak and she was given calcium supplements. Despite following the advice, her condition did not improve. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $631 to fund treatment for Ilhaam. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 10th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Ilhaam's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Ilhaam's father says, "I only wish to see my daughter walk, dance and play without pain, and grow up like other children."

Yonatan is a lively six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a close-knit family of four. Yonatan is growing up alongside his brother in a home filled with love, supported by his hardworking father, who drives a taxi, and his caring mother, who stays home to look after the boys. While Yonatan's father spends long, tiring hours on the road to provide for everyone, the boy’s happy childhood has been interrupted by a difficult health battle. Because of chronic tonsillitis, he is stuck in a stressful loop of recurring pain and constant trips to the hospital, which keep him away from the fun and games he loves. Two years ago, Yonatan had been experiencing fever, recurring sore throats, and difficulty swallowing. Because his high fevers and sharp throat pain kept coming back, even the simplest parts of his day have become incredibly hard. Sitting down for a family dinner is no longer fun. Instead, every bite of food is a painful struggle that leaves Yonatan exhausted. Even at night, when he should be resting, the discomfort keeps him awake and tossing and turning. This constant battle leaves Yonatan feeling so weak and drained that he just can’t find the strength to run, jump, or keep up with his brother like he used to. Yonatan was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is able to help. They are requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yonatan, which is scheduled to take place on March 4th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Yonatan of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "In our home, we are all counting down the days until Yonatan feels like himself again. What we are most excited about is seeing him enjoy his favorite snacks without that sharp, burning pain every time he tries to swallow. We miss seeing Yonatan full of life, and we can’t wait for him to finally have the strength to run around and keep up with his brother during playtime. For our family, seeing him healthy and active again will be the greatest gift of all," said Yonatan's parents.