Seang Hai is an 11-year-old monk from Cambodia. His father works as a construction worker, and his mother is a garment factory worker. He has an older brother, who is 17 years old, and a younger sister, who is 6 years old. Seang Hai is currently studying in Grade 4, where his favorite subject is mathematics. In his free time, he enjoys learning dharma. His favorite meal is fried pork, and he dreams of becoming a teacher in the future. When Seang Hai was around one year old, he was accidentally burned by hot water, which affected the 3rd and 4th fingers of his left hand and the 3rd finger of his right hand. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around his fingers. As a result, he has difficulty grasping objects and experiences mild pain during hand movements, limiting his daily activities. When Seang Hai's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On April 21st, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the contractures, improve movement and strength in his hands, reduce pain, and allow him to hold and use objects more easily in his daily life. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Seang Hai's mother shared, “I hope after the surgery, he will be able to use his hands freely again, without pain, and live a happier life.”

Romonea is a 10-year-old girl from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. She lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her parents work in the city as sales staff for a beverage company. She is currently in the fifth grade and enjoys reading and writing Khmer. She dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. Romonea was born with a right leg length discrepancy, and the condition has gradually worsened as she has grown older. Because of the difference in leg length, she experiences difficulty walking and pain when walking long distances, which affects her daily activities and mobility at school and home. In the past, her mother brought her to a government hospital, where doctors recommended that she seek further treatment at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. On May 8th, Romonea will undergo surgery to help improve her leg alignment and mobility. Her family needs help raising $582 to fund her surgery and care. Romonea's mother said, “My greatest hope is to see my daughter walk comfortably without pain and have a better future. I want her to be able to go to school, play happily, and live like other children her age.”

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”