Yohane is a 36-year-old father of two from Malawi. He does casual work in town, while his wife takes care of their home and family. About 11 years ago, Yohane began experiencing on-and-off swelling in his inguinal region. At first, he ignored it, thinking it was nothing serious, but it did not go away. Yohane sought medical attention from a hospital, where he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. If left untreated, inguinal hernias can lead to complications, such as strangulation, which cuts off the blood flow to the intestine, and can be life-threatening. He was scheduled for surgery at the public hospital, but the surgery date kept being postponed. Recently, the pain got much more intense, accompanied by much discomfort. Yohane learnt about our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Center, and went there to seek treatment. He has been scheduled for surgery on July 1st, and is seeking to raise $575 for the procedure. Yohana hopes to resume work after recovery, so he can continue supporting his family, including his parents back in the village. He says: "I have been hearing about the surgical support program at PiH, but I didn't believe it. Today, I am grateful about this program that has saved Malawians like me. Kindly help me to regain my health, and to continue supporting my family after recovery."

Vortey is a 20-month-old girl from Cambodia. She is an only child and lives with her parents in Kompot Province. Her father works at a bank, while her mother runs a small coffee shop. She enjoys eating caramelized pork and grilled fish. On January 14, 2026, Vortey was burned by hot water, injuring her left hand. She received treatment and regular follow-up at a hospital near their home, but the burn healed with scar tissue that later caused contractures in several fingers and the web spaces. The burn scars have tightened around her left middle, ring, and little fingers and the spaces between them. This limits her finger movement and makes it harder for her to use her left hand normally. When Vortey learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled four hours to seek treatment. On September 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to loosen the tight scar tissue and improve movement in her left fingers and hand, helping her use her hand more comfortably as she grows. Now, she needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Vortey's father said, “Seeing her fingers become tight after the burn has been difficult for us as parents. I hope this treatment will give her better movement in her hand so she can play with her sister, learn as she grows, and use her hand more comfortably.”

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."